Something amazing happened yesterday.

Before I go into it, I have to backtrack a little. In my morning quiet time as I studied a section in the book of Acts, I stumbled upon this verse: The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome. Acts 23:11

Paul was in a sticky situation. He’d just been pulled away from an angry Jewish assembly of Pharisees and Sadducees who were arguing about him. To protect him and discover the cause of the uproar, a Roman commander took him away by force to their barracks.

Now read the verse again. Do you see it? It says “the Lord stood near Paul.”

So many thoughts went through my mind and it made me wonder – how often does the Lord stand by us without our knowledge? How many times has he held my family and me up without us realizing it?

It sparked a new fire for me in the realm of praying for my kids. I said, “Show me Lord, that you’re standing near me. I need to see you and know you are with me just as you were with Paul.”

I admit that sometimes I feel weak asking God for things like this. I DO have faith of course, but it still makes me feel “needy” which is silly because of course I’m needy. Psalm 72:12 says, For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He loves when we cry out and express our needs. But still . . .

Anyway, later that night I was working in the kitchen and my 19-year-old daughter walks in with cupcakes. She puts them on the counter and just stands there. So I go back to what I’m working on and all of a sudden she says, “Can I have a hug?”

This. Never. Happens.

I can see she’s about to burst into tears so I jump up and wrap her in my arms and just hold her. Minutes pass and she says, “I need you to pray for my friends.”

So we do. Right then and there I got the opportunity to pray for my prodigal daughter and her lost friends.

God stood near.

I know He was wrapping himself around us because I could feel his presence so powerfully. I’m living proof that all we need to do is ask and cry out to him. He will hold us up.

Your Turn: What are you needy for? I challenge you to ask, stay alert and standby as he answers your prayer.