Heavenly Father, we lift up all those affected by Hurricane Milton. Please surround them with Your peace and protection during this difficult time. Provide for their needs, restore what has been lost, and give them strength to rebuild. May Your presence be a source of comfort and hope as they face the challenges ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
EVERYONE MUST VOTE
To the 41 million Christians who are choosing not to vote this November, you need to recognize the gravity of your decision. Scripture calls us to be ambassadors for Christ in every area of life, and that includes the political process. By sitting out, you are ceding ground to ideologies that are counter to biblical principles. This isn’t just about politics; it’s about being faithful to our calling and using every opportunity to advance God’s kingdom. The time is short, and the responsibility rests with us to stand up, be engaged, and make a difference for the glory of God.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
TRUSTING GOD’S GRACE OVER SELF-RELIANCE
Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Peter walked on water when he kept his eyes on Jesus, fully trusting Him.
But the moment he began to rely on his own understanding and saw the storm around him, he started to sink.
This story powerfully illustrates that when we rely on God’s grace, we can do the impossible.
However, when we lean on our own strength, we falter.
Many times in life, we fall into the habit of trusting our own abilities, thinking we need to figure everything out on our own.
This self-reliance leads to stress, burnout, and failure.
God invites us to a better way—one where we surrender our worries and decisions to His grace.
Trusting Him means letting go of control and leaning into His wisdom, which leads to lasting peace and guidance through life’s challenges.
Picture driving a car on a winding mountain road with no brakes.
Panic sets in as you realize the curves ahead are too dangerous for you to manage.
This is what it feels like when we try to control everything ourselves.
But when you trust God, it’s like giving the keys to a master driver who knows the road perfectly and has complete control.
You can relax, knowing that He will guide you safely to your destination.
Trusting God’s grace over our own understanding requires a shift in mindset.
We often live in a world where self-reliance is celebrated—where independence is considered strength.
But the Kingdom of God operates differently.
Strength comes from humility, from acknowledging our own weakness and allowing God to be strong on our behalf.
His grace is sufficient for every trial, every uncertainty, and every fear we face.
When you trust God’s grace, you learn to let go of the pressure to be perfect, the fear of failure, and the anxiety of not being in control.
God is asking us to step out in faith, just as Peter did.
He’s calling us to step away from relying on what we know, what we can see, or what we can control.
True freedom and peace are found when we release everything into God’s hands.
And the amazing thing about grace is that even when we falter, like Peter did, Jesus is right there to lift us up again.
Instead of constantly worrying about how things will turn out or trying to manipulate circumstances, we are invited to rest in the assurance that God’s plan is greater than our understanding.
Surrendering to Him doesn’t mean we give up responsibility or stop working hard; rather, it means we acknowledge that God is the one who ultimately holds our future.
It’s an ongoing, daily decision to say, “God, I trust You with this,” and to let go of anxiety, fear, and control.
As we walk in this trust, we also begin to see the beauty of God’s provision.
Things we once struggled with begin to fall into place—not because we figured them out, but because God, in His grace, orchestrated everything according to His will.
We experience peace that surpasses all understanding and strength that doesn’t come from us but from the One who lives in us.
When we lean into God’s grace, we learn the powerful truth that our lives were never meant to be lived alone.
We were designed to be fully dependent on the Creator who loves us more than we can imagine.
That dependence is not weakness; it’s the key to living a victorious, abundant life in Christ.
In conclusion, let God take control today.
Trust Him to navigate the twists and turns of your journey, and you will find that His grace is always enough to carry you through.
PRAYER
Father, today I release control to You. I acknowledge that Your grace and wisdom are greater than my own understanding. Help me to trust You fully in every area of my life and guide me according to Your perfect will. Amen.
ASSIGNMENT
Reflect on one area of your life where you’ve been relying on your own strength.
Pray for the courage to surrender that area to God and trust Him with it today.
Take a small step of action that shows you are letting go and letting God lead.
THURSDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Ben Bruce
Carol Lawhead
Danny Jarrard
James Parker
Jeff Brown
June Davis
Kim McClain
Linda Hodge
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Matt Barron’s Mother
Melba Torbich’s Family
Victims Of Storm And Chemical Fire
Amy Garner’s Mom
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Daniel Cooper’s Mother
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donna Plunkett’s Brother in law
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ed Mays
Ellen Boyd
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Freddie May’s Mom
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gail Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
George Calhoon
James Burnette
James Parker
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary William’s Granddaughter
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Sandra Graham’s Family
Sarah Parker
Scott Lanier
Steve Michaels
Tom Graham (Sandra’s Husband)
Tom Witcher