2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE” January – PRAYER from God’s Perspective
Why do some prayers only comfort the heart while others carry heaven’s authority?
This Sunday’s message, When Prayer Becomes Agreement with Heaven, will challenge us to stop negotiating with God and fully align with His will—where faith deepens, obedience strengthens, and spiritual authority emerges. This is not a service to miss, because alignment always precedes power.
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
This month, God is teaching us that prayer is shaped by His eternal perspective—not our limited understanding—helping us see painful seasons as divine protection, preparation, and redirection rather than loss. Prayer is not meant to control outcomes but to keep us close, teaching us to return without answers, rest without clarity, and trust fully in God’s unchanging character
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Agreement: When Prayer Stops Negotiating
“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42
Powerful prayer is not persuading God—it is agreeing with heaven.
Many prayers stall not because God is silent, but because the heart is divided. We ask God to bless, open, heal, or move—while quietly clinging to how, when, and through whom it must happen. That hidden resistance turns prayer into negotiation. Agreement begins where preference ends. It is the sacred moment when we stop managing outcomes and start yielding authority. This is why God so often reshapes us before He changes circumstances. He loves us too much to answer prayers that would deepen pride, protect idols, or keep control firmly in our hands. When preferences are laid down, prayer becomes clean—free of manipulation. It becomes steady—no longer panicked. It becomes bold—not because we know the outcome, but because we trust the One who governs it. You may not see the whole path ahead, but once God’s character is settled in your heart, obedience becomes possible—even in the dark. This is where prayer shifts from being a last resort to a first response. You are no longer guessing who God might be—you are calling on the God you already know.
Agreement Is Not Passivity
Surrender is not resignation. Agreement does not mean you stop praying—it means you stop fighting God while you pray. Jesus did not withdraw His request in Gethsemane; He yielded His will. Agreement says, “Father, I trust You enough to obey You even if the answer costs me.” True faith is not demanding certainty—it is choosing trust.
God Aligns the Heart Before He Moves the Hand
God often delays answers because He is doing a deeper work than we asked for. We want change around us; God wants change within us. He knows that an answered prayer without a surrendered heart can become a snare instead of a blessing. What feels like silence is often preparation.
Agreement Produces Spiritual Authority
When the heart agrees with heaven, fear loses its grip. Double-mindedness dissolves. Prayer gains authority because it is no longer driven by self-interest but by submission. Agreement aligns us with God’s purposes—and what aligns with heaven carries heaven’s backing.
This is where obedience stops feeling forced and starts feeling right.
Prayer Insight Nugget
Before asking God to change the situation, ask Him to change you. “Lord, align my heart before You answer my prayer.” That request invites holiness, clarity, and peace.
Soul Search
- Where am I resisting God’s will because I am attached to my preferred outcome?
- What have I been praying about while still holding the reins?
- What would obedience look like if I trusted God fully here?
Practical Step — The Surrender List
Write these three lines slowly and intentionally:
- “Lord, I release my timeline.”
- “Lord, I release my outcome.”
- “Lord, I release my right to understand.”
Read them aloud as a declaration of trust.
Warfare Prayer — Agreement Over Control
Father, in the name of Jesus, I renounce every desire to control outcomes that belong to You alone. I resist the spirit of fear, impatience, and self-preservation that tries to masquerade as wisdom. I tear down every stronghold of pride, every idol of preference, and every habit of negotiating instead of surrendering. I declare that my will is submitted, my heart is aligned, and my prayers are in agreement with heaven. Let every assignment of confusion be broken. Let clarity rise. Let obedience become my strength. I choose agreement over anxiety, trust over control, and surrender over striving. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
When Agreement Is Reached
Prayer reaches its highest power when the heart stops arguing with God. Agreement does not guarantee comfort—but it guarantees peace. When heaven and the heart align, prayer becomes fearless, obedience becomes possible, and trust becomes unshakable. You may not know what tomorrow holds—but you know the God who holds it. And that is enough.
FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Bentley Smith – Broken Leg
Brian Gray’s Uncle – Surgery Went Well
Aston Savage
Joni Oberhage
Linda Mays
Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers
Mandy Martin
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