By Jill Eileen Smith Visit her blog

I mentioned the other day that my dad left me a legacy of prayer. He also left me a legacy of love for Scripture as he read his Bible every day, 365 days a year. I have much to be grateful for in his love for God, and am so glad he passed it down to us.

I’ve heard leaders on and off call on Christians in our nation to pray for one thing or another. This happens often in May on the National Day of Prayer.

I would like to ask us to consider something more than that one time of year. I wonder if you would join me in praying daily.

Here are some things that are heavy on my heart to pray for:

1. Jesus came to earth to die for us for a reason. He wants us to be with Him where He is. (Read John 17 and Hebrews 12 to understand His heart.) His crucifixion isn’t just a tragic tale. There was a purpose to his coming, and it had to do with people, with everyone who is willing to believe in Him.

• Pray for the people you love who don’t know Him yet.
• Pray for the people who have never heard of Him, to hear the good news that He came to give them freedom and peace with God.
• Pray that you will know Him and love Him more.

2. 57 Million babies have died in this country since 1973. Some don’t consider them babies because they are still in utero. But if cells are multiplying and a heart is beating, life is there.

• Pray for the women who have suffered an abortion and cannot forget. There is healing in Jesus.
• Pray for the women who are considering abortion as an alternative to a situation that could have a happier ending in adoption.
• Pray for our nation to recognize that this is a serious issue that is doing far more harm than they realize.

3. Leaders in this country, from the government to business owners, from wall street to main street, face many trials and struggles. God tells us to pray for those in authority over us. From kings to governors on down the line.

• Pray that God would cause an awakening to begin with our leadership, that greed would no longer be part of the equation of politics or business.
• Pray for the attitudes of people toward authority, that we can live peaceful and quiet lives.
• Pray for level headedness in dealing with controversy.

4. Our world is in turmoil. The Middle East is at war. Terrorism is on the rise. Fear is real.

• Pray for peace. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (because God says to pray for that city). Pray for the eyes of those who are blind to the truth to be opened.
• Pray for those who are enemies of peace, who would force the world to live as they live. Remember that God even gives His enemies a choice. Pray for mercy.
• Pray for our allies in the Middle East and around the world, that our foreign leaders will seek the Lord, that our own leaders will do the same.

As Christians, we are commanded to pray. There are many, many reasons to fear. But even more reasons to pray. When we come together to pray, we have the ability to take down spiritual strongholds, in Jesus’ Name and by His power (not ours). But please know, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This world is in a war far greater than the threat of terrorism. We are up against ancient unseen powers.

People may call me crazy for believing what I’m sharing with you today. But it is all in Scripture. And I know from experience that prayer makes a difference. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. It is more than my dad’s legacy. It is our commission from God Himself to pray. I’ve been too lax when it comes to praying for some of these things

But I think our world depends on us to do so if we want to see things improve rather than grow increasingly darker.

Will you join me?