Even some who are unmoved by The Prayer of Jabez
and The Prayer of Jabez for Kids
(reviewed above) may genuinely appreciate the teen adaptation. Like its parent, this version is a sermon for those already committed to evangelical beliefs. In style and substance, however, it improves upon the original. Here the promised blessings are clearly spiritual: "Please, Lord, expand my opportunities... because I want to touch more lives for You." The authors distinguish miracles from magic and link the Old Testament prayer to Christian teaching. The Jabez prayer itself, with its pleas for blessing and expansion, seems particularly appropriate for young adults facing major life decisions. Despite a surfeit of exclamation points, the writing is simple and direct. A 10-page study guide is a further lure to youth groups who, it's safe to predict, will buy this one by the truckload. Ages 12-up. (July)
