Are the violins softly playing in the background? Does anyone out there feel sorry for me? How does the country song go? ”Here’s a quarter. Call someone who cares!”

What’s the point, Larry?

The point is simply, I need to lose weight and there is really only one basic way to succeed. Forget the latest fads and learn the secret of the three D’s: Discipline, Diligence and Devotion to exercise.  All of my creative excuses fall flat because diet and exercise will help me do more work, spend time with the kids, feel better, live longer and have extra energy for fun. The discipline practiced today reaps rewards of health, happiness and a slim waistline tomorrow.

So, what does this have to do with prayer? Well, everything!

Charles Wheeler once said: “Prayer should be like the steering wheel of a car.” How could a car possibly function without a steering wheel? Instead, we more often treat prayer as a spare-tire. We only use it when there is something flat in our lives. But wait; Lord… it’s not my fault. I’m a victim!

We sound like the title of a recent book. “O Lord, I Have Sinned, but I Have Some Great Excuses! Our prayer life failures sound a lot like my diet and exercise excuses. We’re busy with the children, the spouse, the job, the chores and a hectic lifestyle that allows no time for God. “I watch ‘Touched By An Angel’ every week. Does that count?”

God’s attitude toward prayer is obvious: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Proverbs 8:17) “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3)

The point is: God wants to have a relationship with us, which can only happen through habitual prayer. This brings up those same three D’s: Discipline, Diligence and Devotion to God. Again the creative excuses fall flat because a good prayer life will help us do more work, spend extra time with the kids, feel better, live longer and guarantee us an extraordinary eternal life!