Forward: Discovering God’s Presence and Purpose in Your Tomorrow
A Christian guide to moving toward your dreams with purpose. It covers picturing the goal, praying for direction, cutting priorities down to a few, taking bold risks, serving others and investing money and time in what lasts.

Table of Content
1. Introduction
54 sec
Many people carry a dream they keep postponing and a calendar too crowded to show whether they are moving toward it at all. In Forward, pastor and broadcaster David Jeremiah treats faith as a practical guide to that problem: a clear picture of tomorrow, held up to God, can steer what you do today. His first example is King David, who imagined a temple in Jerusalem more opulent than his own paneled palace and was then told that someone else would build it.
The idea running through the book is simple. Moving forward with purpose means seeing your dream clearly, asking God for the road, cutting your life down to what matters most, daring to take risks, and spending yourself on other people and on what lasts. What you get is a way to test your plans, a short list of priorities to replace the long one, and a reason to begin something you thought it was too late to start.
2. Picture the dream before you build it
1 min 34 sec
A king pictured a temple in full detail, grander than his own palace, and then God told him he could not build it. What he did next is a model for any plan that stalls.
3. Pray for the road, then accept God's route
1 min 45 sec
A servant in a foreign palace wanted something his king would never grant, and one sad face at the wrong moment could have cost him his life. His way through is still a pattern for impossible goals.
4. Cut your priorities down to the few that matter
1 min 48 sec
A famous investor’s advice about goals has nothing to do with money, and the history of one ordinary English word suggests we have been fooling ourselves about how much we can focus on at once.
5. Choose one chair and stop looking back
1 min 46 sec
A young singer torn between a safe job and a risky dream got one sentence of advice from his father. In 1954, in Vancouver, a single glance over the shoulder lost a famous race.
6. Take the risk that fear argues against
1 min 40 sec
An actress picked up a bow and arrow at an age when most athletes have long since retired, and came close to the Olympics. A Greek word hidden in everyday English explains where that kind of daring comes from.
7. Find purpose by serving beyond yourself
1 min 46 sec
One of the greatest boxers of his era had money, fame and every pleasure he wanted, and felt himself falling apart. What turned him around happened alone, at night, in a forest.
8. Invest your money and hours in what lasts
1 min 41 sec
Faith and finance seem like strange partners, yet ancient proverbs about sheep and herds turn out to be sound money advice. There is also a second portfolio, one no market can touch.
9. Conclusion
1 min 02 sec
Forward reads like the advice of a pastor who has watched many people stall. Its argument is that a purposeful life comes from direction and subtraction. See the house before you build it, ask God for the road, clear away what crowds out love for God, others and yourself, and stop glancing back at the runner behind you. David’s lost temple shows that even a refused dream can still be served by the person who first dreamed it.
Jeremiah’s own closing advice is the most direct line in the book. As long as God keeps you on Earth, he says, it is never too late to begin. The screenplay you shelved, the language you meant to learn, the subject you always wanted to master: start it tomorrow. Pair that start with a small daily habit, five minutes with scripture and a pencil, and with one act of service that reaches past yourself.
Geena Davis picked up a bow at 41. The only certain way to miss is never to step up to the line.
About this book
What is this book about?
Many believers carry a dream they keep putting off, and a schedule so full that faith feels like one more task instead of a guide. David Jeremiah argues that scripture speaks directly to that problem. A clear picture of tomorrow, offered up to God, can shape the choices you make today. Jeremiah pairs Bible stories with modern lives. King David held on to a temple he was not allowed to build. Nehemiah prayed his way out of a Persian court to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Pavarotti's father told him to choose one chair. Geena Davis took up archery at 41, and Manny Pacquiao found his purpose after an empty life of gambling and parties. From these Jeremiah draws a sequence: see the dream, pray for the route, put love for God, others and yourself first, face forward, and risk boldly. The book ends on stewardship. Jeremiah asks readers to manage their money with care, to read scripture for a few minutes each day, to serve through charity and the local church, and to start the thing they believe they are too late for.
Book Information
Who it's for
Christians with postponed dreams
Christians with a long-postponed dream who want faith to guide their next step.
Busy believers
Believers stretched thin by work and family who need a short, God-centered list of priorities.
Successful but feeling empty
People who feel empty despite success and want a sense of purpose through service.
About the Author
David Jeremiah
David Jeremiah was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1941 and studied at Cedarville College and Dallas Theological Seminary. He founded Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1969 and since 1981 has led what is now Shadow Mountain Community Church in California. His Turning Point ministry brings Bible teaching to radio, television, live events and books. He was named Broadcaster of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters in 1999 and has written more than forty books, including the Gold Medallion winner Prayer The Great Adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
Ratings at a glance
What people think
Listeners find the writing motivating and simple to digest, filled with numerous authentic anecdotes that maintain their interest. Furthermore, the content is packed with biblical verses and offers relevant insights for every phase or circumstance of life. They value the actionable guidance for mapping out the future, and one listener notes that it has truly blessed their life. Nevertheless, there are varied opinions concerning its impact on anxiety levels.
Top reviews
Dr. Jeremiah has a way of taking complex spiritual hurdles and making them feel like a morning walk. He focuses heavily on how we can plan our futures without losing sight of God's sovereignty. I particularly loved the section where he clarifies that a God-given dream doesn't have to be a pulpit ministry; it could be starting a local coffee shop. The writing style is exceptionally accessible and clear. While some of the sports anecdotes felt a little repetitive, the core message of glorifying God through our daily ambitions resonated deeply with my current season of life.
Show moreFinally got around to reading this after hearing his sermons on YouTube for months. The book is a timely lighthouse for anyone navigating the fog of life's recent upheavals. It provides a pragmatic perspective on progress that doesn't ignore the spiritual necessity of prayer. I found the real-world examples of extraordinary lives to be incredibly motivating rather than just filler. Even though the style is simple and folksy, the underlying truths are profound enough to challenge even a seasoned believer. It has truly blessed my life and helped me restart some goals I had previously abandoned.
Show moreAs someone who has felt stuck in a career rut for the last three years, this was the jolt I needed. Dr. Jeremiah uses ten specific steps to show how to activate your spiritual gifts and focus on what lies ahead. The book is peppered with human interest stories that keep the pacing fast and engaging throughout. I appreciated the clarification that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God, regardless of whether we are in full-time ministry or the corporate world. It’s a simple, comforting read that actually provides a roadmap for the future instead of just vague platitudes.
Show moreNot what I expected from a typical devotional-style book. It manages to be both a spiritual guide and a practical planning tool for people in any phase of life. Jeremiah writes with the authority of a seasoned pastor who has clearly lived through these principles himself. Personally, I found the connection between David’s temple vision and our own personal dreams to be a very refreshing interpretation. The book helps alleviate the anxiety of the unknown by reminding us that God has already paved the path forward. I would highly recommend this to anyone needing motivation to finish their race well.
Show moreGotta say, the way this book bridges the gap between spiritual purpose and daily planning is impressive. I loved how it encourages us to dream again, even when the world feels like it’s falling apart around us. The author shares many illustrations that demonstrate how to move forward without being distracted by past failures or current anxieties. In my experience, books this easy to read often lack depth, but this one is full of timely scripture. It has really blessed my life and gave me the confidence to start pursuing my unique gifts again with a clear focus.
Show moreAfter hearing about David Jeremiah's own health battles, his perspective on 'forward' carries so much weight. This isn't just theory for him; it's a lived reality that shines through every chapter of this work. Whether you are a Christian or not, the central idea about finding purpose and moving toward it is universal and helpful. The structured flow of the chapters makes it very hard to put down once you start reading. It’s a comforting, inspirational masterpiece that helps you focus on the future with a sense of divine mission. This is definitely one of his best books in years.
Show moreEver wonder if your best years are actually behind you? This book argues passionately against that mindset by offering a ten-step framework for progress. The truth is, I struggled with how 'Americanized' some of the success stories felt, especially the focus on business moguls and record-breakers. However, the scriptural grounding eventually won me over because it reminds us that David’s vision for the temple was about preparation, not just personal glory. It’s a very encouraging read that helps lower the anxiety of not knowing what’s next in a world full of uncertainty.
Show moreTo be fair, I initially thought this would be another 'dream big' manual with no substance. Instead, I found a well-structured guide that uses the life of King David to illustrate how we should approach our own goals. It’s much easier to read these chapters than it is to actually practice the discipline required to move forward every day. I sometimes felt the author focused a bit too much on his own achievements, but he does preface them as 'not a brag.' Overall, it's a hopeful book that provides a much-needed jumpstart for anyone feeling stuck in a rut.
Show moreThe chapter on finishing well really struck a chord with me. I've been wallowing in a bit of a negative attitude lately, so this friendly and simple approach was exactly what I required. While some might find the tone too 'nice,' the reality is that we often need encouragement more than a lecture during difficult seasons. I did find the heavy emphasis on sports and record-breakers a bit hard to relate to as a non-athlete. Regardless, the biblical reflections are solid and help point the way toward a more purposeful existence. It is a book worth reading for anyone feeling unsure.
Show moreLook, I appreciate the optimism, but parts of this felt a bit too much like a secular self-help seminar. I was expecting a deep dive into biblical exegesis, yet I found myself reading more about Steve Jobs and Olympic athletes than I anticipated. Jeremiah is clearly an accomplished writer with a friendly tone, but the application occasionally felt a bit shallow or man-centered for my tastes. Frankly, baptizing secular ambition in Christian language is a slippery slope. That said, the later chapters on finishing well and leaving a legacy were genuinely moving and much more grounded in the Word.
Show moreQuestions about this book
What is the main idea of Forward by David Jeremiah?
Jeremiah argues that God wants believers to move toward the future with purpose. That means seeing a dream clearly, praying for direction, keeping a few priorities in order, facing forward instead of dwelling on the past, taking bold risks, and finding purpose by serving others. He illustrates each step with Bible figures such as King David, Nehemiah and Paul, and with modern lives like those of Pavarotti and Manny Pacquiao.
What priorities does David Jeremiah recommend in Forward?
He names three, in order. First comes love for God, a relationship to be nurtured instead of crowded out by work or technology. Second is love for others, shown in his congregation handing out more than 50,000 pounds of food a week during the pandemic. Third is love for yourself, because someone exhausted or neglecting their body has little to give. He adds that keeping this order requires learning to say no.
What does Forward say about prayer?
Jeremiah presents prayer as the way to cross the distance between where you are and a far-off goal. Through the story of Nehemiah, who prayed steadily and then silently in a dangerous moment before the Persian king Artaxerxes, he shows prayer opening an unlikely door. He also warns that God answers in His own way, so the route may differ from the one you planned.
How can I apply the ideas in Forward?
Write down your dream in detail, as King David pictured his temple. Pray regularly for direction. Use Warren Buffett’s exercise of listing 25 goals and keeping five. Pick your one chair, as Pavarotti did, and take the first step of a goal that scares you. Spend five minutes a day reading the Bible with a pencil, serve through a food bank or your church, and manage your money with care.
Who should read Forward?
It suits Christians who feel stuck between a dream and their daily routine, people unsure whether it is too late to start something new, and believers who have reached success and still feel empty. Jeremiah’s closing message speaks to all of them: as long as God keeps you on Earth, it is never too late to begin, whether that means writing a screenplay or learning a new language.
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