Forward

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Joel 3:14

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

"If you are in the same place today as you were yesterday, then you are backslidden."
-Smith Wigglesworth

Backsliding... A condition no Christian wants to be in.
We are engaged in a marathon, the distance to the finish line is measured in time, not in length, and none of knows exactly when we will reach it. We are to keep running, nonetheless, no matter what. Our lives as followers of Jesus can sometimes be like swimming against the current, or trying to run on a conveyor belt that's going the other direction. If we grow weary as a runner can and stop we moving forward in our spiritual lives then we will find neither rest for our souls, nor are we are standing still the way the Lord told Moses and the children of Israel to do, we are sliding backwards. The race is being run on an upward slope, with many forces, many hurdles, working against us. We have an adversary who is crafty, who seeks out every weakness in our armor, who's purpose is to wear us out, knowing the race is a long one. Discouragement, lack of vision, worry, anger, and fear can bog us down, causing the "runner" to want to quit, but when we look up, when we maintain our focus and fix our eyes on-and stay fixed on Jesus, when we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling to us, we will stay overcomers, and keep going.
God promises us beauty instead of ashes, strength when we are our weakest, and there is no temptation that Jesus has not already endured-and conquered-to give us abundant life.

"Never never never give up..."
Winston Churchill