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Forward: Discovering God's Presence and Purpose in Your Tomorrow

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Beloved Bible teacher and New York Times Bestselling Author, Dr. David Jeremiah calls Christians to move FORWARD to the abundant life in Christ.

242 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2020

464 people are currently reading
445 people want to read

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Dr David Jeremiah

15 books2 followers

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5 stars
322 (60%)
4 stars
146 (27%)
3 stars
51 (9%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
330 reviews2 followers
October 29, 2020
What can I say? David Jeremiah is a great writer, a great preacher and one of the great thinkers of the church. I got this book to see whether or not it would work as a resource for my next group Bible study at church and ended up reading it in about four or five days. Jeremiah speaks to the idea of keeping on moving forward in all phases of life. With Biblical stories as well as stories of modern people all over the world, Jeremiah makes a compelling argument that we should always keep moving forward. This was a great read. Check it out.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,872 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2023
I’ve never read a book by Dr. David Jeremiah that didn’t enlighten me spiritually. Everything he says is backed by scripture. He doesn’t “preach” or push his beliefs on you. For me it’s like having a conversation with a loving friend. He’s a favorite author and pastor.
Profile Image for Gregsie.
89 reviews2 followers
November 16, 2020
For all the times we've felt stuck or unsure what to do next with our lives, David Jermiah points the way Forward. Using 10 steps, he shows how to always move forward with the plan God has given you. I appreciated that Dr. Jeremiah made it a point to clarify that a God-given dream does not have to be in the active ministry field. God gives dream of all kinds, even coffee shops. It's how you pursue and use the dream that matters. Because no matter what your dream, no matter where you are in life, your ultimate purpose is to glorify God. And that is essentially what Dr. Jeremiah teaches in each step, how to achieve your God-given dream and fulfill your earthly purpose of glorify God while moving forward everyday.
Profile Image for Karen.
512 reviews6 followers
November 11, 2020
While I've finished reading this book, I need to start practicing it. I suspect that the content is much easier to read than to regularly practice. That was my problem with it as I read it. It was too "nice," too "friendly," too "simple," and "too encouraging." But the reality is that I've been wallowing in all the wrong attitudes for too long, so I really needed nice, friendly, simple, and encouraging.
Profile Image for Shauntae Spaulding.
Author 4 books46 followers
November 26, 2020
This is by far one of David Jeremiah's top books! It really motivated me to continue pursuing my gifts and not let distractions get in my way. This book is for anyone who needs a jumpstart to activating their gifts and focusing on what lies ahead!
Profile Image for Carter Hemphill.
404 reviews6 followers
February 14, 2022
I was familiar with the author, have seen his books frequently in Christian bookstores, and I was surprised that I hadn't read any of his other books when I finished reading this one. Encouraging and inspiring, peppered with interesting anecdotes, the book's content feels like a big pep talk to not give up and seek God's purpose in your life regardless of what chapter you are in your life. It is especially fitting in this current COVID pandemic period when it can be easy to lose hope.

The only reason for not giving this more than four stars is that his writing style can get repetitive: first he introduces a concept (often as a title to a section), cites a Biblical reference, and then offers a few contemporary Reader Digest-type stories to support the idea (sometimes in different order). The many anecdotes are memorable and effective, yet they can make the book feel like a fast food meal (emotionally uplifting, but not memorable and long-lasting). I would have preferred to have had more depth about the concepts since the book can come across seeming shallow and deceptively simple.

Finishing well is difficult when you start to lose the energy or drive as you get older; choosing not to retire means going against the overwhelming pressure of American culture; investing in others requires discipline and selflessness; being hopeful and optimistic takes a daily commitment to avoid feeling overwhelmed and being daily recharged through God's word and prayer. I wish the book had provided a more realistic perspective of how difficult some of these concepts can be, highlighting how much God's grace, forgiveness, and patience in our lifelong growth are crucial.

Despite the feeling of it being somewhat shallow, the main points are Bibicially sound and worthwhile. The next step is to take the concepts and make them a reality.
Profile Image for Tom Calvard.
248 reviews4 followers
May 25, 2021
This was my first book by this author, but he is clearly a very accomplished pastor and writer, and he seems to have published a book each year for a good number of years.

Whether you're a Christian or not, this book has a very encouraging and hopeful central idea about how to 'move forward' in your life, whoever you may be, by reflecting on the Bible and the spiritual guidance on offer in its teachings.

I liked the central idea, clear style and engaging chapter structure, with one chapter flowing easily to the next. There were also lots of human interest stories and real-world examples of extraordinarily lives given throughout. As a British reader, I was a bit wary of the American status of a church with close links to sports, business and everything else. Sometimes the stream of examples was not so effective, reading about another medal-winner or record-breaker did not seem so relatable. But I concede different examples may engage different readers differently, and there was a great variety of examples and stories shared overall.

The book was strongest when it was most genuinely grounded in the Bible and spiritual reflection. It was for me at its weakest when Jeremiah lapses into his own highly Westernized or commercialized mindset, an account of his own life and achievements ('not a brag'), or folksy personal interpretation that not everyone may agree with.

Otherwise though a hopeful and comforting read - it's hard to argue with the idea that everyone must try to move forward in their lives and find purpose, after all.
Profile Image for Kelsley.
2 reviews
February 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m so glad that I picked it up and shared it with my family to read together. Being that we are different ages and in different seasons of our lives, I thought it was amazing how it’s applicable to us all! I often found when reading it that the Holy Spirit really spoke directly to me and reaffirmed the direction that I’m moving with the Lord.

I definitely think it’s worth reading if you are in a season where you do not know how to move forward and want to move forward in the way that God has called you.

The only reason I gave it four stars I was hoping for more examples from diverse cultural backgrounds. I think it’s inspiring to read books where you see success in people who are similar to you, and being that the kingdom of God is made up of diverse cultures and ethnicities. I would’ve loved to see more examples like that in the book.
Profile Image for Rod Innis.
913 reviews10 followers
May 11, 2021
This truly is a great book. No matter where you are in life, in high school or 14 years past retirement age as the author says he is, this book is a great reminder of God's call on our lives and that we need to be always moving forward always seeking how God wants each of us to glorify Him today and tomorrow and each day that He gives us after that. The author is a bit older than I am. I am 73. He looks forward to serving and glorifying God until He calls him home. I want to do the same. I encourage every Christian to read it.
81 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2021
This is a great book for Christians and non Christians alike to read during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This book gives you practical ways to move forward with God at the center of your life. Regardless if you have been a longtime Christian or are new to the faith this book offers many great insights to readers of all spiritual maturities. I highly recommend this book to anyone familiar or unfamiliar with Christianity or Dr. David Jeremiah.
1 review21 followers
February 13, 2022
I love David Jeremiah's sermons and follow his preachings regularly on YouTube remotely. During such a time as now, in the midst of ongoing uncertainty and life upheavals for many across the globe, it's a timely book for anyone worth reading. It brings in both the spiritual and pragmatic perspective on how to move forward and continuously make progress no matter what the circumstances, or phase/age in life.
Profile Image for Andy Wirt.
5 reviews
February 7, 2023
Well thought out and very helpful. True to Scripture. I was looking for more of a specific plan to find and understand my God-given vision/dream. Not so much for that-- but if you have that or can find another resource to help guide you through that discovery process, this is everything else you need to move forward towards heaven w/ effective service to Christ and living meaningful life here on earth. Good book!
Profile Image for Jeff Noble.
Author 1 book57 followers
February 24, 2023
Giving up on this book. One chapter in and it's all "dream something up for God." It's another shallow, man-centered approach to baptizing your ambition in Christianity.

It's peppered more with stories of secular visionaries (Steve Jobs) than it is with scriptural precedent. He uses David's "vision" to build the temple as his premise that we should all dream things up for God. Bad interpretation. Worse application.
49 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2021
This is a great book if you are feeling stuck after 2020. In this book, the author walks the reader through some practical steps to move forward and he uses God's truth in the Bible to reinforce the steps to move. If you are unsure of how to move forward, this is a must read. The book is a pretty easy read but full of great info.
Profile Image for Diane Busch.
239 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2021
This is a motivational book about moving forward in life and leaving the past behind.  It was more business/motivational and less preachy than I expected.
Includes lots of practical advice and wisdom from a life well lived and devoted to Christ.
Note to self: Chapter 9 contains his thoughts on “retirement”.
Profile Image for Pug.
1,365 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2022
An awesome and upbeat book. Moving, motivating and inspiring. It was unusual for Jeremiah, as it had a "self help" feel. But fortunately, instead of nauseating "rah rah" buzzwords, it was based on rock solid Biblical truth. What's more inspirational than this: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
15 reviews
January 9, 2023
Encouraging

Dr. Jeremiah, in these troubled times, encourages us to look forward with anticipation of greater things to come. As one door closes and a new thing begins. A new work, a new beginning, a bright and unimaginable future. Look forward, give thanks for what has passed for that which has prepared us for what is to come. How I needed this teaching. Thank you!
8 reviews
March 19, 2023
Ok, but heavy on stories and not much guidance

If you want some t to help you find your purpose, this book isn't it. There is some good parts to this book but it is mostly a bunch of unrelated stories. I do a lot of highlighting in books and this one was about 10% of what I highlighted in the last book I read. Which means I took away much less.
Profile Image for Joseph.
319 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2023
Dr. Jeremiah writes biblically based books that could double as self-help sometimes. The catch is that you must have Christ in your life to take advantage of these helps.
This was a very good book and I think I read it before but it was worth the work again.
Definitely recommend this book for life planning, motivation, and biblical teaching.
Profile Image for Damaris .
221 reviews30 followers
October 29, 2025
Cred ca am descoperit un nou autor preferat. Se vede ca a studiat Biblia, ca nu doar a studiat, dar a și trăit și ideile Lui nu sunt impuse, dar cumva reconfortante și încurajatoare. Mi-a plăcut că într-o perioadă extrem de dificilă, Jeremiah ne îndeamnă să visăm din nou, să căutăm, să acționăm, să credem și să luptăm pentru visul pe care Dumnezeu ni l-a ascuns în inimă.
Profile Image for Masauso Phiri.
1 review
December 31, 2025
One of the best biblical motivational books I’ve read

I’ve always enjoyed Dr David Jeremiah’s expository preaching. He has been a faithful steward of God’s word. When I came across this book, I was amazed that he wrote a book to give people a positive attitude in moving forward with the vision and dream the Lord has given us. It’s been an enlightening and delightful read.
Profile Image for Chris Reighley.
4 reviews2 followers
October 30, 2020
Go forward

Great book full,of encouragement. Made for just a time as this. I really appreciate Dr. Jeremiah’s simple, down to earth encouragement that always points to Jesus. And that is what moving forward is all about.
Profile Image for Marlene Briggs.
Author 3 books
November 30, 2020
I've always loved David Jeremiah's books. He writes just as he speaks, like he's having a conversation with the reader. If you need direction and encouragement, this is a great book to read. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Mark Durrell.
100 reviews4 followers
January 24, 2021
Truly Inspirational!

In the middle of a third wave of Covid-19 pandemic , Dr. Jeremiah's book has been a huge uplift for me. His last chapters, especially, on heaven really helped to reset my focus.
5 reviews
February 1, 2021
Thrilled to move forward

Every chapter was a road map to put practical steps to move forward pleasing Jesus. This is the type of book one needs to read again and again. It’s “evergreen”!
Profile Image for Rocky Henriques.
Author 29 books1 follower
February 26, 2021
A challenging and encouraging work from David Jeremiah. This is a prime example of a man who lives what he preaches. I found it especially applicable for me at this particular time in my life...and perhaps you will as well.
4 reviews
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December 20, 2021
Great fast paced book with real stories on changed lives . loved it

This is a wonderful book on living g a life with purpose and the reward that awaits us. Great stories and events bring s it close to your thoughts as a child of God, easy reading well written.
56 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2022
Blessed by the Information

This book is easy to understand and is full of information that will truly bless you. I love the Bible references and the stories of people and what they experienced. Thank you for a beautiful book to help us grow in our journey with Jesus.
Profile Image for Lori.
11 reviews6 followers
December 11, 2022
I borrowed this book to read, but I may just have to buy it and study it a bit. So much great information and inspiration. I need to read page by page and drink in its truths again and again. It’s a book I’ll read again and again. I may be retired, but “I’m not dead, so I’m not done.”
4 reviews
August 31, 2023
Going Forward

This book has really blessed my life, I wish there was a workbook to accompany it.
Bless you Pastor Jeremiah for allowing God to use you to stir up the hunger and thirst within us for God.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews

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