JULY THEME – “Seeing Ebenezer- “Hitherto Hath The Lord Helped Us” From God’s Perspective”
Join us in prayer and celebration as Belmont Baptist Church celebrates our Year of Jubilee, marking fifty years of God’s amazing faithfulness and looking forward with grateful hearts to all He has yet to do.
BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
Look and Live (Part 3): Keeping Your Eyes Fixed on Christ
Hebrews 12:2 — “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”
The Christian life is far simpler than we often make it. God never intended us to live by constantly examining ourselves, obsessing over our circumstances, or trying harder to become better Christians. His invitation is wonderfully simple: “Looking unto Jesus.”Where your eyes rest, your heart soon follows. Whatever continually captures your attention will eventually shape your thoughts, your emotions, your decisions, and your life. The greatest battle you will fight today is not the battle against your circumstances—it is the battle for your focus. The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are “changed into the same image.” God’s method of transformation is not self-improvement but Christ-occupation. The more we behold Him, the more we become like Him. The more we know Him, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more His life is reflected through ours.
Satan’s Greatest Deception
Satan understands this truth better than we often do. If he cannot keep you from Christ, he will do everything possible to distract you from Christ. His greatest deception is convincing believers that their circumstances deserve more attention than their Savior. He whispers, “Look at your disappointments. Look at your fears. Look at your failures. Look at your past. Look at what others have done. Look at yourself.” As long as your attention remains there, he has succeeded in diverting your heart from the only One who can give you peace, strength, and victory.
Peter learned this lesson while walking on the water. As long as his eyes remained on Jesus, he walked above the storm. The moment he shifted his attention to the wind and the waves, he began to sink. The storm had not changed. Jesus had not changed. Only Peter’s focus had changed. The same is true in our lives. Our greatest problem is often not the storm around us but allowing the storm to become greater in our minds than our Savior.
The Daily Discipline of Looking
Keeping your eyes on Jesus is not a one-time decision but a daily discipline. Open His Word to see Him more clearly. Speak with Him throughout the day in prayer. Meditate on His promises. Thank Him continually for His goodness. Worship Him for who He is. Whenever your thoughts drift toward fear, anxiety, discouragement, or self, deliberately turn the eyes of your heart back to Christ. One fresh look at Jesus can accomplish what hours of worry never will. His greatness shrinks our problems. His faithfulness calms our fears. His sovereignty strengthens our confidence. His love softens our hearts. His presence brings peace that no circumstance can ever provide. The more we behold Him, the less we are occupied with ourselves.
Live Looking Unto Jesus
The Christian life is not about trying harder—it is about looking longer. As you keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Holy Spirit quietly transforms you into His likeness. Every temptation is an invitation to look to Christ. Every trial is another opportunity to trust Him. Every blessing is a reminder to thank Him. Every burden is another reason to fix your eyes upon Him. Today, ask yourself one simple question: “What has captured my attention?” If it is anything other than Jesus, deliberately turn the eyes of your heart back to Him. There is no safer place to look, no greater Person to behold, and no sweeter way to live than looking unto Jesus.
Warfare Prayer
Heavenly Father, guard my heart from every distraction of the enemy. Refuse to let Satan deceive me into fixing my eyes on my circumstances, my fears, my failures, or myself. By Your Holy Spirit, continually turn the eyes of my heart back to the Lord Jesus Christ. May His beauty captivate me, His promises strengthen me, and His presence fill me with peace. Keep my eyes locked on Jesus until His life is clearly seen through mine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Several times today, pause and ask yourself, “What has captured my attention?” If your thoughts have drifted to worry, discouragement, or self, deliberately turn your heart back to Jesus. Read one verse about Him, thank Him for one of His attributes, and spend a few moments simply beholding Him. The direction of your gaze today will determine the condition of your heart tomorrow. Keep looking unto Jesus.
MONDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS
Tom Witcher’s Family In His Passing On Friday
Rob Davis – cancer
Mary Williams – Rehab for Broken Hip
Kim McClain’s Mother