I used to be frustrated with reading the Bible, and several attempts at sticking to the practice all but failed in the past. I wanted to gain some understanding. I followed the soundest advices from the Bible Seminar I attended some years ago. That is, pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and spend silent moments to “listen to God” after reading. For some reasons those simply failed to serve the purpose. Maybe, there’s something wrong with me or anything for that matter. I don't know.
Then one day, I just prayed honestly and said that I would leave everything up to Him, not compelling myself to interpret the Bible as I read every time. Though, I still prayed beforehand, I just proceeded reading anyway. That change of approach gave me the same result as in the past but I didn’t mind, stayed relax, continued reading as much, and enjoyed the stories like any child reading a fantasy book.
During the course of those times I was surprised that I spontaneously gained some insights. Oftentimes, specks of understanding and enlightenment just popped in mind out of nowhere. It was during those times that a thought suddenly came to me that the Apostles of Jesus were once dumbfounded by his deeds and teachings even though they were often fully ignorant of the deeper meanings. They just kept on following him, continued to listen, though, at times being chided by Jesus for their failure to grasp the true meanings. It was only in God’s time (The Pentecost) that, un-scholarly as they were, they received full understanding and wisdom of the word.
We all may gain that understanding in God’s unexpected ways and timing. It may come in any same or different form as He sees fit. Gradually, that understanding will find root in our thinking and spirituality. It will manifest and affect us in the way we live and deal with the challenges of our own lives. Faith, perseverance and humility are what we need. Learning from the Bible is a life-long process.
