In the face of trying global and personal situations, it can be hard to see what the future holds. When surrounded by hardship, debt, pain, loss and reports of death, you can start to wonder if there will even be a future for you and your loved ones.
So the question then becomes how do we look past our current situations and see a hopeful future? How do we keep from being stagnated or discouraged by what we see in the present? How can we know what the future holds?
The first answer is, by looking to God’s Word.
1. Look to God’s Word
God tells us in John 16:13 that His Spirit will reveal what is to come. That means if we want to be able to look ahead to the future we need the help of the Holy Spirit. And the only way we can connect with God’s Spirit is through the Holy Bible, that is, God’s Word.
As you read the Bible, asking God to give you revelation and understanding, God will reveal to you through the Scriptures what is going to take place in your personal life and also, in the world.
But you must be reading your Bible daily in order to get that revelation. Also, in order for your reading to be even more fruitful, it must be accompanied by prayer and fasting.
2. Pray and Fast
In the book of Daniel, when Daniel turned to God with prayer and fasting (Daniel 9:3), God sent the angel Gabriel to give him understanding and revelation about what was going to happen to the Israelites in the future. (Daniel 9: 20-23)
In the same way if we also desire to know what the future holds, we must turn to prayer and fasting.
As God’s Word says, in order to know what is to come we must be in tune with God’s Spirit. Both prayer and fasting are what will help us do that.
These activities will open and free up your own spirit so that you can connect more easily with the Holy Spirit. And, as you fast and pray, God will use Scripture, words of prophecy and even dreams to inform you about what is going to take place in the future.
3. Meditate on God’s Promises
In His Word God, God says that He has a plan to give us a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) This is a promise you can turn to over and over.
It will remind you that although the present appears dark and hopeless, God still promises that you will have a future and it will be a hopeful one. However, this is not the only promise you must turn to.
If you want to know what is to come you need to look at all of the promises God makes in His Word. Meditate on those promises, write them down, speak them to yourself and even sing them.
Meditating on God’s Word in this way will help you start seeing situations as God sees them. You will also receive light that will illuminate the path ahead of you (Psalm 119:105) and help you see what is to come.
4. Focus on the Right Things
In order to get a vision of what the future holds, you must focus on the right thing, on the right Person, and that is God. Focus on what He is saying about the situation; listen to where He says you are going.
Don’t focus on what people, the news or even what your situation is saying, it will only discourage you and impair your vision. Instead, you must focus on God. You can do this by doing the things mentioned before, praying, reading the Bible, fasting and meditating.
As you look to Him and hear what He is saying, He will show you where He is leading you and what the future holds.
Remember That God Goes Ahead Of You
This world we live in is full of trials and tribulations that can discourage you. But if you look to God, you will find hope. For God is the only One who can see what’s up ahead and He is the only one who can help you do the same.
As you rely on Him to reveal what is to come, you can also trust Him to lead you. And you will not have to fear where you are going, what is coming or what the future holds, because God is going with you and He is going ahead of you. In Jesus name.
