Courage to Face the New Year
(Joshua 1:1–9)
Introduction: Who was Joshua? How did God inspire him? What can we learn from this passage? What is it that our Lord wants to do in your life?
Here are three inescapable battles that, as soldiers of the cross, we must fight and win if we are going to be spiritual leaders.
1. Faith to Believe (Josh. 1:1–3) – “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”
Remember, faith is taking God at His Word. Hopefully, you did not miss that the Lord said, “I do give to them.” All they had to do was trust Him. It was already theirs according to the Word of God.
Are you going to believe God? Or are you going to let the devil talk you out of it?
2. Truth to Receive (Josh. 1:6–8) – “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
This battle must be fought and won. Truth that transforms comes from “Thus saith the Lord.” Our responsibility is to meditate on the Word of God—in other words, to “chew the cud.”
Have you ever seen a cow lying down, regurgitating its hay, then slowly chewing it into fine pieces before swallowing it? By the way, cows can do that because they have four compartments in their stomachs. Likewise, we must regurgitate the Word of God after it has been preached, asking the Holy Spirit how it applies to us personally.
3. Courage to Achieve (Josh. 1:9) – “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
This battle of courage must be fought and won. The flesh shrinks back, but the Spirit is willing. The reason we can be courageous is because Christ is in us—the hope of glory. Jesus is our conquering King! He will return one day soon to establish His kingdom, which shall have no end.
Conclusion: Arm yourself for battle. Fight to win. Believe. Receive. Achieve.
From faith + truth comes courage.
Welcome to 2026.
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
