Most people approach the New Year like a spectator at a swimming pool they stand on the edge, shivering, dipping a toe in to see if the "water" of the coming year is warm enough to jump. They wait for a sign, a feeling, or a "word" before they make a move. But as we stand at the border of 2026, God isn't looking for spectators; He’s looking for priests.
In Joshua chapter 3, the Israelites faced a massive obstacle: the Jordan River was at flood stage. It wasn't a gentle stream; it was a roaring barrier between their past and their promise. Many of us are looking at 2026 the same way we see the "flood stage" of the economy, the "overflow" of our anxieties, and the "currents" of a culture in chaos. We are waiting for God to part the waters before we leave the shore.
But the Bible says the water didn’t move when Joshua prayed. It didn’t move when the people shouted. It only moved "as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests... rested in the waters" (Joshua 3:13).
The Israelites didn't find their strength on the dry bank of the past; they found it in the middle of the miracle. If you want a year defined by power instead of "just getting by," you have to change your posture. We aren't just flipping a page on a calendar tonight. We are moving from the Wilderness of 'Wait-and-See' to the Promised Land of 'Step-and-Seize.'
God is already standing in your January. He is already waiting in your June. But He is waiting for the sound of your splash. If you want to see the waters part in 2026, you have to be willing to get your feet wet first.
1. The "First Fruits" Footstep (Prioritize Your Time)
To put your feet in means to give God the "territory" of your morning before the world claims it. In Joshua 3, the priests had to carry the Ark (God’s presence) into the water first. You are carrying God’s presence into 2026 by giving Him your first waking moments. If you give God the "shoreline" of your day, He will manage the "flood" of your schedule.
•Don't just "resolve" to pray; set an alarm for 15 minutes earlier starting January 1st.
2. The "Seed" Footstep (Commit Your Resources)
?You cannot claim a new land while holding onto the currency of the old one. Putting your feet in involves a financial or material sacrifice that proves you trust the New Year's Provider more than last year's paycheck. Momentum begins where your "treasure" is. By putting your money where you want your year to go, you are anchor-dropping your faith in the Promised Land.
• Identify a "Crossover Offering" or a specific act of radical generosity to perform in the first week of January.
3. The "Declaration" Footstep (Walk Out Your Word)
The Jordan didn't part until the priests' feet "rested" in the water. This implies a firm, unmoving stance. This means speaking and acting as if the miracle has already happened before the dry ground appears. Faith is not a feeling; it is a footstep. You activate your faith by changing your vocabulary from "I hope I can" to "God said I will."
• Write down the "Jordan" you need to cross this year. Every morning for the first 7 days, read it aloud and declare: "I am not waiting for the water to move; I am moving because God is already on the other side."
The miracle of the Jordan wasn't for the spectators on the bank; it was for the priests in the current. You cannot conquer what you are unwilling to confront, and you cannot cross what you are only willing to criticize from a distance. As the clock strikes midnight on this year, don't just ask God to move, move yourself. Let 2026 be the year the world hears your splash. Step in, stand firm, and watch the waters part.
Fellow Preachers: If this message helps you lead your people into the New Year, please rate this sermon and leave a comment. Don't just use the outline let’s encourage one another as we prepare the way for the Lord!
