I Want More

1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "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." And God granted his request.

Some verses are just worth repeating, and this is one of them. We have patiently unraveled all that "bless me" entails, and we can finally get to "enlarge my territory."

Those words mean exactly what they say and then some. First, it is okay to ask God for financial blessings and material blessings, but let's not forget the guiding principal here: Before Jabez asked for an enlargement of his territory, he cried out for blessing, which first and foremost is a desire to be made holy by God Himself--to do things His way--to be a better person. It makes perfect sense to me that before we can handle the responsibility of having more, we need to know what do with it.

I am liking Jabez more and more because he understood what Spiderman has taught us all: "With great power comes great responsibility."

There is a verse that corroborates Spiderman's quote: "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48

But, of course, I always like to take spiritual matters into consideration. Therefore, I think of Yenise's territory as being anything within my sphere of influence. Family, work, friends, church, the grocery store, the neighborhoods where I ride my bike...

"Enlarge my territory," means increase the positive impact I can have on folks.

For those of us parents and aspiring parents out there, wouldn't you love to be the person who has the greatest impact and influence on your kids?

Don't you want your territory enlarged to the degree that anybody else's pales in comparison?

How many times have we avoided a stupid mistake because we were thinking about something our parents taught us? Because their words were front and center in our mind?

None of us were perfect children--not even you "J," but I recall very vividly certain things I would not do because I knew my mom would not like it.

When your sphere of influence is large and powerful, it is effective.

But before you can influence someone, you have to earn their respect. And to earn someone's respect you have to be wise. And to be wise you have to ask God to bless you.

I love connecting the dots:)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Enlarge our territories. Make us a powerful influence in the lives if our children and all other relationships. Thank You that You desire for us to make a positive impact in this world. In Jesus' name, Amen:)





Yenise~
With God all things are possible~
www.speedypalomino.com