A new year is a new time for the people of God; it’s a new paradigm for God’s people with new opportunities and new ministries. Who is going to fill these new appointments? We are as members of the Body of Christ. 2008 will bring changes from the Lord; we will be shaken in the Lord and we will be encouraged in the Lord. Sometimes as a body we have ease in Zion and get very comfortable. We need to go beyond our comfort zones and submit to God’s agenda. Change is not easy, but we will go forward as a body and we will be filled with spiritual excitement and zeal in the Lord. We pray that everyone who comes into the church is excited about God. Look at the sun, the moon and the stars which God created and Praise the Lord! Look at all the talents God has given His people and Praise the Lord! Look at the people who are being delivered and saved and Praise the Lord! The Lord puts the smile in your face, the Lord puts the dance in your step, the Lord puts the excitement in your body and this becomes contagious.

Let’s not make church a 45 minute religion, but let’s make church the exciting experience which God intended it to be. This is the start of a wonderful new year in the Lord-a year of expectation in the Lord; a year of new beginnings in the Lord; a year for souls to be saved in the Lord. We pray in faith to the one true God who does “more than we ask or imagine.”

This is a new year-a time to commit to good and Godly habits-the habit of prayer, the habit of praise and the habit of reading God’s word every day. So how can we be more effective for the Lord in this New Year. Today’s reading from Joshua offers us some insights:

JOSHUA 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates-all the Hittite country-to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

After Moses, the servant of the Lord died, the Israelites are called to continue on, to press on and cross the Jordan. They were called not to wallow or feel sorry for themselves. Moses had done great things, but it was time for the people of Israel to move forward. One door closes, another door opens and the work of the Lord continues. Just like the Israelites we need to be ready for new opportunities and challenges. “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

The Promised Land is coming; it’s time to stop being a nomad and step out for the Lord. God took the Israelites out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to take Egypt out of the Israelites. Step up for the Lord, keep walking forward and stop your crying, stop your complaining and stop using the past as an excuse for the present. Stop being a pew sitter or a victim. Stop letting your circumstances and your problems dictate to you. Let the Lord get a hold of you and if he has to slap you around, let it be so. Be a child of God-be able and available; you are here for God’s purposes. We are Christians-followers of Jesus, and we are winners in the Lord! We are not slaves to our sins, addictions or problems. We are not victims. It’s time to grow up in the Lord. The Lord has broken the chains and set us free. Our self esteem comes from the Lord. We are “more than conquerors in Jesus.” We are led in triumphal procession to become new creations in the Lord. We walk as warriors for the Lord. “Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world” 1 John 4:4 (NIV). “The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV). God calls us to partnership with Him. The main key is to be disciplined in the Lord. God calls us to be strong in the Lord; to spend time in His word; to spend time in prayer. The Holy Spirit calls us to be courageous in the Lord; to trust the Lord; to be obedient to the Lord.

Make sure you are on God’s holy and righteous path. His is the only direction for us to follow.

Being obedient to the Lord is a delight to the Lord.

Keep the Word of God in your heart day and night. Obedience to the Lord is success in the Lord. When we are obedient our souls prosper-we grow spiritually; we don’t fear the unknown; we don’t get discouraged and we always know God is with us wherever we go. Embrace the Lord and fall in love with Him all over again. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus; the author and perfector of our faith” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV).

Thank you Lord! Praise you Lord! God Bless 2008! Amen!