"I would pray that I bless all the people in the world and all the animals and my cat Rusty especially," says Noah, age 6. Noah would also ask God to bless his house and other people's houses and "to make the parks really fun."

Somewhere in Petaluma, Calif., there's a blessed cat named Rusty.

"I pray that everyone in the world has food," says Clare, 5. We often take for granted the blessings of abundant food when many people suffer from malnutrition and starvation. It's easy to become desensitized because we're bombarded with so many media images of starving children.

Quality organizations like Food for the Hungry and AMG International provide opportunities to sponsor needy children for less than the price of a soft drink or a cup of coffee a day. They care for the whole person by providing physical and spiritual food for children and their families.

"I pray that all the wars will stop but, most of all, that all kinds of people will know you (God): freaks, jocks, geeks and everyone will know you no matter who it is and what color they are," says Sandy, 10.

Heaven's streets will overflow with earth's outcasts. For the most part, Jesus didn't attract the respectable and elite of society. Most religious leaders felt offended and threatened by Jesus' statement that you must be born again by believing in him. They wanted to work their way to heaven. Those who are spiritually hungry seize the moment by believing in Jesus as the promised messiah.

"I pray that there won't be any more violence or wars in America," says Justin, 7. "I pray that America will win if there are any wars."

Justin prays smart. No one wants war. But if evil people threaten life and liberty, we must stop them. The hijackers who flew planes into buildings on Sept. 11 unveiled the face of evil. The kind of hatred that justifies murdering innocent civilians is demonic.

We should thank God every day for the courageous men and women who have given their lives to secure freedom and for those who risk their lives to protect freedom. Police, firefighters and military personnel deserve our support, respect and honor.

"I pray for all the people in the world who don't believe in Jesus Christ our Lord," says Catie, 9.

Prayer for people represents the unseen battle in spiritual realms against terror. If our eyes were opened, most of us would be shocked at the intensity of the spiritual war being fought for control of people including national leaders.

We live in a time when the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel, but not to force it on anyone. The idea of forced love is a contradiction.

"But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God clearly demonstrated his love for us by sending his son to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. I've found that God usually prompts me to demonstrate the love of Christ in some tangible way to those for whom I pray. God's love usually works like a magnet that draws people.

Think about this: Begin praying for others today, and see the drawing power of God's love work in their lives. Memorize this truth: "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself" (John 12:32). Ask this question: Are you praying for our nation's leaders?

Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CAREY KINSOLVING

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