Forward

Forward Plot Summary

Introduction

Life moves at a relentless pace, yet so many of us find ourselves stuck in place - uncertain about the direction we should take, paralyzed by fear of failure, or simply comfortable in our familiar routines. Dr. David Jeremiah confronts this universal human tendency with a compelling vision of forward momentum that stems from spiritual purpose. Drawing from decades of pastoral experience and biblical wisdom, he presents a practical approach to breaking free from stagnation and moving purposefully toward a God-inspired future. The pages that follow chart a course through the essential elements of forward movement in life: from seizing dreams and praying for guidance, to establishing priorities, embracing risk, and cultivating belief. This journey isn't about achieving worldly success but discovering divine purpose - learning to finish what we start and ultimately finding ourselves in alignment with eternal values. Whether you're facing career decisions, relationship challenges, or simply seeking renewed purpose, these principles offer a roadmap for pressing ahead with confidence rather than retreating in uncertainty.

Chapter 1: Envisioning Tomorrow: The Power of God-Inspired Dreams

Dreams are the engines that drive humanity forward. Consider Walt Disney, whose artistic sketches and borrowed animation books evolved into beloved characters, classic films, and theme parks that defined an era. Despite his public persona as kindly "Uncle Walt," Disney was a demanding visionary whose imagination transformed entertainment and created an enduring legacy. Yet even Disney's dreams pale in comparison to what's possible when our visions align with divine purpose. Throughout scripture, we find examples of individuals who captured glimpses of what life could be in God's kingdom and moved forward in faith despite overwhelming obstacles. Abraham dreamed of a great nation while childless. Moses envisioned freedom for the Israelites when they were still making bricks. David foresaw a temple on a hill. These weren't merely human aspirations but God-breathed visions that transcended immediate circumstances and personal limitations. Building a God-inspired dream requires several key elements. First, it must be rooted in history - not isolated inspiration but connected to the broader story God is telling. King David's vision for the temple wasn't spontaneous but grounded in the sacred history of Mount Moriah where Abraham had been willing to sacrifice Isaac centuries earlier. Our most meaningful dreams build upon foundations laid by others, respecting the shoulders we stand upon. Second, effective dreams must be reproduced in vivid mental pictures. David could see his temple in technicolor, describing it with such clarity that others caught his vision. Steve Jobs possessed this same gift - seeing not just what was already present but what could and should exist. This visionary capacity isn't just for creative geniuses; it's available to anyone willing to let God plant His dreams in their heart and mind. Third, meaningful dreams require determination that persists through discouragement. When God told David he wouldn't personally build the temple but his son Solomon would, David didn't abandon the vision. Instead, he did everything possible to prepare materials and plans for Solomon's success. Similarly, Florence Chadwick persevered through the fog to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast, later saying, "I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it the first time." Finally, truly transformative dreams outlive us, creating legacies that continue long after we're gone. When Valentin Haüy witnessed blind people being mocked in Paris, he developed a burden for their dignity that led him to establish the world's first school for blind children. His work inspired Louis Braille, who developed the reading system that has allowed millions of visually impaired people to access knowledge for almost two centuries. The chain reaction of these cascading dreams demonstrates how God can use our vision to impact generations.

Chapter 2: Seeking Divine Direction: Prayer as the Foundation

When Leonora Wood volunteered to teach in a one-room mission school in Appalachia, she understood something profound about turning dreams into reality: we must step toward our goals in God's presence through prayer. She taught a foster teen named Raymond Thomas how to offer what she called a "dreaming prayer" - asking God not just for specific outcomes but for divine dreams that reflected God's purposes. This approach transformed Raymond's life, eventually enabling him to earn advanced degrees, serve in World War II, and build an influential career with the US Atomic Energy Commission. Nehemiah exemplifies this prayer-centered approach to vision in scripture. As a Jewish official serving in the Persian empire, he carried a deep burden for Jerusalem's broken walls and disgraced condition. When news arrived that the returned exiles were in "great trouble and disgrace," he didn't immediately launch a construction project. Instead, he spent days in fasting and prayer, allowing his tears to water the seeds of vision God was planting. Before Nehemiah ever picked up a single stone, he built a foundation of earnest, persistent prayer. This approach requires preparing our hearts for God's plan rather than manufacturing our own. Nehemiah repeatedly mentioned that God "put in my heart" the vision for rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Similarly, when unemployed Chip Barker walked among the pecan trees behind his house praying for direction, God gave him the idea for a barbecue restaurant that would become known across Texas. Whether guidance comes dramatically or gradually, God plants His desires in prepared hearts that regularly seek Him. Prayer also creates space for divine energy to flow into human plans. The apostle Paul wrote that "the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." This isn't merely inspirational language but practical reality, as Susie Larson discovered when facing her husband's workaholic tendencies and subsequent health crisis. Her persistent prayers eventually led to an unexpected job offer that transformed their family dynamics. When we continually approach God's throne, we experience His power operating through ordinary circumstances. During overwhelming moments, prayer provides the strength to persevere. Nehemiah faced fierce opposition from neighboring officials who mocked the rebuilding efforts and threatened violence. His response reveals the secret to resilience: "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard." Later, when intimidation continued, he simply prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." This pattern of praying through obstacles rather than being paralyzed by them characterizes those who successfully move forward in God's purposes. Perhaps most importantly, prayer leads to a posture of praise that energizes our journey. When Jerusalem's walls were completed in just fifty-two days - an astounding achievement - the people gathered to hear God's Word and celebrate His faithfulness. Their initial grief over past failures turned to joy as Nehemiah declared, "The joy of the LORD is your strength." This transformative joy comes not from perfect circumstances but from recognizing God's presence and provision along the way.

Chapter 3: Setting Priorities: Eliminating Distractions and Focusing Forward

Life's journey often resembles that of Marine Walter Osipoff, who found himself literally hanging by a thread when his parachute accidentally deployed and wrapped around a plane's wheel during a routine training exercise. Suspended upside down in mid-air with broken ribs and fractured vertebrae, he exemplifies how we sometimes feel in life - stuck in impossible situations, powerless to move forward. Yet forward movement requires neither superhuman strength nor extraordinary circumstances, but rather clarity about what truly matters. The first step toward momentum is understanding that everything in your life is not equally important. Like Dan Cain, who received fifty-five thousand duplicate letters in a single day, our lives are inundated with information and demands competing for attention. Jesus described this as "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches" that choke the productivity of God's Word in our hearts. The solution begins with recognizing the concept of priority - which historically was singular, not plural. For five hundred years, "priority" meant the very first or prior thing, until the 1900s when we illogically pluralized it, attempting to have multiple "first" things. With this understanding established, we must clarify what's truly best according to God's values. When a Jewish temple scribe asked Jesus which commandment was most important, Jesus distilled the entire Old Testament into a single overarching principle: love. He presented this priority with three applications - loving God with complete devotion, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and appropriately loving ourselves. This framework provides the clarity needed to evaluate activities and decisions against eternal values rather than temporary urgencies. Implementing these priorities requires courage - both to embrace our limitations and eliminate distractions. Jesus himself operated within limitations during His earthly ministry, confined to a specific geographic region, a modest income, and just three years of public work. Rather than seeing these constraints as obstacles, He fulfilled His purpose perfectly within them. Similarly, we must accept our God-given limitations of age, geography, gifts, and circumstances not as excuses but as the specific context for our calling. The courage to eliminate distractions might be even more challenging. Greg McKeown tells the story of attending the birth of his child but then leaving his wife and newborn in the hospital to attend a client meeting - a decision he immediately regretted. "If you don't set priorities in your own life," he realized, "someone else will." Learning to say no to lesser things, even good things, creates space for the best things God has planned. This requires developing what author Maritza Manresa calls "the beauty of a graceful no." The final element in setting priorities is consistency - the daily discipline of putting first things first. David Jeremiah shares his personal journey of learning this lesson as a young pastor trying to prove himself by working endless hours while neglecting his family. When his wife confronted him, saying, "If you believe God wants you to lead us by being gone all the time, then I'm not going to argue with you," he realized there are no ultimate conflicts in God's perfect will. From this experience, he developed four statements of priority that have guided his life: "I am a person with responsibility before God. I am a partner with responsibility to my wife. I am a parent with responsibility to my kids. I am a pastor with responsibility to my congregation."

Chapter 4: Making Your One Thing the Main Thing

Luciano Pavarotti's father offered him wisdom that applies to every life pursuit: "Luciano, if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair." This singular focus propelled Pavarotti from obscure music student to operatic legend. For seven years he studied tirelessly before his first professional appearance, and another seven passed before reaching the Metropolitan Opera. But his concentrated effort eventually made him the world's most celebrated tenor, demonstrating the power of making one thing the main thing. The apostle Paul embodied this focused life in his letter to the Philippians, writing: "I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal." This statement reveals four principles that sharpen focus and guide forward movement. First, Paul focused on God's purpose - becoming more like Christ. During a time when he faced imprisonment and an uncertain future, Paul maintained unwavering commitment to this divine transformation. Similarly, John Bray, diagnosed with Parkinson's disease while serving as a university chaplain, refused to ask "why" about his condition. Instead, he asked, "How will I glorify God in the midst of all this?" recognizing that even unwanted circumstances were designed to shape him more like Christ. Second, Paul maintained God's perspective by "forgetting those things which are behind." This wasn't about memory loss but about minimizing the negative impact of the past. Two dangers lurk in backward glances - either becoming trapped in past successes or paralyzed by past failures. Paul, who accomplished more than most could in ten lifetimes, never rested on his achievements. Nor did he remain haunted by his violent history of persecuting Christians. Like Australian Olympian John Landy, who lost the "Mile of the Century" race when he glanced backward at the wrong moment, Paul knew the past could derail his forward momentum if given too much attention. Third, Paul focused on God's plan by "reaching forward to those things which are ahead." God's purpose for all believers is identical - Christlikeness - but His plans for each individual are uniquely tailored. Everything in your past has prepared you for His next step in your life. Tony Bombacino discovered this when his infant son suffered severe health challenges requiring tube feeding. Looking back, Tony realized God had prepared him through poverty (teaching appreciation for small blessings), athletics (providing mentors through coaching), college (teaching time management), and personal losses (showing the value of relationships). These experiences equipped him for his unexpected role as a special-needs father and co-founder of a company making real-food meals for tube-fed patients. Finally, Paul focused on God's prize - "the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Using the metaphor of an Olympic race, he envisioned being summoned from the stadium floor to receive a crown of honor. Unlike ancient athletic prizes that eventually decayed, the rewards of faithful service to Christ are eternal. Florence Chadwick demonstrated the importance of keeping the prize in view when attempting to swim from Catalina Island to California through dense fog. After swimming nearly twenty miles, she quit just half a mile from shore because she couldn't see her goal. Two months later, she succeeded by keeping a vivid mental image of the California coastline in mind, later comparing this to "the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen."

Chapter 5: Taking Bold Steps: Embracing Risk and Pursuing Purpose

Jean Hanson faced a defining moment on vacation at a beach resort when encountering a rope bridge on a wellness trail. "All I could see were big gaping holes on the sides," she recalled, allowing fear to overcome her. Yet the next day, she enthusiastically sailed in choppy waters - a far more dangerous activity. This contradiction revealed something important about human nature: we often avoid manageable risks while unknowingly embracing greater ones. The following day, Jean conquered the rope bridge by simply pausing briefly, then moving forward one step at a time without fixating on potential dangers. Risk is an unavoidable part of life, particularly for those following Christ. As author Erwin McManus observed, "The center of God's will is not a safe place, but the most dangerous place in the world." Scripture confirms this through countless examples: Moses confronting Pharaoh, Gideon dismissing most of his army, David facing Goliath, Esther risking her life to save her people. None were playing it safe, yet all were precisely where God wanted them. Similarly, moving forward toward divine dreams requires stepping beyond security into faith-based risk. The Bible showcases this principle through Caleb, one of twelve spies sent to reconnoiter the promised land. While ten spies returned terrified by the fortified cities and giant inhabitants, Caleb and Joshua saw the same obstacles but reached different conclusions. The majority maximized the opposition ("we are like grasshoppers in our own sight"), minimized the opportunities (forgetting God's previous deliverances), and ultimately jeopardized their objective (forfeiting their inheritance). This pattern of fear-based decision-making appears in modern contexts too, like football coaches who consistently punt on fourth down despite statistics favoring more aggressive plays. The "power of bad" influences decisions more than potential positive outcomes. Caleb, however, exemplified four characteristics of risk-takers who move forward successfully. First, he maintained exuberance about life. At eighty-five, he declared, "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out." This wasn't youthful naivety but seasoned zeal that transcended age and circumstances. Second, he stayed excited about his future, specifically requesting the most challenging territory still inhabited by giants. Third, he remained enthusiastic about his assignment, personally driving out the three sons of Anak that had terrified the other spies forty years earlier. Finally, and most importantly, he stayed energized about God, "wholly following the Lord" throughout his life. This willingness to risk boldly manifests in organizational decisions too. Shadow Mountain Community Church faced a significant choice when moving into a new worship center. Despite financial uncertainties, they decided to allocate twenty percent of their budget to worldwide evangelism - a substantial risk that required faith. Three decades later, this decision has resulted in supporting nearly 200 missionary families in 41 countries and giving over $51 million to global evangelization efforts. The principle remains consistent: God will never choose safety for us if it costs significance. We were created to count, not merely to be counted.

Chapter 6: Building a Legacy: Investing in Eternal Impact

Austin Carlile seemed to have everything - fame as the founder of successful band Of Mice and Men, financial security, and adoring fans. Yet emptiness consumed him. After a particularly low moment, Austin called his father from a tour bus rooftop asking, "What am I missing? What am I doing wrong?" His father's simple question - "Where is God in your life?" - sent Austin back to the Bible and eventually to faith in Christ. Later, when a storage facility error caused him to lose everything he owned - including his recording equipment, vinyl collection, and even his mother's ashes - Austin reflected: "I still don't have anything. I don't have a job. I don't know what's next. But I have so much more joy, peace, and happiness now than I've had in my entire life." Austin's story illustrates a profound truth about investment: the sweetest returns don't come from financial portfolios or material possessions but from a well-invested life. While Scripture encourages wise stewardship of physical and financial resources, it emphasizes investments that yield eternal dividends. Moving forward requires pouring ourselves into pursuits that will never cease to exist - assets with endless returns. Three specific investments stand out as particularly significant. First, we must invest in God's Word. The Psalmist declared, "Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." Unlike education that requires enormous financial investment, wisdom from Scripture is freely available to anyone willing to engage with it daily. This investment takes two forms: studying the text ourselves and spreading it to others. Ross McCall describes how his initial enthusiasm for Bible study gradually faded until preparing to teach others rekindled his passion for Scripture. Meanwhile, sharing God's Word creates chain reactions of transformation, as demonstrated by the story of notorious jewel thief Jack Murphy, whose conversion through prison ministry eventually influenced others like Mike Larson, who himself became a pastor after receiving a Bible from a Gideon. Second, we should invest our time and abilities in God's work. Since divine enterprise will never go bankrupt, serving the Lord provides lasting significance. This involves developing a personal ministry based on our unique gifts and experiences. Patrick Morley notes that while few are called to occupational ministry, "God's plan is for every believer to have a personal ministry" through jobs, families, and community activities. Bill Brantley exemplifies this by repairing donated bicycles for the homeless at age eighty-seven, using skills developed since childhood. Similarly, Chris Williams, a former children's pastor, founded God's Garage to provide free auto repairs for single mothers, widows, and military spouses. Alongside personal ministry, investing in God's work means devoting ourselves to a local church. Trudy Smith discovered this after initially rejecting organized religion to focus on street ministry. "I followed Jesus right out of the church and into the streets," she explained, "but eventually, He led me right back into church." Despite imperfections, the church remains Christ's chosen instrument for advancing His kingdom, and supporting it provides returns that outlast earthly investments. Finally, we must invest in God's wealth - the eternal treasures Jesus described in His Sermon on the Mount. Unlike earthly possessions vulnerable to moths, rust, and thieves, heavenly investments appreciate eternally. When we use resources to advance God's kingdom, we "trade temporal possessions we can't keep to gain eternal possessions we can't lose." This principle transformed Clint Morgan's perspective after watching his financially struggling parents faithfully tithe even during times when food was scarce. Their example taught him that "whatever has been set aside for God is His; don't use it for any other purpose."

Chapter 7: Finishing Well: Completing What God Started

Frank Lucianna represents an increasingly rare phenomenon in today's world - someone who refuses to stop working despite advancing age. At ninety-seven, this sharp-minded attorney still appears daily in New Jersey courtrooms, energetically defending clients with the same passion that characterized his earlier career. When asked about retirement, Lucianna responds, "I hope God lets me continue doing this. I don't want to retire. I don't want to go to Florida. I just want to do what I'm doing." This determination to finish well reflects the biblical admonition given to Archippus: "See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord." While roles may change and assignments evolve, God's purpose for believers remains constant throughout life. There's no expiration date on divine calling, no retirement from Christian service. As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar quipped when asked about retiring, "Retiring? No! I'm re-firing." Finishing well requires staying focused until the very end. Solomon exemplifies this principle in his completion of the temple, described repeatedly with phrases emphasizing thoroughness: "He had finished all the temple," "The house was finished in all its details," "So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the LORD was finished." This comprehensive completion fulfilled his father David's challenge: "Be strong and of good courage, and do it...until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD." The lesson is clear: you're not finished until you're finished, not done until you're done. Those who finish well also maintain resilience about retirement. Harry Bollback, active in his mid-nineties, responds to retirement questions by saying, "Yes, I retire every night to go to bed so that I can get up the next morning to find out what God has for me to do." This perspective recognizes that while cultural expectations may normalize retirement at a certain age, biblical examples are rare. In fact, Scripture records only one instance - Levite tabernacle workers retiring at fifty - and even then, they continued ministering as mentors to younger workers. Retirement shouldn't mean cessation of purpose but redirection of service. Staying connected to one's calling represents another critical component of finishing well. As Os Guinness observed, "We can retire from our jobs, but we can never retire from our calling." Professor Howard Hendricks exemplified this principle, noting that teaching was what he "was born to do" regardless of institutional affiliation. "If the Seminary decides it's time for me to move on," he said, "I'll just go teach in another venue." Similarly, many retired pastors continue preaching, serving interim roles, or finding new channels for their gifts without the administrative responsibilities that once accompanied them. Perhaps most importantly, finishing well requires vigilance, particularly after victories. The Matterhorn's Mountaineer's Cemetery contains a sobering lesson - many climbers died not during their ascent but while descending after reaching the summit. Similarly, Royal Air Force psychologists discovered that pilots made the most errors when returning from successful missions due to "an almost irresistible tendency to relax." Biblical examples abound: David's moral failure with Bathsheba occurred during a season when he should have been leading his troops but instead remained comfortably at home. Elijah fled in fear after his triumph on Mount Carmel. These cautionary tales remind us that pride often precedes a fall.

Summary

The journey forward is not merely about physical movement but spiritual momentum - a purposeful advance toward God's unique design for each life. Throughout human history, those who made the greatest impact weren't necessarily the most talented or privileged, but those who understood how to press ahead with divine purpose and vision. They learned to dream God-sized dreams, seek heavenly guidance through prayer, eliminate distractions through clear priorities, focus intently on essential matters, take faith-filled risks, pursue eternal purposes, cultivate unshakable belief, and invest in lasting legacies. The ultimate destination of this forward journey transcends earthly achievement. As we press ahead with purpose, we're not merely advancing toward temporal goals but preparing for an eternal celebration. The same principles that propel us forward on earth - dreaming, praying, focusing, risking, believing, investing and finishing - align us with heaven's values and purposes. In the words of William James, "The great use of a life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." By embracing this forward momentum, we find ourselves not only advancing through life's challenges but moving toward the ultimate fulfillment of our existence: reflecting Christ's character and participating in His eternal kingdom.

About Author

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David Jeremiah

Dr. David Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, felt God’s calling on his life at a very early age. Born February 13, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Jeremiah was raised in a family deeply committed to ministry. At the age of eleven, Dr. Jeremiah and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio where his father, Dr. James T. Jeremiah, was the Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, and in 1953 became the President of Cedarville College in Cedarville, Ohio. As Dr. Jeremiah was sensitive to God’s leading in his life, he followed in his father’s footsteps. In 1963, Dr. Jeremiah received a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville College. In that same year, Dr. Jeremiah married his college sweetheart, Donna Thompson who also was attending Cedarville College as a business major. He went on to earn a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1967. He completed additional graduate work at Grace University and was granted the Doctor of Divinity degree from Cedarville College in 1981. In 1969, Dr. Jeremiah began Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed a Christian school grades K through 12. In the 12 years he served as pastor, Blackhawk Baptist Church grew from 7 families to 1300 members. He also launched The Bible Hour television program. Dr. Jeremiah heeded God’s call, and in 1981 he and his family moved to California where he became the senior pastor of Scott Memorial Baptist Church, now Shadow Mountain Community Church. Shadow Mountain Community Church is one of the largest churches in San Diego County. It is also the home of Southern California Seminary and Christian Unified Schools. As Dr. Jeremiah began his ministry at Shadow Mountain, he felt God’s calling to continue the broadcast ministry he started in Fort Wayne. In 1982, Turning Point Ministries became a reality. Today, Turning Point's 30-minute radio program is heard nationally and internationally on over 1800 stations and translator/satellators. In recognition of Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the Word of God, he received the Broadcaster of the Year Award in 1999 from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), in August 2002, received the Award of Merit from the Western Chapter of National Religious Broadcasters for Excellence in Broadcasting and Faithfulness in Service, and in 2006 Turning Point received the Best Radio Teaching Program Award. Dr. Jeremiah has served on the Board of Directors for the NRB since 1996. Turning Point launched a television program in 1982 in San Diego and went nationwide in 2000. Now seen around the world through cable and satellite technology, as well as on terrestrial stations all across the United States, conservative estimates suggest that close to 200 million homes around the world have access to Dr. Jeremiah's Bible teaching each week. Turning Point Television offers a half-hour Bible study message and a full hour worship service with the same great preaching. Carried on several national and international networks such as TBN, ION, and INSP, Turning Point Television has most recently been added to Middle East TV Network and BET, the Black Entertainment Network. Dr. Jeremiah is a sought-after conference speaker for organizations around the country. He frequently speaks at Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Billy Graham Training Center, Phil Waldrep’s Senior Adult Celebrations and numerous NFL, NBA and Baseball chapels. Along with his speaking schedule around the country, Dr. Jeremiah also finds time to fulfill another passion in his life, writing. His books are always gripping and right to the point. Some of his books include Escape the Coming Night, The Power of Encouragement, What the Bible Says About Angels, Prayer The Great Adventure, which brought him The Gold Medallion Award in 1998, God In You, Gifts from God

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