By Pastor Charles Bell Jr.

The New Year

Every year is a exciting new unknown future with a lot of hard work and question marks ahead for us to overcome.

Joshua and the people of Israel were preparing to enter Canaan; God's Promise Land of milk and honey. There was a flooding Jordan River for them to cross, great wall cities like the ageless invincible Jericho, and great giant warriors for them to overcome; before they could occupy Canaan; their Promise Land from God after being in the wilderness for over 40 years.

God told Joshua and the nation of Israel the secrets to they being successful; in Joshua 1:1-9. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and for him to read, study, and obey all of God's Word each day and for him to teach the nation of Israel to do the same. And for him and the nation of Israel to remember that God would be with then wherever they go to insure their victory, and success in the future battles.

God is telling every Christian, church, pastor, minister and ministry the same thing that He told Joshua and Israel in order for us to be successful. God told Joshua as he is always telling His people that for victory in all new opportunities in the future: First we have to be strong, brave, and persistent because the task (job) ahead will not be easy.

1. Through trusting faith that God will be with us.

2. Through trusting faith that God will be on time with whatever or whomever we need to be successful in the future.

3. We have to faithfully each day, read, study, and obey all of God's Word we know to do. Don't pick and choose what you will obey or not obey.

4. We have to constantly teach, remind, encourage others in the truths in God word and the wisdom of obeying God's Word in their lives, even when it isn't easy.

James 4:13-15 tells us of the unpredictability of the future. The unforeseen twists and turns of life can discourage us or they can cause us to draw closer to our Lord and depend more on Him. God never promised that our new coming year will be smooth without problems. He only promises us that He will be with us, comforting us, carrying us and empowering us to be victorious overcomers in the new year.

So let us enter this new year by submitting all of our plans to the Lord and depending on Him to help us accomplish all that He wants us to do.

1. As we always remember that God promises to be with us wherever He takes us in the coming new year.

2. With Him empowering us to be victorious overcomers over whatever giants and obstacles we face in the coming future.

3. Because as Romans 8:31 tells us "If God is on our side, then who or what can ever win against us.

4. The new year is a new opportunity and the next step in the steps that God has ordered for us before He created the world.

Have a fantastic New Year through our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.