There is a recipe for success in this New Year.

There is nothing special about the calendar turning to a new year. But it can be a time of remembering the good of last year and resolving to go deeper and better for this next year.

Most people like new things, new opportunities, and new adventures. At this time in our lives and culture, we are facing challenges: world unrest, economic uncertainty, and the continued erosion of moral stability.

New challenges are what life is all about. We should not be asking God to give us a more comfortable life; we should be asking God to make us a stronger person.

There are biblical parallels for everything we face. We would be in error if we thought the Bible did not have answers for every challenge and struggle.

One such parallel would be the epic journey of the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt to the prospect of conquering and owning a land that God had promised. Following the biblical account of the exodus from Egypt, the wilderness trip, and the eventual conquest of Canaan rivals any production of Hollywood. From one crisis to the next, we are on the edge of our seat wondering how God will deliver in the next circumstance.

God has the power to make life safe, smooth, and uneventful; but because He desires that we grow in dependence on Him during the process, we face a series of unknowns. We always know God is there, but we're never sure just how He will work things out.

When Israel reached the Jordan River ready to move into Canaan, they had a leadership change. Moses, the leader for forty years, died (Joshua 1:1-2). Joshua was the new leader and was on the spot as he carried the responsibility to take God's people into a series of battles to conquer the inhabitants of Canaan.

God told Joshua to "be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them" (Joshua 1:6), Being strong and courageous are qualities all of us need every day to deal with whatever comes our way.

God continued His instructions to Joshua in verse 7: "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."

It was clear that God had a plan and the power to carry it out; but Joshua was a key player in that he needed to believe God and push forward, relying on God's promises.

The people of Israel had to draw swords and go into battle against well armed and entrenched enemies. The odds of every battle could be called even, except that God said He would be on the side of Israel. The result was victory.

It is declared in Joshua 21:44-45 that "the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

God keeps His promises. That is our heritage as followers of Jesus Christ. Our part now, as it was then, is to "be strong and very courageous."

God's purpose for us is that we glorify Him. What great opportunities we have in the days ahead!