JULY THEME – “Seeing Ebenezer- “Hitherto Hath The Lord Helped Us” From God’s Perspective”
Join us in prayer and celebration as Belmont Baptist Church begins our Year of Jubilee, marking fifty years of God’s amazing faithfulness and looking forward with grateful hearts to all He has yet to do.
BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
EXISTING OR LIVING?
John 10:10 — “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
There is a tremendous difference between merely existing and truly living. Many people spend years simply existing. They wake up, go to work, pay the bills, solve problems, endure disappointments, watch the clock, go to bed, and repeat the cycle the next day. Their schedule is full, but their soul is empty. Their body is alive, but their spirit has grown weary. They breathe, yet they rarely experience the joy, peace, and purpose God created them to enjoy. This is never what Jesus intended. When Jesus declared, “I am come that they might have life,” He was speaking of something far greater than physical existence. The Greek word for “life” (zoe) refers to the very life of God—the fullness of spiritual life that only Christ can impart. It is a life overflowing with His presence, His joy, His peace, His purpose, and His power. The Christian life was never designed to be endured until heaven. It was designed to be enjoyed through Christ. Far too many believers have accepted survival as normal Christianity. They pray only when desperate, worship only when convenient, and serve only when circumstances allow. Yet Jesus offers something infinitely greater. He offers Himself—not merely to walk beside us, but to live His life through us. The difference between existing and living is not found in changing our circumstances. It is found in allowing Christ to become our life.
EXISTING Lives for Circumstances
LIVING Lives from Christ
A person who is merely existing allows life to dictate their joy. If circumstances improve, they’re happy. If problems arise, they lose their peace. Their emotional life is controlled by what happens around them rather than Who lives within them. They quietly tell themselves:
“I’ll live when I retire.”
“I’ll live when my finances improve.”
“I’ll live when my health returns.”
“I’ll live when the children are grown.”
Yet tomorrow becomes next month, next month becomes next year, and before long an entire lifetime has quietly slipped away. Jesus never promised perfect circumstances.
He promised His abiding presence. Paul proved this truth while chained inside a Roman prison. Outwardly he had every reason to despair. Inwardly he possessed abundant life because Christ Himself was his life. Real life is not postponed until conditions improve.
Real life begins the moment Christ becomes enough.
EXISTING Focuses on Self
LIVING Focuses on Christ
Existing asks, “How can I make it through today?” Living asks, “Lord, how do You want to live through me today?” One is consumed with self-preservation. The other is surrendered to Christ’s purpose. Existing seeks comfort. Living embraces calling. Existing measures success by possessions, promotions, popularity, or pleasure. Living measures success by obedience. The greatest tragedy is not dying young. The greatest tragedy is living long without ever discovering why God gave you life. When Christ becomes the center of everything, ordinary moments suddenly become eternal opportunities. Every conversation matters. Every act of kindness matters. Every prayer matters. Every trial becomes another opportunity for Christ to reveal His strength through our weakness.
EXISTING Counts Days
LIVING Makes Days Count
Most people spend their lives counting birthdays. God counts faithfulness. Psalm 90 reminds us to number our days so we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Every sunrise is another gift entrusted to us. Every breath is another opportunity to glorify Christ. One day we will stand before the Lord. He will not ask how many years we accumulated. He will ask what we did with the life He entrusted to us. Did we simply survive? Or did we surrender? Did we merely exist? Or did Christ truly live through us? Even a short life completely surrendered to Jesus leaves an eternal legacy. A lifetime spent merely existing leaves very little that heaven remembers.
Imagine walking through a beautiful orchard in early spring. Every tree appears alive. Their trunks are standing. Their branches stretch toward the sky. Yet upon closer examination, one tree bears no buds, no blossoms, and no fruit. It is technically alive—but nothing flowing through it produces life. Beside it stands another tree filled with blossoms, vibrant leaves, and abundant fruit. Birds rest in its branches. Travelers enjoy its shade. Families are nourished by what grows from its limbs. Both trees occupy the same soil. Both receive the same sunshine. Both experience the same storms. The difference is not where they stand. The difference is what is flowing through them. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” Branches do not struggle to produce fruit. They simply abide. The life of the vine flows through them. Many Christians resemble the first tree. They are saved but spiritually barren because they are trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. Others simply abide in Christ, and His life naturally produces love, joy, peace, wisdom, and fruit that blesses everyone around them. The question is not whether you are standing. The question is whether His life is flowing through you.
There is an immeasurable difference between existing and living. Existing is consumed with comfort. Living is consumed with Christ. Existing merely survives. Living overflows. Existing fears death because this world is everything. Living welcomes eternity because Christ is everything. Jesus did not leave heaven, endure the cross, conquer the grave, and send His Spirit merely so we could survive another difficult week. He came so His very life could be expressed through ours. So today…Don’t simply make a living. Live. Don’t simply breathe. Abide. Don’t simply survive. Overflow. For when Christ becomes your life, every ordinary moment becomes an opportunity to display the extraordinary life of God.
Warfare Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I refuse to settle for merely existing when Christ died to give me abundant life. I renounce every lie of the enemy that tells me my purpose is found only in comfort, success, possessions, or circumstances. Break every chain of spiritual apathy, discouragement, distraction, fear, and complacency that has kept me from fully abiding in Christ. Fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit, awaken every part of my heart that has grown cold, and let the very life of Jesus flow through me today. Teach me to live from Your presence instead of reacting to my circumstances. Let Your joy replace my weariness, Your peace overcome my anxiety, Your purpose conquer my selfishness, and Your power triumph over every attack of the enemy. May my life bear fruit that glorifies You and points others to the Savior. I declare that Christ is my life, my strength, my joy, my hope, and my future. From this day forward, I choose not merely to exist—but to live abundantly in Him. In the victorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Several times today, pause and quietly ask yourself: “Am I merely existing in this moment, or am I consciously allowing Christ to live through me?” Then surrender that moment to Him. Invite Him to think through your mind, love through your heart, speak through your words, and serve through your hands. Refuse to wait for better circumstances before you begin living. Instead, abide in Christ right where you are, trusting that His life within you is enough to transform every ordinary moment into an eternal investment.
SATURDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS
David Burnette – Home
Joanie and Jeannie in the passing of their Mother, Mrs. Franklin
Pastor Curtis Barbery – My Pastor I Served Under For 7 Years In Heaven
Mary Williams – Rehab for Broken Hip
Kim McClain’s Mother