ICS Daily Devotions
You Are Not Alone

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

We are all aware that it is easy to praise and thank the Lord when everything is working for us, but it takes a lot out of us to praise God when nothing is working and when we are in between the rock and a hard place, which is why it is called a sacrifice of praise.

We are so thankful that we have a High Priest who knows what we are going through in life because He has walked the path on earth and suffered tremendously. Jesus was persecuted, falsely accused, beaten, bruised and whipped. He was rejected and despised by men. He was even abandoned by his disciples in the most challenging moment of His life. God forsook Him when our sin was placed on Him, and He experienced the challenge of separation from the Father. Therefore, Jesus can empathise with us in everything that we are going through, including sickness, pain, disease, poverty, grief, rejection, and abandonment. He can understand stress, because Jesus was stressed to the point where He was shedding blood through His perspiration.

There is nothing in this life where Jesus is unable to place Himself in our shoes. Therefore, He can empathise with us. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Therefore, we should learn to soak and dwell in the presence of God, and tune into what the Spirit of God is saying.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace in time of need.

Whenever we choose to come before God, we are allowing ourselves to be yoked to Him and letting Him carry our burden as we cast it upon Him. Then, we will feel that the load in our lives has been lightened, or even lifted somehow. When we choose to be yoked to Him, He helps us to overcome the challenges that we are facing in this life. We are thankful that we can find grace and mercy to help us in our time of need. He is the stronger Ox that can carry us through every obstacle in life.

Sermon Series: ICS Worship Culture