Tag: Bible verses about putting God first

Bible Verse of The Day – 3-23-18

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. 

Want to know the secret to living a life of fulfillment? 

Want to know what it means to be successful? 

How about learning how to love others, even when they don’t love you back? 

Want to know how to be blessed in all things? 

There are many other things that could be listed here that most of us desire or think are important when it comes to the quality of our lives. 

Regardless what it might be that we desire, none of it will matter until we get this one thing right; love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 

This might seem like an over-simplification. And it might be when looked at from certain viewpoints. 

But, the reality is that if we put God first in everything, and love Him with all our heart, soul and mind, most of the rest of our lives will fall into place. And even if we aren’t overflowing with material blessings, we will love our life because it will be a life built on honoring and loving God. 

And nothing gets any better than that. 

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 – 3-8-18

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where do our treasures lie? Are they in the material things that we possess? Or are they in the things of God, the things He shows us and the things that draw us closer to Him?

As we endeavor to draw nearer to Him and strengthen our relationship with Him, the things that are in our heart will either help us or hinder us in our walk with Him.

The things of this world can develop a very strong grip on our hearts if we’re not careful to guard it.

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Everything that we set our minds and hands to do takes up our time and requires our effort to accomplish. Many times, we don’t see or understand how many “little extras” are required when we get involved in something or buy a new possession.

We might take on a task and only see the surface of it, the time or effort that we think is involved. But, once we’re into it, it actually requires much more time and energy to pursue and master. And each minute or hour we give up to this is less time that we have in our relationship with God.

It’s important that we count the cost and not make sudden or rash decisions and choices.

Luke 14:28 (NKJV) 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…

We obviously need some “down time” once in a while. God isn’t against us spending time doing things we enjoy. But He also wants us to make our choices carefully, letting His spirit lead us as we make those choices and decisions.

And if we can learn to do that on a regular basis, we’ll find ourselves getting into less things that cause us to become too busy and preoccupied with activities that can suck up our time and energy, leaving God in last place.

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 – 1-22-18

Mark 4:19 (NKJV) 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

How is our walk with God today? Have we lost Him somewhere in the shuffle? Is our heart so bogged down with the cares of the things around us that He seems far away, off in the distance somewhere?

Time to put on the brakes, slow down and pull back on some things. Time to put first things first, get back on track and stop toying with things that are only there to distract us from what we really need to be doing.

It happens. The cares of the world try to take over. It’s up to us to stop it from happening!

We need to be seeking God, first and foremost. Everything else will work its way out as we do this.

He is our Anchor. He is our Rock. He holds us together. Don’t let Him be the One that is lost. Everything else comes after Him.

Today, let’s make a decision within our hearts to slow it down and get back on track. He is our #1 priority, before anyone or anything else.

Let’s not lose Him in the shuffle.

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 – 11-21-17

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

The most important thing we can do in this life is follow the verse above and truly fall in love with our God. Fall in love with our Creator, our Lord, our Provider, our Healer, our King of kings and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

What do we mean by falling in love?

Some of us might not even know what love really is. Maybe some of us have never been loved the way we should have been. And the love we think we know isn’t love at all.

Jesus is our example of LOVE.

Jesus’s love for us is true love. He loves us so much that He gave Himself for us. Literally. That’s right. He died a cruel death for you and for me.

And while He was here, He served us. He healed us. He clothed and fed us. He delivered us from demonic attacks. He protected us from our enemies. He made a way for us to have a relationship with Him. And He made us a home in Heaven for when it’s our time to leave this place.

This love is for us all.

Go after Him. Find Him. He will teach us how to love like this as we walk in a relationship with Him.

A relationship takes two people, talking to each other, hearing each other, serving each other, respecting each other, caring for each other. We go the extra mile for each other. Even unto death. These are all things we will do when we truly love.

Start a relationship with our beloved Jesus Christ. Everything else around us will fall into place, one piece at a time. We will learn how to love and deal with things accordingly.

Our words will be tempered, our anger, unforgiveness and bitterness will eventually go away. Our cares will be more for others than for ourselves. We will handle ourselves differently and our situation will change for the better.

Focus on falling in love with Him first. He will work out all the other details over time.

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 – 11-17-17

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

As followers of Christ, it’s important that we never forget who we are and Who we belong to.

We have a tendency to sometimes forget this. We like to think we’ve got it all together and don’t need anyone’s help; not even God’s help.

But this is completely wrong. This is a fatal mistake on the part of believers. We can reach a point where we become self-confident and feel like we can handle anything and everything on our own.

When that happens, we begin stepping out and doing things on our own, without even bothering to get with God first. This is where we get ourselves into trouble.

Jesus himself told us that we can do nothing without Him.

John 15:5 (NKJV) 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

We need to be cautious of starting to feel like we don’t need God any longer. Yes, He will equip us to do the things that He asks us to do. But we should always go to Him and lean on Him to accomplish those things.

When we reach a point of feeling like we no longer need Him, we are almost implying that we can take His place and do His job for Him. We become like little gods. Sound far-fetched?

It’s more common than we might think. And it can happen to anyone, if we get our priorities mixed up or listen to the wrong voices.

The Holy Spirit will always point us back to God… For everything. It doesn’t matter how big or how small the thing is that God wants us to do. God’s spirit will never, ever steer us away from God or His word, to someone or something else.

So, let’s be cautious and diligent to stay close to Him, seek Him in everything we do, and hold His word close to our hearts so He can remind us of it when we need Him to.

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 – 10-28-17

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

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 – 7-14-17

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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