As I recently sat in the exit row of an American Airlines flight from California to NC, I was overwhelmed with God’s goodness. I had just completed eight days of travel on the west coast—specifically speaking at a world summit at Saddleback Community Church. The eight days from family caused me to become emotional as I pondered God’s gift of a wonderful wife and three beautiful girls; this led to my scribbling the following on scrap paper as flight attendants served soft drinks at 36,000 feet.

I pray because I need to! The reasons are numerous--ministry, health, and provision.

But as I ponder the family with which God has blessed me, I find another reason I pray-precipitated by the stark fact that I married later in life (age 39)—that I am 17 years older than Lisa and now at age 53 with three girls, ages 6, 4 and 2, I will most likely leave Lisa a widow and our girls fatherless long before the norm.

When Lisa and I dated and talked about marriage, we discussed the age difference—she already knew my testimony. On telling her I would most likely make her a widow “before her time”, she said “I’d rather be married to you for however many years God gives us than to any other man for a lifetime!” “Wow!” I thought.

I pray because Lisa will need all the help she can get in parenting our girls.

I pray because our three girls need Him and they need to know their need of Him as soon as possible. I can’t give them what I’ve got, but I can make them hungry for what I have--Jesus Christ!

I pray because I want every earthly disappointment they experience to steer them to God.

I want them to be closer to Him at their age than I was – to know that He alone can fill the void left after the Christmas toys become boring.

I pray because I need to be the best male figure in their lives, so they won’t settle for any man who comes along; and regardless of whether or not he does, they will find Jesus Christ sufficient.

I pray because even now my heart breaks in anticipation of their future heartbreaks.

I pray because no amount of life insurance I leave can give them a life of assurance that is only found in Christ.

I pray because I want our girls to fall in love with the Church’s bridegroom, Jesus Christ, before they ever fall in love with any other bridegroom.

“Oh God, help me to remember this—another reason I pray!”