Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Psalm 54:4 NIV
 

     The most critical decision you need to make is to trust Me. Take My invitation and challenge personally—make the Almighty God your help, and I promise to hold you together.
 

     I stand beside you by My Presence. When you are surrounded by spiritual forces of malignant evil that would undermine you, I support you by goodness and undergird you. Do not tremble in fear thinking of forces stronger than you—  a Power far greater than any other is on your side and fighting battles for you. Be strong in the Lord. Storms will not orphan you. War will not kill you. Satan will not defeat you. You will not be forsaken—because I am your Friend.
 

     I stand for you with My power. When you are struggling with temptation that would demoralize you, I enforce you by grace and deliver you. Suit up in My armor and take a stand in opposition to satanic schemes. Carry the heavenly faith shield to extinguish hellacious flaming arrows. You will not fail—because I am your Freedom.
 

     I stand within you by My peace. When you are stressed out by pressures of unrealistic deadlines that would unravel you, I sustain you by My rich gifts and breathe supernatural calm into your soul. I still can hush the high seas to sleep. When you are in a perfect storm, I am your Bridge over troubled water. You will not fall apart—because I am your Fortress.
 

     I stand beneath you by My Providence. When you are stumbling under the weight of overwhelming cares that would crush you, I stand under you by My government and carry you. I can do more than you can imagine. When you panic in quicksand, I am your Solid Rock. You will not fall—because I am your Foundation.
 

     I stand ahead of you by My promise. When you seek equilibrium in roller-coaster situations that would undo you, I secure you by My greatness and stabilize your heart. I illumine tomorrow’s path. And when the time is right, I will inaugurate My master plan for the eons. You will not falter—because I am your Future.
 

     The Changeless Rock of Ages stands under you, and the Compassionate Friend of sinners understands you. Live confidently today—assured that I will see you safely through perplexity, pain, pressures, and problems. At the end of the day,   sunset will be a personal victory celebration—bow your head and say thanks.
 

© Pastor Johnny R. Almond, Day 212 Gentle Whispers from Eternity

God looks down from heaven on the entire human race;

to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God.

Psalm 53:2 NLT
 

     My search for people who understand who I am and what is right invariably leads to disappointment. Crowds loiter in a valley of indecision—opinion polls are still out about who I am and how to relate meaningfully to Me.
 

     Reflect on your conscience. Human nature being as it is, everyone has turned away from Me, and in the process they have become thoroughly corrupt. Forsaking the Good Shepherd, people attempt to shepherd themselves through life. The majority live as if I do not exist. Nominal Christians live like practical atheists. Without Me, you cannot be good.
 

     Only the Savior can erase your sins. You are not an exception to the universal rule of sinfulness and death. Everyone—including you—falls short of My glorious standard. The payoff is death. The other side of the moral coin is more encouraging—though you are a sinner, you can freely receive My unmerited grace. Heaven’s gift of eternal life through My Son is yours for the taking. You cannot earn this gift, and you do not deserve it; but if you repent and believe, it is yours.
 

     Kneel at the cross. Turn from evil—really live! Banish from your mind the very thought of doing wrong—my pardon will flood your soul with peace and reinvigorate your spirit to enjoy life.
 

    Keep the change. Only I can educate you to understand the solution to the sin problem. Without Christ, you are miserably corrupt. With Christ, you are changed—a heart transplant gives you a new, tender heart; birth from above gives you a new character; faith eyes give you a new perspective and hope;   new life from the Holy Spirit transforms you into a brand new person.  Focused on new goals and driven by new ambitions, you are different.
 

     My search for people who conscientiously seek My face is often futile. However, your search for Me is fulfilling and delightful. I promise that if you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Pursue life’s noblest quest—yearn for My Presence and experience My transformational strength. Sing the ancient song of saints intent on living in the moral highlands.
 

     Make a conscious effort! Be desperate for Me—I promise that you will not be disappointed.
 

© Pastor Johnny R. Almond, Day 211 Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:9-10 NLT
 

     Individual confession is the temperament you need for a new creation. Judging others merely adds to your own iniquity. It is you that needs forgiveness, your transgressions that should concern your heart, your personal iniquity that burdens you, your sin that clouds the sunshine of spontaneity. Claim the promise of the second chance—confess your sins, and I can be depended on to forgive and purify you.
 

     Dismount your high horse of imagined goodness! Quit sneering in contempt at dirty faces of sinners around you. You cannot change yourself—only I can, so give up your haughty habit of criticizing others not measuring up to your standards. Confess and renounce your superiority complex—humble yourself and be lifted up.
 

     Internal cleansing is the miraculous therapy only I can do. When I wash you, you are snow-white. Heart cleansing is My work. Transplanting tender hearts for stony hearts is something only I can do. Confess and renounce your subterfuge—be honest to God and learn.
 

     Immaculate change is transformation only I can make happen. I alone purify your heart and give you a clean bill of health. In Christ alone is there new creation—new life and a fresh start. Confess and renounce your sin—pursue holiness and live in My love.
 

     Intimate companionship is the highest thrill you long for. You are not an orphan on life’s high seas—you are the apple of My eye. You experience no drought of joy—a river of life flows through your soul. Quit singing the blues; dance My jig of joy! Confess and renounce your sadness—be truly happy and love life.
 

      Intense celebration is the triumph of a right relationship with Me. When you are pure in heart, you see Me. When you are near My heart, you sing hymns of optimism and praise even at midnight.
Confess and renounce your sulkiness—be hopeful and lean on Me.
 

     Instructional conversation is teaching that you do in My Name. My converting work in you is heart-to-heart conversation influencing your words and deeds.       You are My masterpiece, My work of art with a noble purpose of good works that influences and inspires others on their inner journey. Confess and renounce your selfishness—be helpful and lead.
 

© Pastor Johnny R. Almond, Day 210 Gentle Whispers from Eternity

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

     Uncomfortable with silence? Addicted to comfort of noise? Why not turn off your gadgets, call a halt to hectivity for a day, and ponder what you are aiming for and why you are living? Acknowledge I am irrevocably and totally 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 pandemonium, pause to 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. Heavenly 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 unite unsettled nations, inspire warriors to become farmers, and halt senseless combat.
 

     Human solutions have not fixed problems of planet Earth. The military solution has aggravated international disputes. The economic solution has widened the gap between 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.
 

© Pastor Johnny R. Almond, Day 209 Gentle Whispers from Eternity