Joel Osteen Podcast - Ask Big | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: January 7, 2026

Bold prayers open the door for God to work in our lives. Dare to ask with faith and confidence. Make God’s Word your priority this year with our 2026 Today’s Word Daily Devotional. Filled with Scripture, encouragement, and prayers, our January offer will help you stay rooted in the truth and strength of God’s promises.https://bit.ly/3KT1zAm Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of the Joel Osteen Podcast ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you and thanks for being with us today. And if you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you, we'll make you feel right at home. I like to start with something funny each week and they're just a joke.

Don't be offended. I heard about this man. He was sitting in a dark restaurant, and he said to the lady sitting next to him, would you like to hear a blonde joke? She said, well, before you tell me, you should know that I'm blonde, six foot tall, and a professional bodybuilder. The lady next to me is blonde, six foot two, and a professional wrestler. And the lady next to her is blonde, six foot five, and the kickboxing champion of the world. Now, do you still want to tell me? He thought about it a moment, said, no, not if I'm going to have to explain it three times. I'm going to need a ride home today, but anyway, say it like you mean it.

This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess, my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus' name. God bless you.

I want to talk to you today about asking big. When God laid out the plan for your life, he didn't just put what you need to get by, to survive, to endure. He put more than enough. He's a God of abundance. And we see this all through the scripture. When Jesus multiplied the little boy's lunch, five lobes of bread and two fish, after thousands of people ate, there were 12 baskets full left over. And what's interesting is they had counted the people beforehand. Jesus knew how many were in the crowd that day. If he wanted to be exact, he could have made it where there would be no leftovers.

On purpose, he made more than enough. That's the God we serve. David said, my cup runs over. He had an abundance more than he needed. Yes, we should thank God that our needs are supplied. We should be grateful that we have enough, but don't settle there. that's not your destiny. He is a more than enough God. He wants you to have an abundance so you can be a blessing to those around you. And this is where the Israelites missed it. They had been in slavery for so

many years that they became conditioned to not having enough, to barely getting by. When Pharaoh got upset with Moses, he told his foreman to have the Israelites make the same amount of bricks without the hay and straw being provided for them. I'm sure the Israelites prayed, God, please help us to make our quotas. God, please help us to find these supplies that we need. They prayed from a slave mentality, from a limited mindset. Instead of asking to be free from their oppressors, they were asking to become better slaves. Instead of praying for what God promised them, the land flowing with milk and honey, they prayed that God would help them function better in their dysfunction. Are you asking today to become a better slave?

Are you asking for the abundant, overflowing more than enough life that God has for you? God says you are to reign in life, that you are blessed and you cannot be cursed, that whatever you touch will prosper and succeed. Don't pray to get by, to endure, dare to ask big. Ask for what God promised you. The medical report may not look good. That's okay. There's another report.

God, you said you would restore health back into me. You said the number of my days you will fulfill. Maybe you've gone through a disappointment, a bad break. Don't pray. God help me to deal with this loneliness. God help me to put up with this depression. That's a slave mentality. Turn it around.

God, you said, you would give me beauty for these ashes, joy for this morning, that you would pay me back double for this unfair situation. Or your dream may look impossible. You don't see how it could work out. God, you said your blessings would chase me down, that I'm surrounded by favor, that goodness and mercy are following me, that you would give me the desires of my heart. Take the limits off of God and ask big, not from a slave mentality, not a limited mindset. Don't ask God to help you function better in your dysfunction.

Ask him for your dreams. Ask him for new levels. Ask him for explosive blessings. Ask him to propel you into your purpose. This is what a lady I know did. She has four small grandchildren that she ended up having to raise. She wasn't planning on it. Something happened with her daughter.

At first she was a little discouraged, not knowing how it was going to work out. Three of these children were in private schools. school. It was very expensive and this grandmother didn't have the extra funds. She could have prayed from a slave mentality. God is not fair. I'll never be able to really provide for my grandchildren. Just help us to survive. Instead, she had this boldness to ask big. She said, God, I don't have the funds to keep my grandchildren in private school, but I know you own it all. You're a God of abundance. God, I'm asking you to make a way, even though I don't see how it could ever happen.

She owed a small amount for them to finish that first year. She went up to the school to pay, and the secretary called up her records on the computer and said, no, you don't owe anything. Everything's all paid up. She said, that couldn't be. I have the notice right here. This says that I owe this amount. Secretary turned the monitor around and said, no, ma'am.

It says right here, all three of these children. children's tuitions have been paid not only for the rest of this year, but all the way through the eighth grade. An anonymous donor stepped up, prepaid it for years to come. Friends, God can make things happen that you could never make happen. He's already placed abundance in your future. It's already lined up the right people, the breaks you need, doors to open that you could never open. My question is, are you asking big? or are you letting your circumstances, how you were raised, what somebody said, talk you out of it. If you go through life, only pray and barely get by prayers, you'll miss the fullness of your destiny.

But when you get this in your spirit, that the God who breathed life into you, the God who called you, set you apart, crowned you with favor is a more than enough God, an abundant God, an overflowing God, then you'll have this boldness to ask for big things. Not to just manage the addiction, but to be free from the addiction. Not to just pay your bills, but to be totally out of debt so you can be a blessing to others. Not to just see your child get back on the right course, but that God would use him to make his mark in this generation. Matthew chapter 20, Jesus was walking through a town and there were two blind men on the side of the road.

When they heard all the commotion, they started shouting. Jesus have mercy on us. Jesus walked over to them and said, what is it that you want me to do for you? Seemed like a strange question. It's obvious what they needed. They were blind. Why did Jesus ask them?

He wanted to see what they were believing. They could have said, Jesus, we just need some help out here. We're blind. We just need a little better place to live. If they would have asked from a limited mentality, it would have kept them in defense. feet. Instead, they asked big. They said, Lord, we want to see. We want our eyes to be open. They were saying, we know you can do the impossible. When Jesus heard their request, he touched their eyes and

instantly they could see. God is asking us the same thing. He asked those two blind men. What is it that you want me to do for you? Now, how you answer is going to have a great impact on what God does. don't say God I just want to make it through this year have you seen the price of oil God my family's so dysfunctional just help us to survive God I don't like my job just help me to endure it that is going to limit your destiny do like these blind men dare to ask big God I want to be free from this addiction

God I want to meet the right person God I want to see my whole family serve you God I want to start my own business ask for your dreams ask for things that even seem impossible. James chapter 4, the scripture says, you ask and do not receive because you ask amiss. That word amiss in the original language means sick, weak, miserable.

When we ask to become better slaves, that's a sick prayer. When we ask to get by, to endure, to barely make it, that's a weak prayer. That's asking amiss. God is saying, I created the whole universe. I own it all. Don't come to me with a sick prayer, a weak prayer, asking me to help you live better in mediocrity, endure the trouble, survive another month. No, when you come to me, ask big, knowing that I'm a God of more than enough. He's saying, ask me to show out in your life. Ask me to heal you from that disease. Ask me to accelerate your goal. When you ask big, God calls that a healthy prayer.

That's when he says to the angels, go to work, release my favor, loose those chains, open up some new doors. Well, Joel, I'm just praying that I'll make it through this tough times. Business is really slow. Can I say this respectfully? That's a sick prayer. That prayer has the flu. That prayer is depressed. But I'm just praying that I'll learn how to manage this addiction.

Grandmother had it. Mother had it. Now I do too. that's a weak prayer. Your attitude should be, God, this addiction keeps getting passed down in my family line, but I believe this is a new day that you've raised me up to put a stop to it, that I will be the one to break the generational curse and start the generational blessing. Don't ask to become a better slave. Ask to be the difference maker. Ask to set a new standard. when you say, God, help me to get that scholarship so I can go to college.

That's not just being hopeful, just being positive. That's your faith being released. That's what allows God to do great things. Or God, I don't have the funds for the building project just yet. But Lord, I want to thank you that opportunity is headed my way. That blessings are chasing me down. No more sick prayers. Take the limits off of God.

Ask big. this is the year for God to show out in your life, to accelerate his goodness, to propel you into your destiny. This is what a man did in the scripture by the name of J. Bez. His name literally means pain, sorrow, suffering. Every time someone said, hello, J. Bez, they were saying, hello trouble, hello sorrow, hello pain. They were prophesying defeat and failure. You can imagine how he could have let that keep him in mediocrity, make him feel. inferior, insecure. There was something different about Jabez. Despite his rough upbringing,

despite what people labeled him, he looked up to the heavens and said, God, I'm asking you to bless me indeed. He could have just said, God bless me. That would have been okay. But he had this boldness to ask big. Here's a man that was supposed to have trouble, heartache, lived depressed, defeated, but he shook off the slave mentality. His attitude, it doesn't matter what people said about me, doesn't matter what my circumstances look like, I know who I am a child of the most high God. He went on to say, God enlarge my territories. He was saying, God, help me to go beyond the norm. Let me see abundance. Let me see more of your favor. I'm sure thoughts told him, Jabez, God's not going to bless you. You come from the wrong family. Your own parents labeled you

sorrow, pain, trouble, but people don't determine your destiny. God does. The scripture says, God granted J.Bes his request. God blessed him indeed. Like J.Bes, you may have plenty of reasons to settle where you are. What you didn't get, what people said, how impossible it looks. The odds may be against you, but the good news is, God is for you. He is more powerful than any force that's trying to stop you. He knows how to make up for what you didn't get. He can thrust you further than you ever imagine. But you have to do like Jabez and pray bold prayers. Ask in spite of what the circumstances look like. Ask in spite of what people are telling you. Ask in spite of what the enemy keeps whispering in your ear. Jabez could have prayed a week

sick prayer. Thought God, I've had some bad breaks, had a rough upbringing, God. I'm just asking you to help me to survive. If he would have done that, we wouldn't be talking about him today. If you're going to beat the odd, stand out in the crowd. If you're going to reach your highest potential, you have to learn this principle to ask big. God said in Psalm 2 from the message translation, you're my son and today is your birthday. What do you want? Nations as a present, continents as a prize, you can command them all to dance for you. Notice how big God thinks. What do you want? Nations as a present? Sometimes we're praying for a $3 an hour raise. God's talking about giving you nations. We're praying for a promotion. God's got a business for you to own. We're praying

to pay our bills. God's planning on blessing you so you can pay other people's bills. We're looking at the five loaves, two fish. God's thinking about the 12 baskets full left over. What does that mean today is your birthday? On your birthday, more than any other time, you feel entitled to ask for something out of the ordinary. Normally, you don't want anybody to go out of the way for you. But on your birthday, you think, okay, I'm going to ask for that favor. I'm going to ask for that new outfit, for that set of golf clubs. You know, over time as we get older, our enthusiasm may go down a little, but think back to when you were a child.

you knew that was your special day and you had a boldness to ask for what you really wanted. A few months ago, a little boy came up to me out in the hallway. It's about five years old, and I see him here all the time. He came running up so excited, said, it's my birthday today.

I gave him a big hug and told him happy birthday. I walked about five steps away and came back and grabbed my leg and said it again. It's my birthday. But I know, you just told me five seconds ago, and we hugged and did it all again like it was the first time. This happened again and again and again. I could hardly get through the hallway.

About the seventh time he came up and grabbed my leg. This time, instead of telling me it was his birthday, he looked up and said, what are you going to get me for my birthday? The reason he kept coming back is because he felt entitled to a present. He knew it was his special day. God is saying, when you pray, act like it's your birthday.

Come to me with a boldness. Ask me for what you really want. Don't be shy. Don't hold back. Tell me your dreams. Tell me what you're believing for. Ask for the secret things I placed in your heart. When our son Jonathan was a little boy, he liked Power Rangers.

He never asked for that much. But on his sixth birthday, he said, Dad, I want that new Power Ranger that I saw on television, you know, a little action figure. We went up to the toy store, but they were out. We drove to another one and they didn't have it and another and another and another. Normally, I would have given up, but it was his birthday. I didn't want to disappoint him. Finally, we found it like an hour away. Took half the day to get this little $14 action figure. But as a father, I didn't mind going out of my way. You know, as parents, you'll do anything for your children, especially on their birthday. How much more will your heavenly father make things happen for you?

Ask him for your dreams. Ask him to turn that child around. Ask him for your healing. You're not inconvenience in God. Well, Joel, God's got bigger things to deal with than me. No, you are God's biggest deal. You're the apple of his eyes. You're his most prized possession. Just like I ran all over the city to find that action figure. to give my son what he was dreaming about on his birthday, God will move heaven and earth to bring about his destiny in your life. Dare to ask, Big. Too often, instead of approaching God like it's our birthday, believing that he'll do something special, we do just the opposite. Joel, I can't ask for what I really want. That wouldn't be right. That'd be greedy. That'd be selfish. The scripture says, it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Nothing makes God any happier than for him to see you step up to who you were created to be. It says, today is your birthday. What do you want? Notice today is always in the present. When you get up tomorrow morning, God is saying, today is your birthday. Two weeks from now, today is your birthday. Seven years from now, today is your birthday.

Every morning when you get up, just imagine God, saying, happy birthday son, happy birthday daughter. Why does he do this? So you'll have the boldness to ask for things that you wouldn't normally ask for. When I received word that the compact center was coming available, something ignited on the inside. I knew it was supposed to be ours. But every voice said, it's never going to happen. It's too big, Joel. You don't deserve it. Who do you think you are to even ask for it? Instead of believing those lies, I did what I made. asking you to do. I went to God like it was my birthday. I said, God, I know this is far out. Normally,

I'd never ask for it. But God, I believe you put this in our path. This is the part of my destiny. So God, I'm asking you to make a way, even though I don't see a way. What's interesting, all of the big things I've ever asked for. I've never once felt like God has said, Joel, you got a lot of nerve, man. What are you doing, ask for him for that? Just the opposite. Down here, I can feel God whispering, Joel, I love the fact that you dare to ask big. I love the fact that you believe that I can do the impossible. And of course, you know, everything I've asked for hasn't come to pass, but the point is, if you'll go to God with childlike faith, believing that it's your birthday, asking for

things that you wouldn't normally ask for, there will be times that you see God show out in your life in ways greater than you ever imagine. This is what Solomon did. In Psalm 72, he prayed what seemed to be a very self-centered prayer. He asked God to make him well known, that his fame would spread throughout the land, that wealth and honor of other nations would be brought to him, that kings and queens would bow down before him. You would think, God would say, Solomon, what's wrong with you? I'm not going to make you famous. I'm not going to give you this honor, wealth, influence. You need to learn some humility. But God didn't rebuke him.

God didn't tell him he was selfish and greedy. God did exactly what he asked for. Solomon became one of the most famous people of his day. The queen of Sheba came, bowed down before him, brought him gold and silver. Here's the key. The reason God answered that bold prayer is because Solomon went on to say, God, if you'll make my name famous, if you'll give me influence and wealth, then I will use it to help the widows,

to take care of the orphans, to bring justice to the oppressed, to give a voice to those that don't have any voice. He asked big, not just so he would look impressive, drive the fanciest chariot, live in the biggest palace, it was so he could lift the fallen, restore the broken, help the hurting to advance God's kingdom. God has no problem giving you influence, honor, wealth, even fame as long as your dream in some way is connected

to helping others to making this world a better place. God is raising up a new generation of Solomon's. People that have the boldness to say, God, make me famous in my field. Let my gifts and talents stand out. Let my work be so excellent,

so inspiring that people all around me know who I am, not for my glory, but so I can use my influence to advance your kingdom. Whatever field you're in, medicine, sales, construction, accounting, teaching, I dare you to pray, God make me famous in my field. Let me shine. Give me influence. If you're an architect, God give me ideas, creativity, designs that stand out. Then use your influence to design. To designed the boys home, designed the orphanage. You're a mechanic. God, make me famous. Let me be so skilled, have so much expertise that people come to me to see how it's done. Then use your influence to fix the single mom's car, to mentor other young men, teach them how to do it. You're in the medical

profession. God make me famous. Let me develop procedures that benefit mankind. Then use that influence to help those that can't afford it. There's no limit to what God will do for you if you'll use what he's given you to help others. One time, I was playing basketball with some friends, and I had to leave early to go to a doctor's appointment. A teammate of mine works in the medical field, and he asked me who I was going to see him. I said, Dr. Price, a friend of mine, he kind of looked up and said, the Dr. Price? I said, no, just Dr. Price. I've known him for 30 years. He said, is it the Dr. Price that's in infectious medicine? I said, yes, that's him. He said, oh, man, he's the best. He's famous. People come to see him from all over. I thought, man, I should start treating him better.

But you know what Dr. Price does with his quote fame, his wealth, his influence? He uses it to help needy people in third world countries. Every time you turn around, he and his family are coming back from Africa. The organization that he started has donated over a billion dollars worth of medical supplies. They vaccinated millions of children. A few years back, Tom's shoes gave him a million pairs of children's shoes.

Dr. Price never dreamed he would be where he is today. God made him famous. Not TMZ famous, famous in his field. I wonder what would happen if you would dare pray. God, make me famous. God, make me to stand out so I can make a big difference in this world. There's a young man that attends here named Troy. He comes from a single parent family.

His mother has brought him and his brother to church since they were a little child. From the time he was a little boy, he's always had a dream to go to college. Didn't the natural, it didn't seem like this single mom would be able to afford that. All the odds were against them, but through prayer, hard work, God's favor, good grades, both he and his brother received scholarships. Troyes was to Georgetown University, not only a scholarship for his undergraduate work, but for his master's degree and his doctorate degree. He's studying political science.

His goal is to one day become the Secretary of State of the U.S. Like Solomon, he's prayed, God, give me influence, give me notoriety so I can make the world a better place. a while back I was driving on the freeway and I saw this billboard from a junior college. It's a picture of Troy. The caption reads, Meet Troy, our future Secretary of State. Friends, God can make things happen

that you could never make happen. He'll make you famous so you can use your influence not only to reach your goals so you can help others along the way. Now, do you apart. No more sick prayers. No more weak prayers.

get rid of that slave mentality. Go to God like it's your birthday. Ask him for your dreams. Like Jabez, dare to say, God, bless me indeed. If you'll do this, I believe and declare. Like Solomon, God is going to give you more influence, more resources, more notoriety. You're going to accomplish your dreams, rise higher than you ever thought possible, and become everything God created you to be in Jesus' name.

If you receive it, can you? say amen today. We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take your places that you've never It's a new year. Time to see the impossible become possible. It's a new year. Life setbacks are about to become God's set-ups for new opportunity. It's a new year. Cherished dreams will become unexpected reality. The start of the new year is the perfect time to reset your focus, release disappointments of the past, and get ready for the new things God has in store. Every January, we create a new 365-day, devotional calendar. I'd love to send it to you. Each day is filled with inspiration, scripture, and uplifting declarations to fuel your faith. When you begin the day,

thanking God for what he's done, speaking victory over your future, you're positioning yourself for a blessed favor-filled year. Amazing things happen when you keep God first place. As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this first month of the year, we would like to send you a copy of our brand new 365-day 2026 devotional calendar. Do you want to overcome your most pressing challenges in 2026? Do you want to see your life take off in new directions of influence, favor, and provision in the year ahead? With this daily encouragement, you'll not only smile at your day, you'll be reminded that God is smiling on your entire life. Each day will be a fresh new day.

Turn discouragement to encouragement, frustration to fulfillment, anxiety to overcoming. Start each morning knowing that it's God's desire to turn what seems like an ordinary life into extraordinary favor, strength, and opportunities. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, three, one, wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two, reflect on the daily scripture verse and devotional from Joel. Three, capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection. 2026 is going to be one of your best years ever.

We're going to help you stay in faith so you can see the goodness of God in new ways. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. We want to thank you for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting lives around the world. Special thank you to our champion of hope partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online, live every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, or the new Joel Osteen Network, 24 hours a day.

Of course, listen live on Sirius XM as well. But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Be sure to request your copy of the 2026 devotional calendar. Available this month by simply visiting us at joelosteen.com or calling 888-567, Joel. Also, no matter what season you're in, joy, sorrow, waiting, growth. God wants to speak into each and every moment. God's Word for every season is a guided journal series designed to help you slow down, write out scripture, and reflect on its truth, one verse at a time.

As you engage with His Word, you'll discover fresh strength, deeper peace, and timely encouragement for every step of your journey. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567, Joel, or logging on to joelosteen.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day. Request these resources today.