Every worthwhile goal in life, whether great or small, begins with a dream. Consider this in your own life. When you look back at changes you’ve made, what compelled you to break out of familiar routines? What motivated you to think you could do something different? What prompted you to step into an unfamiliar place and fulfill a new purpose for your life?
Maybe the choice was to volunteer at your church. Or going back to school to earn a degree you always wanted. Or acting on a job offer. Or starting a business. Maybe it was even deciding to adopt a child. Whatever goal you reached, it all began with a dream.
The Forward Bible Study is all about the dreams you make. It’s about your tomorrow—and the days after that. It’s about moving from the place you are now to the place God wants you to be. It’s about forgetting what happened in the past, getting unstuck, and moving forward.
I like how Paul said it: “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Our God-given future is not a haphazard jumble of confusing contingencies. We’re traveling an appointed way filled with promise. God has placed dreams within us and a prize before us. We just have to be willing to go after them.
I again like how Paul said it: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” Picture an athlete for a minute. Perhaps he has heard about an annual marathon that is taking place in his city. He has always wanted to participate. So he decides this is the year to make his dream a reality.
He knows reaching this goal will take effort. He can’t be haphazard about it and just show up on the day the race. Rather, as Paul says, his mentality is this: “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” He begins to define the steps it will take to reach his dream. He decides to reinforce his dream with determination—in this case, waking up early in the morning to get in a jog at the first light of day. He accepts his dream will come with a cost. His back will ache after a workout. He will lose some hours of sleep. And he will have to reset his priorities to train.
Moving forward is not an easy road. Seizing hold of our dreams will take work. But in the end, when we look back and see how far we have come, it will all be worth it.
God always provides a way to remain steady in your faith and trust Him for the next step. As you discover the joy in your journey, you will see how the example of Jesus sets the pace and empowers your endurance. Your best is yet to come. Learn more about Forward and watch the first full session here!
Sessions Include:
- Dream: Seize Your Tomorrow Today
- Focus: Make Your One Thing the Main Thing
- Risk: Get Out of Your Safe Zone
- Pursue: Chase Your Dream
- Believe: Get Your Mind Right
- Finish: You’re Not Done Until You’re Done
David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point, an international ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching. He is the author of more than fifty books, including Everything You Need, Overcomer, and Forward. Dr. Jeremiah serves as the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, California.