God has gripped me with something this year. Almost every day, even when i don't feel like it, i feel his whisper in my mind say, "Ask me." Matthew 7:7 is a big verse. Jesus tells the listeners of his sermon on the mount, "Ask me." Over and over in the gospels, Jesus tells his disciples, "Ask Me."

I realized this year that i don't ask God for much of anything greater than what i could personally accomplish. That's pretty sad. I say I believe the bible. But i don't put my money where my mouth is until i ask God for those big dreams, those impossible dreams, those dreams that i could never bring into reality on my own, those Only God Can dreams.

I think i've blogged about this before. but i've lapsed on this lately. i started the year all fired up about asking God every day for a list of impossibly huge things and being persistent in that prayer until he brings it to pass. but somewhere in the last month or so, i've grown a little weary of it. why have i stopped?

not one of my prayers have been answered yet.
i have to admit, i had given up a bit.

but for the last 2 weeks, God has been everywhere in my life with this simple message, "Ask Me." it has been in conversation, verses i have "coincidentally" read, sermons, songs... everywhere. and so, i'm getting after it again.

This morning, i listened to Andy Stanley's message from a few month's back called "Ask Big." it was God's final blow in re-motivating me to ask big again (go to Northpoint Church's website to listen). Jesus is clear about it, God wants us to be shameless, bold, inappropriate, desperate, and wildly passionate about asking God for the largest dreams our hearts can come up with. It honors Him.

When we pray, we are showing God how big we think he is. a lot of times, my God is only as big as me. I can't live in a universe with a God that tiny. God is huge, his power is limitless, and his desire to bless his children is unstoppable. He is rich and powerful. He is not poor. He controls every heart. He is not weak.

I remember a pastor telling a story about Alexander the Great. one of his generals came to him asking him for an unusually large sum of money so that he could throw a great wedding feast for his daughter. Alexander gladly granted the request. when his other generals scolded him for this show of favoritism, he replied that the general honored him in two ways. He considered Alexander to be both rich and generous. and so Alexander felt greatly honored by that and gladly granted the general's request.

My God is a good Father, giving me the things i need when i need them. and he is rich and generous. there is no dream of mine that is too big for him. i'm thankful that he is patient enough to re-motivate me to ask him for things that are mind-blowingly huge. i'm in.

make a list. an embarrassing one. one that your friends might be tempted to laugh at. make a list of things so huge and impossible that only God could do them. maybe after you make the list, you'll need to go back and re-do it because the things on it are too small. enter the throne room of the King of the Universe like an heir, a beloved member of the royal family.