Blessings from the Heater Vent

1 Chronicles 4:10
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

In the winter time every morning before school and every night before bed, by brother and I would fight over the living room vent in the floor. In the mornings after eating breakfast we would grab our blanket and fight over who would get that one particular vent. Then in the evenings, after taking our showers, we would fight over that same vent. Although there were others in the house, there was only one in the living room with the greatest view of the television.  I would push his feet away and he would shove me away. This whole problem could have been solved by using one blanket instead of two, but we didn't want our feet to touch and we wanted it for ourselves.

Is there something wrong with asking God to bless you? No! The problem comes into play when all we do is ask for a blessing and never desire to be a blessing. I have asked God many, many days to bless me. Not in my wallet, but rather my heart. Christian's today are begging God to bless them with money, cars, things and people and they use this prayer in order to justify it. Jabez was praying that God would bless him not just in enlarging his coasts, which is used way out of context, but he desired that God would bless him in ALL areas of his life. "Bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!" The problem comes with everyone stopping their prayer at... enlarge my coast.

God wants to bless you. He wants to bless you with all of these requests. Are you willing to serve Him in all these areas? Just like me and my brother fighting over the heater vent, I wanted it all and he wanted it all. God I pray this morning that you would bless me just as you did Jabez. Lord, if I could request one greater portion of the prayer it would be that your hand might be with me and you would keep me from evil.

Get your feet off of my vent! This is my blessing today! Man, I'm about to blow up...