Any time I hear from a friend from high school or college, they always seem to ask me the same question, “Are you surprised to be doing what you’re doing?” I always respond with, “I am overwhelmed by what God has done in my life and I feel like the least-likely person in the world to be doing what I’m doing . . . but I’m not surprised.”

     “Why?” you ask. Because I have asked the Lord for everything that’s happening.

Years ago, I came across this powerful, but overlooked, scripture:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened . . . how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him. (Matt 7:7-11)

It is written pretty plain and clear for us. ASK and you shall receive. I think another profound way to say this (you might want to memorize and post it somewhere as a reminder), are you ready for this, it’s pretty deep?

God wants you to ask Him for what you need and desire. He wants you to be bold. I think many times we don’t want to ask God for too much. We know we don’t deserve what we are asking for (I know I don’t). We aren’t sure if we really should be asking God for certain things. So, we neglect His word to us that says, “Ask, and you shall receive.”

I love what I heard Joyce Meyer say, “Ask God for anything. If He doesn’t want you to have it, He won’t give it to you anyway. I’d rather ask Him for everything and get 50% than ask Him for nothing and get 100%.”

I asked the Lord for a French publisher. I asked the Lord to make a way for my books to be in bookstores in France. I asked the Lord for our beautiful office space on the lake in Rockwall, Texas. I asked the Lord for opportunities to minister in large arenas. I asked the Lord for the finances to give away our resources to teenage girls in shelters and girls’ homes. I asked the Lord for a vacation in Hawaii. I ask the Lord for wisdom to minister to you—our partners and friends. I ask the Lord for energy everyday to maintain my personal and ministry efforts. The point is, I ask. And you need to start asking.

What could you be missing out on simply because you haven’t asked? There is a price to pay for not asking. The Bible says in James 4:2, “You have not because you ask not.” There are some things God wants to bless you with, but you haven’t asked.

Throughout the Bible, God tells us to ask Him.

• “Ask and I will give you the nations” (Psa 2:8).
• “If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone” (Jas 1:5).
• “Continually make your requests known to God” (Phil 4:6).

I believe this principle of asking works in every area of life. If it’s that simple, why don’t we ask? I thinks it is because of ignorance, low self-esteem, and the fear of rejection. In many cases, we didn’t know we could ask. We don’t feel worthy enough or good enough to ask. We let a fear of being humiliated if we are told “no” control us.

An employee on our team had a loan of $22,377 that was dragging on for years. The loan office contacted him to say that they were going to garnish his wages and take 15% of his gross pay. He considered looking for a second job to help . . . and then he thought, Ask! So, he called them and asked, “What would you settle for?” An hour later, they called him back and said, “Ten thousand dollars.” He saved $12,377 simply because he asked!

Herbert True, a marketing specialist at Notre Dame University, found that:

• 44% of all salespeople quit trying after the 1st call
• 24% quit after the 2nd call
• 14% quit after the 3rd call
• 12% quit trying to sell their prospect after the 4th call

This means that 94% of all salespeople quit after the 4th call. But 60% of all sales are made after the 4th call! To be successful, you have to ask! Ask! Ask!

If you’re still unsure about asking for your specific dreams to be accomplished, read this verse:

And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am].
(John 14:13-14 AMP)

Isn’t it time you started asking the Lord for your needs and desires? Isn’t it time you develop boldness to start asking for discounts, promotions, raises, upgrades, scholarships, lower percentage rates, wisdom, favor and the desires of your heart?

Sometimes the only thing stopping you from seeing your dreams fulfilled is summed up in three little letters: A-S-K!

One final thought from the words of Jesus, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). The fulfillment of your dreams could be only an ask away!