2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE” January – Prayer from God’s Perspective
Why do some prayers comfort the soul while others move heaven itself? When Prayer Becomes Agreement with Heaven will awaken you to the power of alignment with God’s will—calling you in 2026 to stop negotiating with heaven, start agreeing with it, and witness faith rise, authority flow, and God move mightily.
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
This month, God is teaching us that prayer is shaped not by our limited understanding, but by His eternal perspective, inviting us to see painful seasons as moments of protection, preparation, and redirection rather than loss. What felt like abandonment was often God refining our faith and guarding us from what we could not yet see, and healing begins when surrendered memories stop defining us and start strengthening our trust. Prayer is not a tool to control outcomes but a sacred lifeline that keeps us close, calling us to return with trust instead of answers and to rest fully on God’s unchanging character.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Don’t Lean: The Hidden Source of Weak Prayer
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5
God never said, “Don’t think.” He said, “Don’t lean.” To lean is to place your full weight on something—to let it support you. Many believers still pray, but they lean on their reasoning first. They pray after they’ve analyzed, obey after it makes sense, and surrender only when outcomes feel safe. That kind of prayer may sound faithful, but it quietly drains authority, because prayer loses power when it is filtered through control instead of trust.
Leaning Turns Prayer into a Backup Plan
When you lean on your own understanding, prayer becomes something you do after you’ve exhausted your options. God becomes a last resort instead of your first response. This is not because you doubt God’s ability, but because you trust your reasoning more than His wisdom. Weak prayer often begins here—not in rebellion, but in misplaced confidence. Faith does not mean abandoning thought; it means refusing to let understanding carry the full weight of your decisions.
Control Disguises Itself as Caution
Many believers would never say they don’t trust God, but their prayers reveal hesitation. They pray carefully, conditionally, and cautiously—trying to manage outcomes while asking God to bless them. This is control disguised as wisdom. The moment you require full clarity before obedience, you shift from faith to self-reliance. Prayer gains authority when control is released and trust is chosen even while answers are incomplete.
Faith Begins Where Understanding Ends
Faith does not begin when everything makes sense—it begins when your understanding runs out. God is faithful even when you cannot see the full path, and prayer becomes powerful when you rest the full weight of your heart on His character instead of your conclusions. When trust replaces analysis, prayer moves from negotiation to agreement. That is where peace settles, courage rises, and obedience becomes possible.
Prayer Insight Nugget
If you only trust God where you feel safe, you’re not trusting God—you’re trusting your comfort.
Soul Search
- Where am I delaying obedience until I “understand” more?
- What outcome am I trying to control through careful, conditional prayer?
Prayer: Lord, in the name of Jesus, I take authority over every spirit of self-reliance, fear, and control that has weakened my trust in You. I renounce leaning on my own understanding and break agreement with caution that resists obedience. I declare that I rest the full weight of my heart on Your character—good, wise, faithful, and sovereign—and I receive grace to trust You beyond what I can explain. Amen.
Challenge: Identify one situation you’ve been overthinking. Pray aloud: “Lord, I release control.” Then take one obedient step today—a call, an apology, a decision, or a boundary—without waiting for perfect clarity.
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Brind Gray’s Uncle
Aston Savaage
Joni Oberhage
Linda Mays
Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers
Mandy Martin – Mary May Martin 6 lbs. 7 oz.
Myles Elliott
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Amy Garner’s Dad
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