Backing up to Move Forward

Backing up to move forward may sound a little bit like an oxymoron, yet this can often be a valuable and necessary step. In fact every morning I pull out of my driveway in reverse. If I were not to do so and go immediately into drive, I would crash right into my garage and the whole trip would end before it started. The same process can be repeated several times throughout the day. If I pull into a parking space in a parking lot, I will need to put the car in reverse and carefully back out before I can shift into drive and go ahead to my next planned location.
Backing up often requires more caution and detailed alertness than moving forward. It can be more difficult to see where you are going. As in all navigation of a vehicle, other motorists and vehicles are also affected by the actions that you take. There are often other vehicles that are very close by. Because of this (and sometimes another vehicle’s poor parking) movements in reverse are often slower and more precise. The backup sensor on our vehicle alerts me to when I am getting too close to a vehicle that is behind. This offers assistance at the rear of the vehicle but not with those on either side. Having someone outside of the vehicle directing a driver can also be extremely helpful. This provides assistance in avoiding both vehicles behind and beside. This person can also inform when the vehicle has cleared the vehicle beside and can easily turn to move forward again. Paying attention to both the sensor and a helper can make the reverse process considerably easier.
Do you ever feel as though you’re backing up a little in your walk with God? It is very valuable to take a step back and look at both where you have come from and how far you have come.
Keeping in tune with the Lord will keep us on the correct path. Backing up is to evaluate and make minor adjustments to our plan. Only God knows the true way that we are to walk this life with Him. So by checking with Him we will minimize the wasted time of going are own way. “A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” (Proverbs 16:9 AMP)

The distance in reverse is extremely brief compared to the distance that we move forward. The Lord does not desire that we dig up everything we have ever done wrong. We have been made new. “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP)  We have also been forgiven completely for everything that we have confessed to Him. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  (Psalm 103:12 AMP) Dwelling on past faults would be like driving an entire trip in reverse. This would be foolish and dangerous. Regular steps back are to reevaluate attitudes and activities.

Sometimes we may not be ready to deal with hurts from the past. When the appropriate time arrives God will back us up to ensure that we receive total healing from these hurts. When the Lord directs us back it is always for our good. Like a partner guiding the driver in reverse, the Lord will not allow us to come to harm during this process. He is gentle and His leadership always leads us in to completeness. “To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 AMP)
So be willing to take a step back and then move forward with confidence.
“May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].” (Ephesians 3:16 AMP)