2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE”
February – MISSIONS from God’s Perspective
This Sunday marks the beginning of our Missions Emphasis Month, Seeing Missions from God’s Perspective. We will be blessed to hear from Brian Busby of Calvary Children’s Home, who will share how your faithful Faith Promise giving is making a real and lasting difference in the lives of children in need.
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
Over these weeks, God has been reshaping our understanding of prayer—not from our habits or traditions, but from His perspective. We have learned that prayer is not a formula to master, a performance to perfect, a last resort in crisis, or a tool to control outcomes. Prayer is communion, alignment, agreement, and holy ground. From God’s view, prayer was never meant to end with “Amen.” It is not an activity we visit, but an attitude we live. To “pray without ceasing” is not to speak nonstop words, but to live in continual awareness of God’s presence—acknowledging Him in every moment, not just inviting Him into select ones. When God becomes central, prayer becomes natural, moving with us through work, parenting, waiting, deciding, and responding under pressure. A prayed life listens before it decides, yields before it acts, and trusts instead of rushing. Prayer shapes decisions before it shapes words and matures from requests into surrender. Early prayer asks God to bless our plans; mature prayer asks God to change us. As surrender replaces control, effort gives way to overflow, and ordinary moments become holy ground—kitchens, cars, hospital rooms, and conversations transformed by God’s nearness. God did not teach us about prayer to improve our prayer meetings, but to change how we live. Prayer from His perspective is relationship, not effort; nearness, not noise; trust, not anxiety. The secret place was never meant to be escaped to, but carried with us, until our entire lives become prayer—a surrendered life lived in constant awareness of God.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
PRAYER AS AWARENESS, NOT APPOINTMENT
“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Many believers approach prayer like an appointment—something penciled into the day, entered for a moment, then exited to get back to “real life.” But from God’s perspective, prayer was never meant to be a compartment of life; it was meant to be the atmosphere of life. Prayer becomes continuous not when our words increase, but when our awareness deepens. When God becomes central, prayer stops being an event and becomes a way of living.
Prayer Begins with Awareness
To “pray without ceasing” does not mean speaking nonstop or living in constant verbal prayer. It means living with an ongoing awareness that God is present, attentive, and involved. Prayer begins long before words are formed—it begins with recognition. When we acknowledge God’s nearness, even silently, our hearts stay aligned with Him. Awareness keeps us connected when words would distract or overwhelm.
Silence Can Still Be Prayer
A child riding in the back seat does not need to speak constantly to know the parent is there. The child rests, trusts, and feels secure simply because of that presence. In the same way, prayer does not require constant asking or explaining. Quiet awareness—resting in the knowledge that God is near—often produces deeper peace than many words. Silence, when filled with trust, is not empty; it is full of faith.
Awareness Changes How We Live
When prayer becomes awareness, it reshapes everyday life. Decisions are made more carefully. Reactions soften. Anxiety loses its grip. We stop asking, “Should I pray about this?” because prayer is already happening. God is no longer someone we invite into moments of crisis; He is the One we acknowledge in every moment. Life itself begins to flow from communion, not interruption.
Warfare Prayer: Father, I reject the lie that prayer must be forced, loud, or perfect to be effective. I renounce distraction, self-reliance, and the illusion of control. Teach me to live aware of Your presence in every moment. Guard my heart from anxiety and my mind from noise. Let awareness replace striving, and trust replace fear. I choose alignment over control and communion over performance. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Challenge for Today: Pause several times today—while driving, working, waiting, or resting—and simply whisper, “You are here.” Make no requests. Offer no explanations. Let awareness be your prayer.
MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Amy Garner’s Dad
Aston Savage
Bentley Smith – Broken Leg
Brian Gray’s Uncle
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