God wants you to live your life to the fullest, with dreams and goals rooted in the knowledge of his power and love for you. He wants you to have great ambition and a growing faith.

God also wants you to have a genuine prayer life.

Jabez’s prayer life was the secret to accomplishing his dreams. He prayed, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV). And then the verse continues, “God granted his request.”

Did you know that you can’t out-ask or out-dream God? The Bible says, “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Go ahead and stretch your imagination to the greatest thing that could possibly happen—and then realize God can go beyond that.

Jabez knew this about God, so he prayed three things:

Jabez prayed for God’s blessing in his life. He prayed, “Oh, that you would bless me!” You might say, “I shouldn’t ask God to bless me. That’s selfish.” But according to God, asking for blessing is absolutely fine. He wants to bless your life when you are walking faithfully with him.

Jabez prayed for God’s power in his life. He prayed, “Let your hand be with me.” He asked for God’s power. Jabez knew that if he got more land and a larger territory, he would have greater demands and more responsibilities. He knew he’d need God’s help to manage it all.

Jabez prayed for God’s protection over his life. He prayed, “Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” Why does Jabez ask for God’s protection? Because he knew that the more successful you are, the more critics you have. The same thing is true in the Christian life: The closer you grow to the Lord, the stronger you become as a Christian, and the more the devil will hassle you. You’re going to need God’s protection.

Whatever you want God to do in your life, ask him.

But first, get the motive behind your goals and dreams in alignment with God’s will. Next, pray the three things Jabez prayed: for God’s blessing, power, and protection. Then watch how God answers your prayers!