Tag: Bible verses about putting God first

Bible Verse of The Day – 10-28-17

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Finding ourselves in love with God, and Who He is, is one of the most wonderful things that could happen to us here on this earth.

Some try to find happiness in material things. Some try to find happiness in a certain lifestyle. Some try to find happiness through being married and having a family. Some may even go after a certain crowd of friends. Some think they will be happy with a certain title.

It’s sad but true, that some have spent their life chasing after happiness and never really found it.

If we would take all that trying and put it toward going after our first love, we will find sound, grounded, pure happiness. And through it all, God will bless us with the desires of our hearts.

1 John 4:19 (NKJV) 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

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 – 10-7-17

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

So, what exactly happens when we seek first the kingdom of God? We get fed, we get clothed, we get taken care of. Wow, how rewarding!

Matthew 6:31-32 (NKJV) 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

God will take care of these things. Is that the reason why we should seek God and His righteousness? No! We shouldn’t have a motive other than wanting to do the right thing and be closer to Him. But it sure is nice to know that by doing so all these things will be added to us.

It is a gift. It is a privilege. It is an honor and a blessing, all wrapped together in seeking God.

Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking that following God means that He just makes everything we need fall into our laps from unknown sources. Yes, sometimes that can happen. But, most times He will require steps and action on our part. In turn, He provides for us in ways that are just as rewarding, and sometimes even miraculous.

Jesus gave His precious life so that we can have access to our Father. Let’s go after Him with everything in us. Seek first the kingdom!

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 – 10-5-17

1 Kings 3:5 (NKJV) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

If God appeared to us today and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”, what would be our answer? What would we want?

Some of us may have a list of things we need more than anything right now. But would that be what God wants to hear?

When God approached Solomon in a dream, Solomon, being a king, asked for one thing. He asked God for an understanding heart to help him to discern.

He knew he did not have the experience to discern justice correctly for the people. He wanted to be pleasing to God and do right by Him. He wanted to help the people and care for them correctly, fairly and justly.

Who was Solomon thinking of when he asked for understanding? Not himself. He could have asked for anything, but he chose understanding.

His answer to God showed his heart condition, and it was exactly what helped him not only get understanding, but everything else that he could have ever needed and wanted.

1 King 3:11-12 (NKJV) 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

What would we ask God for today? Would we give Him the answer He is looking for? The answer that would please Him?

Having wisdom and getting understanding is more precious than material possessions. It is important. It is the very thing that helps us every day in discerning our steps. It helps us to make clear decisions and to take the right actions in any given situation.

Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

What would we ask for?

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 – 10-4-17

Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NKJV) 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. 

Life can seem as though it has no meaning sometimes. We can go from day to day, wondering why we’re here, why we’re alive, and whether our life has any real value. 

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. He was also the richest man who ever lived. He had everything that any man (or woman) would ever want or need. 

And yet, after living and experiencing all that he walked through, he concluded that life is only vanity and grasping for the wind. 

We might look at Solomon’s life and wonder why he would say that. After all, he had everything. He had wealth, wisdom, pleasures and so much more. Why, after being blessed so abundantly, would he write such things? 

The answer is simple. He saw the frivolity in those things. He saw how people spent their lives chasing after wealth, pleasure and other tangible things. And he understood that those things are worth nothing when compared to living a life that pleases God. 

Solomon had more wives and concubines that possibly any other man that lived. He didn’t lack attention or physical pleasure. 

He had more wealth than any other man has ever been able to accumulate. He never lacked any kind of possessions. 

And he had a kingdom of people at his service. He was well taken care of. 

So, there is a valuable lesson for all of us in his words. 

If someone who had as much as Solomon did would speak such words about life being vanity and grasping for the wind, while being so abundantly blessed with worldly materials and comforts, it would benefit each and every one of us to pay close attention and make sure that our time and efforts are put into pursuing God, and not the things of this world. 

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-28-17

Matthew 22:37 (NKJV) 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

God wants our whole heart. He desires us to walk closely with Him every minute of every day.

As human beings, we sometimes have a hard time with this. We get pulled on from so many different directions. We end up with our affections divided between so many things and our time spent scattered in many ways. Before we know it, God is only a tiny little slice of our lives.

One of the most important things we can learn as followers of Christ is that He comes first, before anyone and anything else. It’s His heart’s desire. It’s the reason He created us; to worship Him and walk close to Him.

There is a never-ending list of things we can put before God. Money, careers, family, relationships, etc., etc. It’s different for each of us.

But it doesn’t matter what it might be. If it pulls us away from God and causes our relationship with Him to falter or if it keeps us from growing closer to Him, then we need to take a serious look at it and consider making some changes.

God does not force us to love Him. It’s not in His nature to do so. He has given us the option; love Him or not. But if we do love Him, He wants us to do it of our own free will and give it 100%.

It’s amazing how our lives are transformed when we put Him first and give Him 100%. Our heart changes. Our outlook on life changes. Our attitude changes. We become more compassionate. We forgive more easily. We genuinely care about others. We put things aside that used to mean a lot to us.

And we do it all willingly. Why? Because our love for God overshadows everything else in life. And when our love for God reaches that point, there is nothing that can come between us and Him.

Nothing.

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 – 7-14-17

Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Jesus told us that if we ask, we will receive. This is a truth to live by. God is a good Father who gives us what we need in our lives here on earth.

Many times, we hear this quoted by people claiming that we can and should use this principle to gain abundant amounts of material wealth and prosperity.

That is not the truth. That is a perversion of scripture that has taken a simple verse and twisted it to promote a dangerous doctrine. And people with itching ears have flocked to it, with their hopes and hearts set on getting rich. God is treated as a magic piggy bank that can be shaken and manipulated until money falls out.

Based on that teaching, wealth comes first. And, sadly, God is placed somewhere below first place. He is a means to an end. A Genie in a lamp, to be rubbed and used to fulfill wishes on demand.

But God always needs to come first. Our number 1 priority should be to grow closer to Him and please Him. God has told us that if we do that, He will honor our commitment and bless us. But the blessings should never be the motivating factor.

Clearly, God has no problem with us becoming wealthy. But becoming wealthy requires hard work, dedication and perseverance, not just speaking it into existence or hoping that God will drop it out of the sky because we ask Him over and over again.

So, let us give to God. Let us give with a pure heart and no motives. And when we’re in need, we can ask of Him without shame and with expectancy that He will give to us also.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-8-17

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

There is one true source for happiness and contentment. It isn’t money, homes, cars, jobs or any other tangible item.

God is our source. He is the One who holds us up and carries us through everything that we face in our lives.

As His children, it’s important that we look to Him for our happiness and contentment. He will never fail us. He will never let us down. And He will never leave us or forsake us.

When we trust Him and put Him first in everything, we can never go wrong!

And as we delight ourselves in Him, He will transform us and change the way we see things and the way we think.

When we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart.

Delight yourself in Him. Put Him first in everything and watch Him transform your heart and your life.

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 6-8-17

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. This is something that we all need to understand. But we need to make sure we look at it with the correct perspective.

Many times we can get caught up in the rewards and spend our time seeking after them. But in reality, we need to seek after Him, and not worry about the rewards.

The rewards will come when we put Him first and put our time and energy into seeking Him and growing our relationship with Him first, before everything else.

Because we live in a materialistic world, many have gotten off the path and spent their time focusing on what we get if we follow after God. This is not at all what God intended. Yes, the rewards are good. But the close relationship with Him is so much better.

And if we’re seeking after Him solely for the rewards, then we’ve got things a bit mixed up. And seeking rewards will cause our relationship with Him to become twisted and performance-based. Again, this is not what God intended.

So we need to be sure that we are seeking God solely because we want to have a strong walk with Him, not for any other reason.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Seek Him first. The rewards will take care of themselves.

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-20-17

John 14:13 (NKJV) 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Are we asking or are we just waiting? If we are asking then the answer is here, or it’s in the works as we believe.

If we are just waiting to see what God will do and we haven’t asked Him for whatever it is that we may need or want, then it is what it is. Nothing is happening. We can’t blame it on God if we don’t follow directions.

We may say, “well, I don’t want to ask Him because there are many people who are worse off than I am. They need the help more than we do”. So does this mean that God must only have a small inventory, a limited supply?

It’s up to us to follow commands, not make them.

This is not a prosperity teaching. This is about learning how to ask God to help get us out of what we got ourselves into. And it’s about being relieved from bondage; the things that hold us down and keep us from entering into all that God wants from us and for us. We have to get free from those things that put distance between us and God.

You see, if we have bondage then we are not able to walk out the plan that God has for us to its fullest. We may do a little here and a little there, as time allows but never as fully as we could if we weren’t in bondage to other things.

Bondage to anything spells captivity. That thing takes up the time that would otherwise be available for us to do the things God may have for us to do, even if all He asks us to do is to sit at His feet and rest. If God wants us to take the time to do it, we have to be able to say, “yes God, I am here”.

Some of us today are not in a place to be able to do this. But, that doesn’t mean it has to stay this way. It just means we need to fix it, by asking God for help.

God wants all of us, not just a little piece of us. He wants us to be free to move when He asks us to. He wants our minds to be clear and rested, not stressed and overwhelmed.

If we are stuck owing everyone something, like our time, our money, and our energy, then we have not made ourselves available for Him. We are slaves to our own plan.

It’s time to start asking God to help us get completely free of the things that we are in bondage to.

The first step is to understand that God expects us to come to HIM for help and ask. We ask through the precious name of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ.

It’s important that, before we ask, we get His understanding and knowledge on what will be good for us to ask for. Sometimes we may already know. But if for some reason we don’t, we shouldn’t just start rambling things off that we think we need.

Let Him guide us in our prayers. Let it be serious and focused. And take notes. Pay attention to every detail, and be expectant.

Remember, it is God’s will to help us. It is His will to give to us as we ask. We don’t ask so that we may prosper in our own way, or for selfish reasons.

Our goal should be that He can have MORE of us and be glorified through us.

That’s why we ask. Amen.

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 – 3-29-17

Mark 12:30 (NLT) 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

There are lots of things we can love.

Our spouse, fiance, career, children, church, ministry, etc. And all of these are good things that we should love.

But sometimes our love for something can become a weakness if we don’t keep our priorities straight.

Sometimes we can love things that aren’t so good. Maybe things like alcohol, lust, drugs, anger, etc. And loving these kinds of things can destroy us, physically, emotionally and spiritually if we don’t see them for what they are and eliminate them.

Anything that we love, if it comes before our love for God, can rise up and hurt us at some point in our lives.

Yes, even our love for our spouse, our children, our work or our “ministry” can hurt us.

If we love alcohol, it can and will destroy us. If we love lust, it can and will destroy us. If we love any kind of sin, it will ultimately rise up and destroy us if we don’t surrender it to God and let Him deliver us from it.

But even our love for our spouse or our children can damage us badly, or even destroy us, if we don’t put it in its proper place in our lives.

We always need to love God first. He needs to take precedence over absolutely everything else in our lives. He needs to come first. Everything and everybody else needs to come after God.

When we put anything else before God, we are always setting ourselves up to be hurt or to fail. Because when something is higher on our list of priorities than God is, that thing will ultimately hurt us in one way or another.

It is so very important that we keep our priorities in order and keep God where He belongs, at the top of that list!

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 3-15-17

John 6:26-27 (NKJV) 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Many people pursued Jesus when He was here on earth because they knew He would give them something. In these verses, He had given them food to eat. Others pursued Him because they had seen Him perform signs and wonders.

Why do we pursue Jesus?

Is it because we want a miracle? Is it because we want material things? Is it because we want blessings of some kind?

Or do we pursue Him because we want to know Him, and build a lifelong, lasting relationship with Him that changes who we are and why we live?

Now, let’s not get confused and think that it’s wrong to want to see miracles. Let’s not think that it’s wrong to ask things of God. He wants us to ask.

Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

But when the asking becomes our primary or our only focus, then we need to make some adjustments.

We need to put the relationship first, and the requests second. And when we get that right, then many other things in our lives will come into order.

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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