After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, "My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittities, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:1-9

We stand on the threshold of another year. It is a time to ask our Lord to encourage us with the successes of our past, challenge us with the power of the Word, and to guide us with the Spirit in each of us. In every transition it is good to look both ways. When Joshua assumed leadership of Israel, God told him to consider the past and the future. With confidence in God, we can look back and look ahead, then walk boldly into a new year.

The Bible does not promise believers a life free of pain, difficulty or loss. Christians are not exempt from struggle, heartache, or disappointment. But the Bible does promise those who believe in Christ that they will have a Companion on the journey to help, encourage, and strengthen them in whatever may come their way.

The victories of the past

give courage for the future.

Our Daily Bread - January 1, 2005