by Dr. Detra Bishop

"For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, and ye would not." (Isaiah 30:15, KJV)


Pastor Benny Hinn presented information on identifying the strongman and the various evil spirits that are associated with certain demon powers last week. This leadership series greatly enlightened me on the topic of spiritual warfare. After engaging the message, I was inspired to re-examine the way I do spiritual battle, and it was revealed to me that we cannot always approach the battle in the same manner.

The strategy used for a battle depends on many factors. All things considered, one must clearly understand the situation and the location of the battle before proceeding to fight.

Do you know what you are up against?

Who is the true enemy?

How is the problem being presented?

What magnifies the situation?

Who is involved?

Where is the problem coming from?

What must you do to resolve it?

The point I am making is that we often rush into a conflictual situation without clearly understanding what we are dealing with. To evaluate the problem takes more time than many of us are willing to invest; however, time invested up front saves time and resources at the end. Preparation time makes for an easier resolution. Are you taking the time necessary to solve you problems or do you just rush right in on an emotional impulse? Slow yourself down and think things through in prayer.

The New International Version and the New Living Translation of the passage sited earlier read: 

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'" (Isaiah 30:15, NIV)

"The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: 'Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength, but you would have none of it'." (Isaiah 30:15, NLT)

The difference in the way these passages read may determine how well you understand what is being said. The same is true for battle plans. The way you formulate them may make the difference in how well you execute them.

Lord, God, please help us to see clearly what the enemy has plotted against us. Empower us with spiritual insight that we may discern what is your perfect will for us in every situation. Lord help us stay focused on the real problem and not get carried away with minor distractions so we can resolve conflicts quickly. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.