Bible Reading (plus devotional book) is part of my ‘me time’ and daily investment in myself. I am far from religious, but I have reasons bakit mahalaga ang pagbabasa ng bibliya para sa akin. Kaya? Ito ang aking sanaysay tungkol sa ano nga ba ang saysay nito. Anu-ano ang mga ibubunga nito sa iyo.

Pagbabasa ng bibliya ay Confidence Booster

One of the common things that makes young people feel bad about themselves is when they try to conform to standards of whoever, and then fail. They’re pressured to be someone who’s actually not the genuine and best version of themselves, but someone who they think people will admire. This journey makes them even vulnerable to the point they see themselves worthless. Dumaan din ako sa ganitong kabataan.

Bible has many thought-provoking tips and stories that are waiting for you to discover. It’s like an extraordinary self-help book that can broaden your view in life, in many important issues in society, and develop your character. Puwede ring sa pagbabasa ng ng bibliya ay mapagtanto mo ang tunay na kahulugan ng tagumpay o kasiyayan (versus immediate gratification) para sa iyo.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Mathew 6:25-27

One of the factors that makes us confident is our faith ( and this includes faith in yourself in good and bad times).    

Bible Reading helps to treat sadness, depression

I am not an expert in mental health, but in my opinion ang pagbabasa ng bibliya ay makakatulong para, gradually, to overcome stress, sadness, or even depression. So far I don’t know any person who reads the bible and has depression or becomes depressed. However I know people who read the bible and acknowledged that they were suicidal and depressed before.  Some individuals admit that words from the bible help them to become positive.

May iba-ibang antas at klase ang “anxiety,” gayon din may iba’t ibang dahilan kung  bakit nadi-depress ang isang tao. Pero kung tingin mo ay nadi-depress ka dahil sa lungkot at mga kontrabida sa iyong mundo, hinihikayat kitang magbasa ng bibliya. Bakit?  

I read somewhere (Psychology Today?) that you may be happier if you don’t focus on yourself too much. I agree because almost everyone has tendency to become self-centered, self-absorbed, and self-righteous. And when they really do, then that’s the beginning of complication in their relationships, money management, and mindset. Bible can help because it’s an empowering classic literature that detaches you away from toxic present, and immerse yourself in an motivational/ uplifting dimension.

Noon bata ako ay may nabasa akong collection ng makukulay na kwento sa bibliya (Lumang Tipan) na may magagandang drawings. Ilan sa natutuhan ko roon ay ang kwento ng mag-asawang Abraham at Sarah, Joseph the Dreamer, magkapatid na Esau at Jacob, arko ni Noah, David and Goliath, Hairy Love story nina Samson and Delilah, Job, at iba pa.

Isa rin sa makulay na bible character ay si King Solomon na humiling na magkaroon s’ya ng kaalaman at karunungan (knowledge at wisdom) para sa ikabubuti ng kanyang pamamahala. Marami siyang nagawang kabutihan, gayon din ng naaning tagumpay at yaman.  Subalit naging babaero ang lokong Hari at nagpakasal sa may 700 prinsesa  at nagkaroon ng 300 querida. Sa huli na-bad influence s’ya ng kanyang mga chika babes, iyan ay kahit hello mayroon siyang knowledge at wisdom. N’yare? Basahin mo sa bible kung paano s’ya nakabangon sa kanyang pagkakamali.

Bible reading influences you to develop fortitude

King Solomon is an example of from being no one to someone. On the other hand, Job was someone with great riches who became someone who had nothing at all to abawi again.  Both of them looked for guidance in good and bad times, and their stories are inspirational.

Ang tukso/ problema/ isyu ay dumarating sa hindi mo inaasahang pagkakataon. Minsan pa nga ay nand’yan na ito habang okay ka at dinadahan-dahan ka na pala. Kaya nasa sa iyo kung magpapakatatag ka sa gitna ng hamon o bibigay ka.

Puwede ring iyong walang tigil na binabato ka ng sunod-sunod na kamalasan, na maiisip mo na lang, am I the most hampas-lupa in the earth? Laban o bawi? Awww!

Kapag ganito ang feeling ay magandang alalahanin James 1: 2-6:

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Maganda siempre kung maniniwala ka kay God, pero kahit tanggalin natin iyong verse 5 o ‘yong pagbanggit sa Dios ay may saysay pa rin itong mga bersikulong ito.

Bible Reading motivates you to go further, believe harder

Most of my favorite bible verses are like power boosters whenever I feel down, lost, or hopeless.  These verses don’t necessarily cite miracles, but somehow they push me to act. For example Luke 11:10:

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Nakagawa pa nga ako ng kwento rito( search: alamat ng perdible)

Gamit na gamit ko itong verse na ito pagdating sa karera o anumang layunin ko sa buhay. Sa bawat araw kasi ay struggle ang labanan ang takot, katamaran, at pagiging mahiyain. Ano pa kaya kung sunod-sunod ang aking pagka-lost? Pero tama talaga yung verse, kung hindi ako maghahanap ng oportunidad o mahihiya akong kumatok para humingi ng tulong- eddie waley!

Bible reminds you what’s good, smart to do

It takes powerful experience or mind-setting to achieve self-discipline. At oo ang pagbabasa ng bibliya ay makakatulong sa iyo sa bagay na ito. Bible has many reminders on how to think, behave, and act right.  In fact, you’ll get a lot of tips about money management and work-life balance sa Holy Book like this one.

 
“Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before.  In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need. “

– 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Good News Translation (GNT)

Bible reading gives wisdom

I understand that people connect bible reading to being religious. If that’s true, then hala paano ako? Hindi ko alam kung anong label ko, pero sure ako na kung wisdom ay definitely sa bible reading ako nakakakuha.

Reading alone is very good, what more if you read empowering books, right?  Ever since grade 1, I have read a lot of materials from textbooks to novels to magazines to komiks to reference newspapers to newsletters, love letters (charr) and self-help books.  But without a doubt at Kahit pa-tambayin mo ako sa library, the bible is incomparable to all materials that gave or gave me knowledge.  

Itinuro nito sa akin ang “ano” at “bakit” sa gitna ng mga “paano.”  Halimbawa ay yong halaga ng oras, kung para saan  ang talento at bakit dapat pagyamanin ito, maniwala sa pag-ibig, maging team player, makontento, at magkaroon ng saysay ang aking mga ginagawa.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

^” When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. “

1 Corinthians 13: 11-13

Bible Reading is like meditation

If I add all what I mentioned in this post (plus praying) bible reading is also an act of meditation/reflection.  I know people who start their days meditating (usually yoga or transcendental meditation) and they attest changes in their lives. 

Pero ako actually nagsimula yung pagbabasa ko ng bible + daily devotional book sa umaga kasi  kapag sa gabi ay napapaginipan ko.  So nilipat ko sa umaga para rin makampante ako at mas makondisyon ako bago magtrabaho. Nakakatulong lalo na kung may pinagdadaanan, aburido na ako, at tinatamad.  Sa ngayon ito ang gusto kong bersikulo sa bibliya:

 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7

Note: Ipinagdidiwang ang National Bible Month tuwing Enero