We cannot be blessed without first being a blessing. We
are to keep God first in our lives, then people second, and
then ourselves last. Only in this order can we be a blessing
and be blessed ourselves.  

When Jesus said, "Ask the Father anything in My name and He
will give it to you" (John 16:23), He did not intend for
this to be a license to treat God as some cosmic bell-boy
who should come and cater to our every whim.

When Jesus said, "Ask the Father anything in My name," He
meant that you should ask according to His will. Unless you
ask according to His will your prayers will be ineffective.
James 4:3 says, "You ask and do not receive because you ask
amiss, that you may consume it upon your own lusts."    

So, how do we ask according to His will, have our prayers
answered, and be successful? The answer is, by abiding in
Him.    

Jesus said,  "Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the
vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the
vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me, and I in
him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you
can do nothing" (John 15:4-5).    

The meaning of the word "abide," means "to live" or "to
dwell." So, when Jesus said, "Abide in Me," He meant that we
are to submit to Him and let Him have full reign in our
lives, allowing Him to lead. Since Jesus Christ and the Word
of God are one in the same (John 1:14), when we abide in
Christ, we abide in the Word.    

When we abide in the Word, we are allowing God to instruct
us and teach us in the way we should go (Psalm 32:8). He
will also guide us to pray according to His will, and then
our prayers will have a guaranteed effect.   

Again, we cannot be blessed without first being a blessing.
So remember, you are created unique with different
characteristics, skills, and abilities. These gifts are then
to be used to minister to, meet the needs of, and bless
other people. When you use them for what they are meant for,
you will then be ultimately blessed.