Summer is in full swing, and that means I'm carting kids off to opposite sides of town for their activities. One such trip was an early morning drop-off for my youngest, and this particular morning my oldest decided to tag along.

We hadn't been on the road for very long, and I had a knowing, you know, the knowing that someone is going to ask you to go to Starbucks.

It was at this knowing that I had already made my decision. Before the question was even asked, I predetermined if I would say yes or no.

I smiled to myself, nearly giggling at my desire to treat them before they even asked.

We ascended the exit ramp, and the green mermaid beckoned.

Nothing.

Not a peep. Nothing from the front seat and nothing from the back.

I was shocked. They didn't ask.

I began to wonder if I got the knowing wrong.

When do they NOT want Starbucks? Are they asleep? Why didn't they ask?

These questions rolled around in my head, and I heard God's inquiry, "why don't you ask me for things?"

WOW! There He is a loving and generous Father who wants to bless us, surprise us, and is desiring to show us his goodness, and we don't ask.

What is holding you back from asking?

Do we assume the answer is NO?

Do we not ask because it's frivolous or not something we "need"?

Do we think He's busy?

Do we hesitate because He gave us something yesterday?

Really, is there even a good enough excuse for NOT asking?

Whatever is holding us back, James 4:2 brings correction, "And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it" (The Passion Translation).

What would change if you knew God desired to give you what you asked for?

Seriously, what would change?

What would you ask him for?

What would you put on your list?

How creative of an ask-er could you be? 

Let me challenge you.

• Come to your Heavenly Father with delight because he wants to give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:5).
• Ask without limits because John 16:24 says, "Until now you've not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking him! And you can be sure that you'll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits!"

I want to awaken that boldness in you, that bold confidence that stands on the promises of God and asks.  

He wants us to ask for the things we need; He wants us to ask for the things we want. And He wants us to keep asking as if there are no limits.

Have you limited your asking? Let me pray for you today.

Father God, I thank you for your invitation to ask and to keep asking. I thank you for reminding us there are no limits to what we can ask for. I declare that you meet all our needs, and you want to give us the desires of our hearts too. We thank you for exposing those things that are keeping us from asking. May we throw off every hindrance, every obstacle in holding us back, rid us of it, God (Hebrews 12:1). Thank you, God, for not letting us miss out because we didn't ask. Thank you, God, for helping us be bold askers. Lord, I release this bold asking to {{first_name}} today; I decree you are filling them with ideas of things to ask you for, even now. And we give you praise for how you are going to show up and show off for {{first_name}} this month. Amen!

Let's encourage each other, can we do that?

As you boldly ask, please share with me how God is stretching you in your asking.

~ Cherlyn

P.S. And yes, I did get my daughters Starbucks that day, not because they asked, but because I wanted to have a teachable moment on the goodness of God to give us the desires of our hearts.

P.P.S. And if you're having trouble asking like this, then my 5-Day Bold and Confident Prayer Challenge is for you.