A Gentle Whisper -- Listening for the Voice of God Johnny Almond 5 years agoNovember 22, 2019

The Blessing of Stillness

Be still, and know that I am God … Selah. Psalm 46:10a, 11b NIV

Uncomfortable with silence? Addicted to the comfort of noise? Why not turn off all your gadgets, call a halt to your hectivity for a day, and ponder awhile what you are aiming for and why you are living? Acknowledge that I am totally, eternally, and irrevocably responsible for everything. Get out of fast forward mode—push the pause button…

I am your Eternal Refuge in the storms of life. In difficulties, I am your Mighty Fortress. In faith quakes, I am your Rock. On high seas, I am your Captain. I am not a very absent help in time of trouble—I am your Invincible Hiding Place. Satan cannot disturb your rest when you are nestling near My heart. I am your Castle of courage—when you are humbly relying on My grace, NO FEAR is far more than a t-shirt motto. Exit bumper-to-bumper high-speed traffic—take a scenic route.

In the turmoil of life’s hectic pace and pandemonium, pause and calmly think about Me—I calm your raging storms by My Presence.

I am your Ecstatic Resource in the sorrows of life. I am your Delightful Festival of celebration, cascading your inner being with joy from the unseen river of My Holy Spirit. Perfect peace cures worry. Heaven-given patience slows hurry. Living Water quenches soul thirst. Jerusalem did not have a river, but it had the Lord Almighty. I was more than enough for them— and I am more than enough for you.

In the trauma of life’s pain, pause and calmly think about Me— I cure your sadness by My peace.

I am your Exalted Ruler in the struggles of life. I am the Prince of Peace who will transform unsettled nations into united nations, inspire warriors to become farmers, and halt senseless combat. Human solutions have not fixed the problems of planet Earth. The military solution has only aggravated international disputes. The economic solution has widened the gap between the rich and poor. The political solution has broken innumerable empty promises. The white-horse Rider who judges righteously is heaven’s Final Answer. I am your Dependable Future of confidence—brightening tomorrow.

In the terror of life’s perplexity, pause and calmly think about Me— I cheer your soul by My promise.

Johnny

Johnny R. Almond earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and a Diploma in Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge. After pastoring churches for a decade, he served the Air Force as a military chaplain in worldwide assignments. After retiring from the military in 2000, he began serving as pastor in Virginia. He currently serves as pastor of Hull's Memorial Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He and his wife, Beverly, have four sons, three grandsons, and three granddaughters.