2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE” January – PRAYER from God’s Perspective
Next Sunday marks a turning point—not toward new information, but toward a new way of living. God is inviting us to carry what He has taught us about prayer out of the sanctuary and into our everyday decisions, conversations, and relationships. This next step is about embodiment, not education—allowing truth to govern our pace, posture, and priorities. Join us as we learn how a God-aware life reshapes everything when the heart stays aligned with Him.
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
We were reminded that the strength of our prayer life is not found in what we say, but in how deeply we know and trust the God to whom we pray. True prayer flows from confidence in God’s unchanging character—His goodness, faithfulness, and purposeful work—rather than from emotion, effort, or religious language. What we cannot understand in the moment must be interpreted through what we already know to be true about God, because storms may shake our surroundings but they do not have to shake our trust. Prayer is not a place to get answers or control outcomes; it is the secret place where we are changed through surrender, listening, and obedience. In this holy moment, we lay down fear and striving and draw near in agreement with God, knowing that authority in prayer flows from relationship, not performance.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
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Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
When You Can’t Explain It, Trust What You Know
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5
Some days make sense. Others don’t. And the greatest test of trust is not what you understand—it is what you cannot. We feel safest when life can be explained. When pain has a reason, delay has a timeline, and the future feels predictable. But God does not build faith on explanation. He builds faith on Himself. Trust begins where understanding reaches its limit, because faith was never meant to rest on clarity—it was meant to rest on character. When understanding becomes your foundation, peace is fragile. It rises and falls with circumstances. But when God’s character becomes your foundation, peace becomes steady. You may not understand the delay, the loss, the unanswered prayer, or the pressure you’re under—but you can interpret the moment through what you already know: God is good. God is faithful. God is working with purpose. The storm may shake your surroundings, but it does not have permission to shake your confidence in who God is.
Understanding Demands Control, Trust Releases It
Our need to understand is often a disguised need for control. We want to know why so we can feel secure. But Proverbs does not say, “Trust the Lord with what you can explain.” It says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart.” Trust begins when you stop leaning on your ability to reason and start resting in God’s ability to rule. God is not offended by your questions, but He does not always answer them immediately. Sometimes He answers anxiety not with information, but with His presence. Learning to trust God when you don’t understand is learning to let Him be God without conditions.
Faith Interprets the Unknown Through What Is Certain
When clarity is absent, faith does not panic—it remembers. You may not know what God is doing right now, but you do know what He has already revealed about Himself. He is good. He is faithful. He does not waste pain. He does not abandon His children. He does not change with circumstances. Faith learns to say, “I don’t understand this moment, but I refuse to interpret it as evidence against God’s goodness.” When you anchor your heart in who God is, unanswered questions lose their power to dominate your thoughts.
Peace Comes From Trusting God’s Character, Not His Timing
Much of our unrest comes from wanting God to move on our schedule. We trust Him—just not slowly. But Scripture calls us to trust God with our whole heart, not just with outcomes we prefer. Peace is not found in knowing when God will act; peace is found in knowing who God is while you wait. When trust replaces the demand for answers, anxiety loosens its grip. You may still feel the weight of uncertainty, but it no longer controls your spirit. Trust does not remove the unknown—it keeps the unknown from ruling your heart.
PRAYER: Father, I surrender my need to explain everything. When my understanding runs out, anchor my heart in Your unchanging character. Teach me to trust You fully—not just when life makes sense, but when it doesn’t. Let faith rise where clarity ends, and let peace guard my heart as I rest in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
CHALLENGE: Say aloud: “Lord, I don’t need answers to worship—I need You.” Then speak praise like a psalm: “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — Psalm 34:1
Write down one thing you cannot understand right now. Under it, write these three truths: God is good. God is faithful. God is working with purpose. Every time anxiety rises today, read those truths out loud. Let what you know speak louder than what you don’t.
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Amy Garner’s Dad
Aston Savage
Bentley Smith – Broken Leg
Brian Gray’s Uncle – Surgery Went Well
Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers
Joni Oberhage
Linda Mays
Mandy Martin
Myles Elliott
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Brando Echarte
Debbie Foskey
Don Franklin’s Daughter, Darlene, Son, David
Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards
Gloria Young
Jake Jenkins
Jenkins son-in-law
June Cronan
Jean Partee’s Sister
Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda
Deon Lotter
Doris Loyd
Nancy Brown
Annette Ford
Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Angela Bryan’s Sisters
Ann Stanley
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
Linda Alexander
James Burnette
Jessica Headrick
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda
Lee Cronan
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
Lonzo Christian
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Mrs. Franklin
Nora Allison
Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman
Scott Lanier
Scotty Nix
Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Steve Michaels
Tom Witcher