There's a Crack in Your Armor Perry Stone

sound in town. But try to inspire the same group when calling for a one-hour intercession service where they can talk face-to face with God! The crowds disperse and the prayer service is attended by the faithful few. Pay attention . . . we cannot survive a battle without knowing how to pray! Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” In an earlier chapter I mentioned that prayer is like the javelin the Roman soldier shot at the enemy before going into battle. When you praise, it ascends to heaven and remains, but when you pray, what goes up will eventually come back down! Praise benefits God, but prayer benefits you. 3. T AKING ON UNASSIGNED BATTLES Carnal people who have no relationship with God can be dumpers. They want to dump the blame on you, their problems on you, their financial obligations on you, and they dump what they don’t want on whoever will carry their trash for them. That is not to say we are to avoid being compassionate and caring for someone away from God or unwilling to follow Him. However, don’t put yourself under self-imposed burdens or self-invited oppression. Do not take on everybody else’s problems or any unnecessary cares God did not assign to you. With faith and prayer, deal with solutions to your own problems; handle your own family’s crisis and any other battles that God permits you to encounter—but never be pulled into another person’s battle just for the battle’s sake.