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Freelance journalist and author Nathalie Jeter was born and raised in Paris, France where her parents were missionaries. She blogs about travel, food and prayer at www.prayerwalkguides.com.

“Ye have not, because ye ask not.” – James 4:2

One day, I observed a child’s birthday party going on outside. The girls in their pretty dresses and the boys on their best behavior lined up single file and each took a turn swatting at a big purple candy-shaped piñata hanging from a tree.

Some of the little ones didn’t understand the object of the game. They would timidly approach the piñata with a baseball bat, lightly tap it, then quickly run back to the end of the line.

After a few minutes of this, it was the turn of a boy who looked like he was about to jump out of his skin with excitement. Once he got the bat in his hands, it quickly became obvious he had played this game before. He stepped up to the piñata and started whacking it like a crazy person. He knew there was candy in there, and he was going to get it!

Simply Ask

I laughed so hard – especially when the adults at the party had to restrain him. But it also reminded me that God wants us to be like that little boy when it comes to asking for the things he has promised us, the things that please his heart.

Things like the salvation of unsaved friends or of people who have never heard about Jesus.

Sometimes we’re more like well-behaved little girls and boys in party clothes, stepping up hesitantly to the heavenly throne, asking timidly for blessings, wisdom, insight, and all the things that God has already promised to give us. All we have to do is ask!

I once saw a t-shirt that said,

Don’t pursue your dreams: Chase ‘em down and tackle ‘em!

I think when it comes to God’s promises, that principle is exactly right. It’s time we stop being weighed down by excuses and start chasing down and claiming those God-given promises!

Sharing the Blessing

The instant that piñata finally split open and candy showered down from above, it wasn’t just the bold little boy who was blessed: everyone’s enthusiasm kicked in and all the kids shared in the reaping of the benefits.

When we become heavenly piñata hitters, willing to look a little crazy as we pursue our God-given promises with confidence and enthusiasm, God moves through us so that not only are we blessed, but others around us also share abundantly in that blessing.

It’s time we go chase down and tackle some of those promises!

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