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Have you ever considered the power of looking back as we move forward? There's a profound wisdom in this seemingly counterintuitive approach, especially when it comes to our faith journey and the path God has laid out for us.

Imagine for a moment the act of walking backwards. It might feel awkward, even a bit dangerous. Yet, there's more to this practice than meets the eye. In physical therapy, reverse walking is used to overcome back pain, knee problems, and arthritis. Athletes employ it to develop greater agility and increase performance. Surprisingly, walking backwards even burns more calories than moving forward!

This concept of "retro-walking" isn't just a physical exercise; it's a powerful metaphor for how we can approach our spiritual lives and our collective journey as a community of believers.

In ancient Hebrew, the word for "past" is "qedem," which literally translates to "the direction of the rising sun." It's a beautiful linguistic quirk that encapsulates a profound truth: our past, with all its lessons and God's faithfulness, can illuminate our path forward.

The ancient Hebrews framed their days around God's faithfulness in the past as a template for how He would respond in the future. This perspective invites us to celebrate yesterday while focusing on tomorrow. It's not about living in the past or trying to recreate it, but rather keeping the goodness and faithfulness of God at the forefront of our minds as we move towards the better day He has in store for us.

As we face the unknown future, we can draw strength from the words of Lamentations 3:21-23:

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

This scripture reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we can find hope by remembering God's unfailing love and compassion. Each new day is an opportunity to experience His faithfulness anew.

But walking backwards into the future isn't just about remembering; it's about transformation. On a personal level, it's about allowing Jesus to completely transform our lives. It's about our thinking being reshaped so that we begin to see others and the world around us through His eyes. It's about our character being molded so that we respond to situations as Jesus would. And it's about our hearts being softened so that we can love as deeply and unconditionally as He does.

On a corporate level, as we surrender to Jesus and allow Him to have His way among us, the possibilities for our community become endless. The challenge lies in keeping up with His pace, letting go of what holds us back, and following Him closely.

As we embark on this journey, we must be prepared for Jesus to ask us to do outrageous and terrifying things. The temptation will be to run the other way or pretend we didn't hear His call. But throughout scripture, we see examples of ordinary people who said yes to God's extraordinary requests:

Noah built an ark when there was no sign of rain.
Moses confronted Pharaoh with the demand, "Let my people go."
David, a young shepherd, faced the giant Goliath.
Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water.

These stories remind us that God often calls us to step beyond our comfort zones and into the realm of the seemingly impossible.

Fear can be a significant obstacle in this journey. The phrase "Fear not" appears 70 times in scripture, a testament to our human tendency to let fear govern our decisions. But when we allow fear of what could happen to determine our next steps, we miss out on what God wants to do in us, through us, and among us.

Instead, we're called to look past fear and into opportunities. We're encouraged to "Forget Everything And Run" towards God's calling, not away from it. As Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The future is never found in playing it safe. It's always waiting for us on the other side of our fears. We're called to believe for the impossible, push through the improbable, and turn vision into reality.

Consider the metaphor of a marathon. When you're in the midst of the race, fatigue setting in and doubts creeping up, three things can keep you going:

1. Encouragement from unexpected places
2. The support of community
3. The anticipation of the finish line

In our spiritual marathon, we have the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, often speaking through unexpected voices. We have the support of our faith community, sustaining us through the challenging stretches. And we have the ultimate finish line – eternity with Christ – spurring us on.

As Hebrews 12:1-2 exhorts us:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

So, as we walk backwards into the future, let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Let's remember His faithfulness in our past, trust His guidance in our present, and anticipate His promises for our future. Let's run this race with perseverance, encouraging one another along the way.

The path ahead may be uncertain, but with Christ as our guide, we can face it with confidence and hope. Let's embrace the adventure, run hard, breathe easy, and finish well. After all, we're not just running for ourselves – we're running towards a future that God has lovingly prepared for us, a future bright with promise and possibility.