Sometimes we just forget the power of asking...

This last summer, I honestly don't remember at all where I was, but I remember someone talking about passion. He was talking about how we have passions for things that we love, but also about passions and desires that God gives us in order to do His work. As most of you know, I have a passion and love for youth. Since high school, but more intensely just in the last year or so, God has taught my heart how to hurt for them and the things they have to deal with, things they should not be having to deal with, especially at their age (probably because I sang the song Hosanna one two many times... "break my heart for what breaks yours." Gotta be careful what you ask for).

Anyway, early this last summer, I was definitely feeling a lack of passion just in life in general. I was worrying a lot about my future that seems to be sneaking up on me. And this speaker said that passion doesn't just come from within us, it comes from God; and sometimes we just simply need to ask for God to renew our love for Him, for life, and for the things we are passionate about. I think it's easy to ask for things with little faith that it'll actually happen, or give some other reasoning for when this prayer is actually answered. But I can really say that since that day I asked God to renew my passions for Him, His Word, life, and youth, He really really has. For the first time I actually feel more excitement than anxiety about my future. I don't even care what He wants me to do or where He wants me to go. I believe He's given me this passion for youth for a reason and that He's going to take me through some crazy stuff; and I feel ready for it. It's that kind of excitement that makes me want to just jump out my skin. I almost don't want to do something that'd I'd feel comfortable in, because God's always got something bigger and better and crazier in store. Plus, our own stories are always so much smaller than His. Why wouldn't we want to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves?

Anyway, the point of all of this is just to challenge all of you to ask God for the desires of your heart. He gives those desires for a reason, He wants to use you! And He wants you to enjoy what He has in store for you. So just ask, knowing he gives.

"The prayer of a righteous man is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE."
James 5:16

"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."
Luke 11:9

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed."
Proverbs 16:3

"And in WHATEVER you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3:17

"Devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful."
Colossians 4:2