Author: Laura Eve Harding

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot

In an ‘all about me’ society this quote is a hard pill to swallow. Christ did not come to this earth for us to be so attentive to our own needs. We, myself included, have fought battles concerning our health. I do my best to not be so concerned and I find God’s grace is enough because He looks out for me when I put my total trust in Him.

When I woke up this morning, this Jim Elliot quote rang through my mind once as I was thinking about which doctor I should visit for a problem I’m having in my body. I was reading about different doctor philosophies and treatment when this thought came to me. This issue I’ve been having recently, has made me consider giving up an opportunity that was opened to me not too long ago. I have been stubborn in not wanting to give this up because I see the God-potential in it. And so I’ve been pushing through. The symptoms I had are now lessening however, I still want to see a physician once maybe twice to continue that healing longterm and to guard myself from experiencing this issue again.

I am reminded that I have been treated for an ongoing medical issue for 20 something years and there was a time when my existence was that issue. I had to live for that issue. Everything I did was dependent upon this medical issue. About 4 years ago God used people to wake me up from that spell. My eyes were opened and I saw my life did not have to be centered around this issue. I found that when I truly put my trust in the Lord regarding this that He did not fail me, even in my blind faith.

Since then I have had more revelation knowledge come to me recently from the Lord regarding this issue I’ve dealt with for a long time. And I believe that it’s been helping me alot.

The point of all this is to say Satan likes for us to be concerned with ourselves and our issues. It’s time believers that we turn our eyes to Jesus and trust Him with all our hearts. All we have to do is ask Him for answers and have an openness to receive those answers and they will come. And it will be like a breath of fresh air when we’re not concerned about ourselves so much.

I know we never go through anything that will not in the end work for our good and God’s glory. This may be for someone else’s good too because God will use it for the building-up of another for His glory as only He does.

Put on those rose-colored glasses and see your mission. Put your running shoes on and ready yourself so you can run the race marked out before you with perseverance, doing all things through Christ who gives you strength. Only then you will be more then a conqueror through Him who gives you strength and ultimately an overcomer.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Brothers and sisters in Christ we don’t do Spiritual things bc we are trying to check a list off but BC we need God to move. We pray fervently to a God who loves His children and like a good father won’t if u ask for a fish give you a snake instead. If we are evil and know how to give good gifts how much more will our Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him (Matt 7.9-12). This means asking God not in a passive way but coming to Him and asking Him w a pure heart just like the widow came to the judge seeking justice (Luke 18.1-8). She came again and again until her request was granted. What do u need? How long have u been asking? Is your petitioning not working bc you’ve been persistent in your prayers? Try asking God differently. Ask Him to reveal the answer. He’s waiting bc He wants to answer bc He’s a GOOD FATHER.

Peel away the skin. Layer after layer. Go deeper into the fruit of the Gospel. Search for more of God. Receive the nourishment and revival that comes with it. That’s what He wants. He wants to be known by us. We have to search for Him with all our hearts in order to find Him (Jer 29:13).

In His Word He promises that there’s so much more that we can’t even begin to understand or see. His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Is 55:8) We just have to really reach to see Him as He is in faith. The Bible is clear that we are to be humble because without humility we can’t see God. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of believing we see more when really we don’t because we’re proud. And then we really become blind to the whole truth about God and it stunts our growth. God is the One who has to give us eyes to see and ears to hear, making us useful to building up the Kingdom of God.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Is 55:6-7).

Seeking God in humility means we have an inner knowledge of just how much we need Him; this allows Him to open our understanding to more of who He is. It becomes less about us and more about Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a re-warder of those who diligently Him (Heb 11:6).

“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me” (Pro 8:17).
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you (Ps 9:9-10).

Something that resonates in my inner man over and over again is: don’t take yourself so seriously.

Seek the Lord and live.. says Amos in his book. This means according to the Strong’s Concordance we seek Him to live literally or figuratively; to revive, to keep alive, nourish up, quicken, repair, be whole.. Habakkuk 2:4 says the enemy is puffed up and his desires are not right but the righteous person will live by faith.

Which are you walking by today? Your own understanding or by God’s revelation that has been revealed to your heart? How do you know? Do your actions or attitudes reflect that? Can you track how God has changed you over the last year or even the last six months? How much time do you give Him to reveal truths to you?
And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you–and more [besides] will be given to you who hear (Mark 4:24).

What benefits are you reaping from receiving God-knowledge in your heart? Sow to the Spirit today and shift your focus from yourself to God and His ways. Be blown away by His vastness and His love for you so you can bubble over with His love onto others no matter how they treat you.

Check out A Life Redone at:

https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/464097-a-life-redone

Opportunity to teach Wednesday night. The Presence of God was there. Check it out

God’s presence is SO VAST and so enormous. He wants to gives His children the answers they need. All we have to do is ask Him the right questions so we will get the right answers.  God moves us from glory to glory His Word says. God overlooks our ignorance when it’s because we just don’t know but I really believe once we’ve been exposed the truth but we choose not to accept it there’s very little to no grace. I really feel like we stumble because of our ignorance. Ask, seek, knock and expect the answer to come.  Keep asking, seeking and knocking for that answer.  If you’re not getting the right answer start asking a different question so that you’ll get it.  You ask for a fish a good father does not give you a stone. God is a GOOD FATHER.  Ask Him today for what you need and see that He doesn’t open up the storehouses in Heaven for YOU to pour out enough blessing that you cannot contain it all. So it pours out of you onto others. Because it’s not just about us but others. We want to be a living testimony of our living God.

I was just reading my journal this morning and it took me back to April last year when I questioned God concerning His purpose for me. He confirmed over and over and over again what I was supposed to be doing and what I was not be doing anymore. What He was finished with and the new pursuit He had for me. I just had to ask. I’m so glad I wrote it down because I forget and I’m more glad He prompted me to open it back up and took me right there to be reminded that I’m doing what He wants me to do.

Encouragement for you to keep on that straight and narrow path this day, this week, this month and this year. To stay in His Word and keep talking to Him because He will answer. One way God does speak His will is through His Word. If you store up His Word in your heart it will not return void but it will accomplish what He sends it to do.

Check out my book A Life Redone: https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/464097-a-life-redone

Something about the English language when reading and interpreting the Bible is that sometimes we lose the significance of the actual words. The authors of the Bible did their best to write down the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit led them to. Those who interpreted the Bible into their languages did their best to interpret the words into our language and they did a good job but sometimes we just don’t understand the power that’s behind the original word used by the original author because of the translation so we must dig deeper into our Bible studies to get a better picture to teach the Word with accuracy and experience the power of the Scriptures. I know that we’re responsible only for what we know but I think that when we ignore truths because of our pride and we refuse to see things in the Word because of our egos, distractions or just plain laziness there is only so much grace. Especially if we are leaders in the church and teach the Word or people look up to us as examples or to give them a fresh word. One way or another we will be held accountable if not here but hereafter for this. Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness..

I find that when I’m struggling in an area in my life Spiritually, the Lord leads me to find the best answer and it usually takes me into the Bible digging deeper to find these answers. Then I am more than a conqueror through Christ who gives me strength (Is 54:17).

Seems like we as people need to be reminded of things again and again things we’ve learned just because we’re not yet perfected in our understanding. Recently I was reading some verses that focus on Christ and teaching me about not placing confidence in myself but reminding me what my goal should be. I see what I have available to me when I place my confidence in Christ and what He did for me on the cross.

Philippians 3:9-10 says: be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith. It says we must participate in the fellowship of His sufferings and becoming like Him in His death and in doing so we know Him and the power of His resurrection. ‘Righteoutness‘ in the original translation is ‘dikaiosyne’. This word indicates that my righteousness is not of myself or my performance but from Christ. Regarding this righteousness Matthew 5:6 says, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. We need to be hungry to be satisfied by the Bread of Life. It’s like an adult getting into the kiddy pool trying to get cooled off. If it’s not deep enough, we will still be hot. It’s hard for a full grown person to get comfortable in a pool up to his ankles. He has to get into a pool that covers more then half of his body to even get deep enough to dip under the water to be refreshed. In the same way if we always remain satisfied with knowledge to only the extent of what already know we are never truly satisfied in our souls. We remain stagnant and weak. We have to go deeper places then we’re comfortable with so we can learn and the Holy Spirit can reveal wonderful truths that encourage our growth and make us helpful tools God can use in others lives; encouraging others to grow, then we can really be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Then we can conquer the enemy of our souls and be real examples to a lost and dying world and draw others into the Kingdom of God; including our unsaved family and friends.

I challenge you today to take a dip into the unknown and challenge yourslelf in your Bible studies; do as Ephesians 6:13-15 says:

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Check out History Maker by Paul Colman on Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00LHA4PF8?trackAsin=B00LHA50CU&ref=dm_sh_FFW5xK9l9SIYLYT4GgZqgFeIj

As Christians sometimes we have to learn and relearn truths in our lives over and over. There are times that we conquer quests only to turn around later to go over a different mountain to relearn the same thing in a different way. God is so gracious He helps us over mountains of fear by teaching us faith for something new.

It’s great to have good friends who encourage you as you relearn things in different seasons. I am so blessed to have one of those friends who lives nearby me.

My husband and I have been married for almost fifteen years, which to me seems like a long time, but it’s not really been so long. We have tracked through some really tough times together, pulling out stronger then we were before.

Right now I’m learning about faith and how it’s not to be in myself but in God. Faithful. God is that. That is my word for Him this year. Instead of staring at what is, believing that God has and will conquer what I place my faith in Him to do, because He is my strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says it all: But he said to me, “My grace is. sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

God is faithful. He is SO FAITHFUL. Hang onto Him and you will see favor, grace, and mercy touch your circumstances; strength that is beyond your ability. If you go after anything it should be to grow in your pursuit and grasp of God. By His Spirit you can do anything; you can do anything; jump over that wall in front of you. HE IS SO FAITHFUL. Try Him

God’s presence is SO VAST and so enormous. He wants to gives His children the answers they need. All we have to do is ask Him the right questions so we will get the right answers.  God moves us from glory to glory His Word says. God overlooks our ignorance when it’s because we just don’t know but I really believe once we’ve been exposed the truth but we choose not to accept it there’s very little to no grace. I really feel like we stumble because of our ignorance. Ask, seek, knock and expect the answer to come.  Keep asking, seeking and knocking for that answer.  If you’re not getting the right answer start asking a different question so that you’ll get it.  You ask for a fish a good father does not give you a stone. God is a GOOD FATHER.  Ask Him today for what you need and see that He doesn’t open up the storehouses in Heaven for YOU to pour out enough blessing that you cannot contain it all. So it pours out of you onto others. Because it’s not just about us but others. We want to be a living testimony of our living God.

I was just reading my journal this morning and it took me back to April last year when I questioned God concerning His purpose for me. He confirmed over and over and over again what I was supposed to be doing and what I was not be doing anymore. What He was finished with and the new pursuit He had for me. I just had to ask. I’m so glad I wrote it down because I forget and I’m more glad He prompted me to open it back up and took me right there to be reminded that I’m doing what He wants me to do.

Encouragement for you to keep on that straight and narrow path this day, this week, this month and this year. To stay in His Word and keep talking to Him because He will answer. One way God does speak His will is through His Word. If you store up His Word in your heart it will not return void but it will accomplish what He sends it to do.

Check out my book A Life Redone: https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/464097-a-life-redone

Satan is a liar.

I had something happen yesterday that taught me about an important life principle. Fear will make something out of nothing. I had an opportunity to see myself think for a little bit that I might be sick. It actually manifested symptoms of something that ‘may be’ there.

When I started questioning what was happening I was led to began speaking out loud ‘the devil is a liar’. I walked around speaking the truth or the Word of God out of my mouth. Then I heard God give me a word in my spirit as I was quoting verses out loud. He said ‘this will not come near your dwelling. ‘ I looked that up and found it came from Psalm 91.

It made me consider a thorn in my flesh that I’ve dealt with for many years. I have seen the warfare in that that is real and if I fight right I can cast it down. I’m not always consciously aware enough when it rears its ugly head. But this experience has once again taught me to fight lies that come at me in the Spirit using the TRUTH which is God’s Word.

“The Bible says we are to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil and he will flee.” (James 4:7)

Try fighting your battles a different way especially if you haven’t seen a change in your position with whatever battle you face. Sometimes we fight in the wrong way and hold ourselves captive to something we should be free from. Just like the Israelites walked around the wilderness for 40 years. It was a trip that should’ve take 10 days. If they’d just done things God’s way instead of walking in their own understanding they could’ve reached their destination MUCH sooner.

Don’t fall for the enemy’s tactics. He wants to hold you down in defeat. The enemy is a liar. According to John 10:10 he comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly.

You better believe that your enemy is real. Getting grace to understand the battle at hand is so important. You want to be useful in this life to point others to Christ and not just focused on yourself otherwise you miss the point of life itself. I pray you get this. I pray I get this.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)