You do not have to do life alone. Even in your worst moments, Jesus is beside you, talking to you, and helping you through it.
John 8:1–11 (NLT)
1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,
2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.
3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
I could use some “God ideas” and perspectives!
I don’t want to be graphic. But if this woman was caught in the act, she was in a very compromising situation. She probably had very little clothing on, if any. Scripture doesn’t say they let her pull herself together before bringing her before Jesus. Can you imagine how embarrassing and shameful this was?
Think of how terrified she must have been, knowing the penalty for the sin she had committed was death—specifically to be stoned to death. In other words, people would hurl rocks at her until she eventually died. Horrific! It had to have been the absolute worst, most vulnerable moment in her life.
What did Jesus do? He didn’t turn away. He didn’t point out her sin. He didn’t yell, “What in the world were you thinking!” He paused, stooped down, and started writing in the sand.
Jesus paused. That says a lot right there. Some of the holiest God moments happen in that pause. Jesus didn’t react. He didn’t do anything! He waited . . . patiently. And then He responded.
After the woman’s accusers left, Jesus stood up, talked to her, and forgave her. He never left. He was kind and helped her through a humiliating situation.
We all have embarrassments, but Jesus is beside us too. He is with us in the good, bad, ugly, and in-between.
Hebrews 13:5–6 (MSG)
5 Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,
6 God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
Jesus will never let you down—never walk off—never leave you. Nothing you ever do or say will cause Him to love you less. On the other hand, nothing you do or say makes Him love you more. His love isn’t based on your actions. Jesus’ love is consistent—it’s there no matter what.
What if . . . ?
I began to ponder this: What if I lived my life as though Jesus was with me all the time? I know that in my head, but I don’t always get it with my heart. I say that because sometimes I don’t live as though He is constantly with me.
What if I became more God-conscious in my daily life? What would that look like? If I were aware that God was with me in my car, would I yell and honk my horn at the person in front of me? If I believed He literally stood beside me day and night, would I react differently toward the referees at my kids’ ball games?
I work with children, and some of them have what we call “imaginary friends.” They can’t see this friend, but they are very aware of them. They talk to them, share snacks, and include them in everything.
What if you were just as conscious of Jesus? “Save a seat for Jesus! He needs a snack too. Oh, now Jesus wants to share it with me!” It’s funny to imagine. But seriously, if you were that conscious of His presence all the time, I believe it would change the way you live.
I began saying, “I’m going to live a God-conscious life. He is my ‘ride or die.’ We’re going together, and we are ‘all in’ on this.” Do you know what happened when I started doing that? I began consulting Him in all the little decisions of my life. Every time I came upon a situation, I asked God first, and it changed how I responded and reacted.
The Expert Consultant
I looked up the word consultant and found out it is a professional who provides expert advice. We have the greatest consultant! He lives in us and goes with us everywhere. He will never leave us, turn away, or say, “You have blown it too much.” God can give us expert advice on everything!
My husband used to be a consultant. He always said, “I give advice, but that’s not why people pay me. I’m paid for my ideas. I have a different perspective on their business. I see things they don’t because they’re too close to the situation.”
I could use some “God ideas” and perspectives! Sometimes I get so close to a situation I can’t see any other option. I need God’s ideas for my finances, marriage, relationships, parenting, and job success.
Consulting God on every decision and being led by His Spirit changes the way you think, act, and respond. It changes everything when you live God-conscious every day!
Campmeeting is a time of ministry for the entire family. Life-changing messages are heard every year. Campmeeting 2020 is July 19–24. Visit rhema.org/cm for more information and free registration!
Author
Kenneth E. Hagin
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