AUGUST THEME – “Experiencing God: From Knowing About Him to Walking With Him”

SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY  

In today’s message, we were reminded that when life breaks us, when marriage wounds us, and when the enemy surrounds us with confusion, fear, and shame—God is still our refuge. Not just a distant deity, but a present and personal shelter in the middle of the storm. Many come into church weary, hardened, and quietly bound—carrying years of pain, disappointment, or hidden sin—yet unaware that the safest place they could ever be is fully surrendered in the shadow of the Almighty. We learned that God’s presence is always with us, but the breakthrough comes when we become consciously aware of Him—more real than the presence of fear, addiction, failure, or rejection. He is not just able to heal—He desires to heal. He doesn’t merely offer comfort—He offers freedom. Even when we feel unseen or forgotten, He is the steady anchor that holds when everything else gives way. We may walk through fire, but in Him, we will not be consumed.

The altar call was not an emotional moment but a divine invitation to refuge—to come to the God who binds up the broken, lifts the fallen, and restores the soul. Every bondage, every lie, and every generational pattern was confronted in Jesus’ name. This wasn’t about behavior modification—it was about spiritual resurrection. As people knelt before the Lord, they weren’t coming to a preacher—they were running to their refuge. God is writing a new chapter over every life that has taken cover under His wings. No matter what has broken you, God is not finished. His refuge isn’t temporary—it’s transformational. This is not the end of your story—it’s the beginning of healing, wholeness, and holy restoration. What the enemy meant for evil, God is already redeeming for His glory.

GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.

Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

When God Becomes Your Refuge, Not Just a Concept

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” —James 4:8

There comes a point in every believer’s life when knowing about God is no longer enough. We need more than a memory verse—we need a refuge. We need more than routine prayers—we need presence. For many, God remains a concept: an idea tucked safely within religious conversation, a truth believed in theory but seldom drawn upon in times of crisis. Yet Scripture is clear—He is not only a refuge, He is a very present help in trouble.

Trouble has a way of testing what we really believe. When the walls of anxiety, disappointment, or conflict start closing in, our instinct is often to strive, fix, explain, or shut down. But God invites us into a better response—refuge. Not escape. Not denial. Not emotional numbing. But refuge: a place of real protection, peace, and covering in His presence. When God becomes more than an idea and truly becomes your hiding place, fear loses its grip and peace becomes possible again—even when the storm still rages.

David knew what it meant to take refuge in God—not just once, but continually. On the run from King Saul, falsely accused, hunted like a criminal, and surrounded by betrayal, David poured out his heart in Psalm 57 from a literal cave. He didn’t pray for revenge first—he sought refuge: “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” (Psalm 57:1)

David didn’t wait for circumstances to change before drawing near. He ran to God as his immediate shelter. In doing so, his refuge was not just physical—it was relational. His peace came not from being removed from the situation, but from being covered by the presence of the Lord within it.

A young woman once shared that after years of silent suffering in her marriage—carrying the weight of unspoken disappointment and fear—she reached a breaking point. One evening, with no strength left to hide her tears, she sat alone in her car, gripping the steering wheel, unable to pray a single sentence. But with a whisper, she said, “God, I don’t even know how to find You.” And in that moment of raw vulnerability, something shifted. Not audibly. Not physically. But spiritually. She didn’t feel fixed—but she felt held. That was the beginning of her healing. Not when the marriage turned, but when she discovered the nearness of a God who was no longer a concept, but her refuge.

Prayer: Father, I confess that I’ve often treated You like a backup plan instead of my first shelter. I’ve carried burdens You never asked me to carry. I’ve strived to be strong instead of resting in Your strength. But today, I run to You—not to escape life, but to find peace within it. Be more than an idea to me—become my daily refuge. Draw near to me, Lord, and help me to draw near to You, even in the middle of pain, uncertainty, and fear. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings until these storms pass. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge:  When you feel overwhelmed today—whether by fear, fatigue, or frustration—pause immediately. Whisper from your heart, “You are my refuge, Lord.” Let that confession interrupt the spiral. Then, intentionally carve out 10 uninterrupted minutes today to be still before God. Don’t ask for anything. Don’t rehearse your problems. Simply sit in stillness and let the truth of His nearness wash over your soul. Don’t just believe in God today—hide in Him. That’s where peace begins.

MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

The Sigmon Family in loss of their 12 year old daughter – Friends of Johnny & Lisa’s

Jessica Headrick – Surgery on Wednesday

Sheila Simmons

Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda

Linda Mays – Rehab    

Debbie Foskey – Home

Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shellnutts

Angela Bryan’s Sister

Ann Stanley – Home

Danny Jarrard 

Darlene Wiggins

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Friend of Linda Hodge

Gayle Sparks

George & Linda Alexander 

James Burnette

James Garner

Jason Parker  

John McClain’s Mother

John Parillo

June Cronan’s Sister

June Davis

Kailey Bateman

Kathryn Raines

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Lee Cronan

Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah 

Lonzo Christian 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Williams

Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom

Mrs. Franklin 

Nora Allison

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Sadie Almand 

Scott Lanier 

Scotty Nix

Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shellnutts

Steve Michaels

Tom Witcher