Category: Running The Race

Bible Verse of The Day – 4-3-23

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV) 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

As Paul exhorted Timothy to be strong in his faith, he warned Timothy of things to come.

He told of false teachers, people who would flock to those false teachers, etc. And he warned Timothy to be watchful, endure afflictions, and be prepared to preach the word under any circumstance.

Then, in verse 7, above, he penned these well-known words. Some might view those words as a summary of sorts, where Paul simply reassured Timothy that he himself had been diligent in his work for the kingdom of God.

While it is indeed that, it is also much more.

If we look at that verse closely, we will see that Paul is giving us a list of things that are necessary in our walk with God.

He fought the good fight.

Paul faced many adversaries and many harsh situations after he became a follower of Christ. His life was anything but easy. And yet, he persevered, never abandoning his call.

He finished the race.

No matter what Paul faced, he stayed the course. He never surrendered. He never turned his back on God.

He kept the faith.

Paul’s faith never faltered. In fact, one might say that as he forged ahead through all the difficulties he faced in his lifetime, his faith likely grew stronger as he saw God move in so many ways.

That faith ultimately cost him his life. But Paul never gave up the fight. He was faithful to the very end.

Likewise, we should use Paul’s life as an example.

How do we do that?

We fight the good fight. We finish the race. We keep the faith.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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Bible Verse of The Day – 11-25-22

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

In keeping with the theme from the devotionals on Monday and Wednesday, let’s talk today about running the race.

Paul urged the Corinthians to run the race in such a way that they may obtain (win) the prize.

He used this analogy because the Greeks were quite familiar with athletic races, which took place in their regions regularly, including the Olympic games. In this way he gave them an illustration that he knew they could easily understand and relate to.

The prize he referred to was salvation; eternity in heaven, in the presence of God.

He urged them to run the race well, so that they would not run in vain.

His goal was not so much to instill fear in them that their salvation would be lost, but to urge them to be diligent in “running the race”, that they may run it well.

In verse 25 he stated that athletes who compete in the natural world are self-disciplined and temperate (self-controlled), being careful to train to the best of their ability, even though they are competing for a prize that will fade away.

How much more, then, should we discipline ourselves to compete for a prize that is eternal in nature?

Paul reinforces the importance of this, stating, “they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown”.

In verse 26, Paul gets personal by telling them he runs the race “not with uncertainty”, and he goes on to state that he does not fight “as one who beats the air” (shadowboxing).

But he disciplines his body (verse 27) and “brings it into subjection”, so that, after preaching to others, he himself should not “become disqualified”.

This is a sobering message coming from someone with the spiritual stature of Paul, especially considering the fact that he wrote 2/3 of the New Testament and traveled the known world at that time to spread the gospel of Christ, also planting and raising up many new churches across those regions.

People of God, this is something we all need to pay attention to. This should cause each of us to want to examine ourselves and make sure we are sincere and diligent in our walk with Him, running every step with purpose, finishing the race well, so that we ourselves should not be disqualified.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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Bible Verse of The Day – 12-10-20

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

If we wish to run in a natural race that is lengthy, it requires endurance. Building up endurance takes effort, preparation and discipline.

There is a race that God has called us to run, and we need to be prepared and ready to run it with all our heart and will.

No one goes out to run a race halfheartedly and without getting in shape physically. They will not get very far. They will run out of steam and give up quickly.

But if we are prepared, that race will be one to remember.

It’s the same with whatever God has called us to do. We need to be prepared for it.

Our training, though, doesn’t require physical exercise. Instead, it requires us to read His word, study and pray.

Sometimes we will even be required to fast. Oh no, did I say fast?

Yes. We will need to fast at times to get rid of the obstacles in our way that are trying to keep us from reaching the prize; those things that are harder to remove.

Mark 9:29 (NKJV) 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

Fasting will get the job done. It breaks the grip of whatever may be holding us back.

We can’t just jump into anything God may want us to do and start going at it as if we know just what to do. That can be presumptuous on our part. This is a very dangerous way to live. We need to pray, we need to read, and we need to fast.

Let God help us to get prepared so that we may walk out our call and run the race that He has set before us.

He will prepare us to win, not to fail.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 12-13-18

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

As a young girl, I was fast. I was even faster than my brothers and faster than all the boys in my class. I often took first place in the races on field day at my school.

I remember feeling bad at times for always being the fastest. But I loved to run and I would give it my all.

As I grew up, I noticed that before a race or a track meet, if I was feeling scared or intimidated in any way, my speed was limited. I did not run as fast, my strength was lessened, and I would not do as well.

Having confidence helped me to run better.

No matter what race we are running today, there will always be fear or intimidation somewhere along that road. Don’t avoid it. Don’t try and take a detour or different route. It will slow us down when it comes to reaching our destination.

Face it. Speak to it by not backing down or running away from it. Stand firm with confidence in God, knowing that all things are possible with Him.

We can win! Amen.

Matthew 19:26 (NKJV) 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-23-17

1 Corinthians 9:2 (NKJV) 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

We are all in a race. No. It’s not the race that the world runs in. It’s not a race to see who can accumulate the most stuff or the most friends, etc.

We are running a race in an effort to receive a crown. We are in a race against the works of evil and the enemy of our soul.

We must run with wisdom and discernment. We must equip ourselves for this race with the tools that God provides us with. He has made sure to provide us with everything we need to run this race well.

And our goal is not to cross the finish line and look back to see who we beat. It is to follow the leading of our God and cross the finish line with our eyes fixed firmly on Him the entire time, knowing that when we have finished, we will collect a crown from Him and our eternity with Him will lay before us.

And remember that this race isn’t over until we breathe our last breath and stand before God Himself.

And it isn’t won on our own strength. We run solely on the strength of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So if you have stumbled and fallen, or if you have gotten off course at some point, know that today is a new day and the rest of your race still lies before you.

So get back on track and give it your best, looking to God for your help. And never look back at where you came from or grieve over the bad choices you may have made.

Get Up. Look ahead. Move forward. Run well.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-5-16

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Races. They’re fun. They’re challenging. And they show us what we’re made of. And in the end, only one person can win a race.

I love competition. I have a very competitive nature and personality. If I do something, I do it to win. I do it to the best of my ability. I want to know that, when I finish something, I gave it my all. 110%, so to speak.

In today’s world, many people are taught that in a race, everyone should get a trophy, regardless of how well they finish. It doesn’t matter if they trained very hard or didn’t train at all. Some people think that those people who didn’t bother to train should get rewarded equally with those who trained very, very hard.

In God’s word, He tells us to run the race in such a way that we may obtain the prize. He isn’t referring to a physical race, but a spiritual race. It’s a race that each one of us is participating in.

This race that we run is toward a heavenly goal. In this race, we’re not competing against each other. But we’re racing toward God Himself, battling demons and powers of darkness who will try to hold us back and pull us down.

God has given us everything we need to battle the demons and run the race, finishing strongly, and claiming the prize!

It’s up to us whether we give it 110% or just 10%. It’s up to us whether we finish strongly, charging through that ribbon, or we barely make it, limping across the finish line.

It’s up to us. You and me. What will it be?

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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