Natural para sa ibang tao ang pag-share kay Jesus at mukhang napakadali lang nito para sa kanila. Pero, maaaring disheartening ito para sa ibang tao. Be encouraged, kapatid. Here’s some ideas about how to share Jesus if you can’t seem to find the right words.

Think about this. Lahat tayo ay surrounded by a particular culture. Maaaring hindi madaling mapansin sa una, but the values, language, attitudes, and shared experiences within a people group or location determine a culture, and this shapes the way we view the world. Kapag ang missionaries ay pumupunta sa isang foreign culture, gugugol sila ng maraming oras para mag observe at maunawaan ang kultura at wika muna. Ginawa ito ni Paul sa Atenas, nang simulan niya ang isang pag-uusap tungkol kay Jesus sa pamamagitan ng pagturo sa altar ‘To an unknown god’, introducing Jesus as the God who could be known. (Acts 17:23)

Here’s the big idea: sharing Jesus begins by observing the culture around you and looking for ways to reflect his nature back to that culture.

Ugaliing mag-observe. Look for concepts and language within culture that encapsulate the core characteristics of Jesus; love, mercy, hope, redemption, salvation, and sacrifice. Halimbawa, madaling makahanap ng mga pelikulang may ‘Jesus figure’ —isang taong nagbuwis ng buhay para sa kapakanan ng iba. Take time to observe your culture at tingnan kung paano mo magagamit ang cultural language and ideas to point towards Jesus.

In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers (that’s you) that they are to be ‘salt of the earth’. You put salt on food to bring out the flavour and make it taste better. In The Message paraphrase of the Bible, Eugene Peterson puts it this way:

Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. …Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

Matthew 5:13-14

Live your life on display. Pero, hindi sa paraang nagbibigay ng atensyon sa’yo, kundi sa paraang nakakakuha ng atensyon sa kabutihan ng Diyos. You might want to start sharing your faith on social media, record a video testimony of how God has been good to you. Maging transparent ka sa mga friends mo kung paano sinagot ni God prayers mo o kung paano ka niya kinakausap personally.

Jesus also tells his followers to be a light on a hill. The amazing thing about light is that darkness has no power over it. Light will always penetrate through and overwhelm the darkness if it is given a chance to shine. The very fact that we can see starlight from millions of light-years away is proof of this. The same is true for the light that you shine.

Let the goodness and power of God shine through you like a light on the top of a hill. Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in your life; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. People will see it and some will ask what’s different about you. Being salt and light naturally sets up opportunities to talk about Jesus.

If you find yourself in a situation where you want to talk about Jesus but you don’t know what to say, just remember na may kwento ka. Your story is a celebration of what Jesus has done in your life and when people hear how God is at work in our lives, it makes an impact. Stories have power; they have the ability to change and challenge you. Stories are often God’s chosen method for transformation.

Sharing your story is as simple as telling others how Jesus has changed your life–sometimes we call it a testimony. It is something Jesus often encouraged those who he healed to do (Mark 5:19). Ang pagsusulat ng ating testimony ay worth the time. This is a powerful tool para maka-connect tayo sa tao to share Jesus.

Here are some helpful tips on how to build and clarify your Jesus-story.

Construct a statement and story for each of the following points:

1. WHAT your life was like before Jesus? Kung wala si Jesus, wala rin tayong identity and purpose. Think of 3 phrases that can give a clear picture of what your life was before Jesus. Perhaps you were filling your life with an addiction (social media, alcohol, bad relationships) because you lacked purpose. Or you felt lost in the world because you had no place to belong.
2. WHY did you follow Jesus? Sharing how Jesus changed your life is a powerful story. This helps you avoid cliches at mas nagiging personal ang pag-share ng gospel. Magandang focus sa mga internal na nangyayari sa buhay mo hindi lang sa sequence ng events when sharing your story. People will be impacted by hearing about your change of heart. For example:

I really believed that no one could ever love me but I was looking for it everywhere. It wasn’t until I heard the story of Jesus’s death that I started to comprehend that I was loved–even cherished.

3. HOW your life has changed since following Jesus? Jesus transforms us. He gives us a new identity and purpose. Share how Jesus has impacted and changed your life. Magandang mag focus kung paano binago ni Jesus yung life mo base sa mga naibahagi mo sa section one. Share how His love and mercy has shaped your emotions (no longer angry, anxious, etc), or changed your actions for the better (love helping people, don’t react, forgive quickly).

5 Tips For Sharing Your Story

Be Fresh — Ibahagi kung ano ang ginagawa ni Jesus sa iyong buhay ngayon. Jesus is always changing us, so take notice and be ready to share a recent story.

Be Honest — Authenticity is often the make or break for people. You don’t need to embellish or exaggerate. Instead, trust that the Holy Spirit will guide you in sharing your story.

Be Specific — Wag kang matakot maging vulnerable. You can include details–about the journey of your heart and the truth and lies that rose to the surface of your mind; this will help make your story relatable.

Be Normal — Gumamit ka ng everyday language na mauunawaan ng iyong mga kaibigan. Iwasan ang mga Christian cliches.

Be Sharp — A story that has a point is powerful. Be careful not to explore too many tangents, instead focus on the main thing Jesus has done in your life.

May kwento ka at ang Holy Spirit ang helper mo. Get out there and start sharing your story. Trust the leading of the Holy Spirit as you share your testimony. Siya ang gagalaw sa buhay ng kaibigan mo.

Crunch time na. Ibinabahagi mo si Jesus sa isang kaibigan. Interesado sila at gusto talaga nilang malaman ang tungkol sa pag follow kay Jesus. Alam mo na time na din to share the gospel. But how do you summarise the Gospel? How do you tell it in a way that’s more helpful than confusing? Walang script para dito at ayaw mong mag mess up.

A simple way to share the gospel meaningfully, is to memorise these 4 words: position, problem, provision, part

Each word describes an important section of the gospel message and is partnered with questions to help start the conversation and simple ideas to give you helpful language to unpack each section.

POSITION: Love is God’s position towards us

Ang Diyos ay pag-ibig at Siya ang lumikha ng lahat ng bagay. As an outflow of His abundant love, He created the universe, the world, and all things in it. Dahil ang Diyos ay pag-ibig, mahal Niya ang bawat tao at ang desire Niya ay ang magkaroon tayo ng personal relationship with Him and the people He created. For us, his people, relationship with God means life, wholeness, fulfilment, and living in harmony with others.

Question: What do you think love is?

God is love. God doesn’t just show love as an action. He is love. God loves all of His creation.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:7–8

Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay walang kondisyon. This is not a love that must be earned or achieved, it’s given unconditionally.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

John 3:16

PROBLEM: Sin is our problem

Nilikha ng Diyos ang lalaki at babae upang mamuhay nang may relationship sa Kanya at sa isa’t isa, however, when humanity sinned, our sin cut off our relationship with God. Ngayon lahat ng tao ay may spiritual heart problem, this is what we call sin. Sin is any choice we make that goes against God’s design for our life and these choices fundamentally break our relationship with God.

Question: What do you think sin is?

Sin is an “own way” attitude. Sin isn’t just bad things we do, it’s a fundamental attitude that makes choices against God’s design for our life.

We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned his own way.

Isaiah 53:6

Question: What are the consequences of sin?

Sin separates us from God. Making choices that go against God’s design for our lives break our relationship with him. No one can earn their way back to God with good deeds because we are all sinners. Sin cuts us off from God, our source of life, so sin is the reason that we all eventually die.

Your sins have cut you off from God.

Isaiah 59:2

PROVISION: Jesus is God’s provision

Gusto ng Diyos na maibalik ang relasyon natin sa kanya kaya gumawa siya ng paraan. Jesus entered into the world. He is God, so He lived the perfect life we could not live and died the death we deserved. He lay dead in a tomb for three days, and on that third day, He rose again proving He was God and that His sacrifice was acceptable.

Question: Who do you think Jesus is?

Jesus is God. Jesus is God in human form. He lived a perfect life and did not sin.

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

John 14:9

Question: Why did Jesus have to die?

Jesus died as our substitute. The consequence of sin is death. However, Jesus died on the cross in our place, cancelling humanity’s debt of sin.

But God demonstrates His love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

PART: Turn and trust is our part

Ang paniniwala kay Jesus ay nangangahulugan ng pagtalikod sa kasalanan at pagtitiwala kay Jesus bilang iyong Panginoon at Tagapagligtas. The Bible calls this repentance and faith. You can’t just say the words or go through the motions, God knows your heart. You can do this by praying to God.

Question: What do you think it means to follow Jesus?

Our response is to turn away from our sins. This is repentance. When we own our brokenness and turn away from our sin to Jesus, he forgives us.

Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come in.

Revelation 3:20

Our response is also to trust that Jesus is God and defeated death for us. This is faith. We can trust Jesus because he loves us unconditionally, which he demonstrated by dying in our place. When we trust that Jesus is God and that he defeated death for us, his undefeatable life now lives in us.

…if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Kung gusto ng iyong kaibigan na magdecide i-follow si Jesus, matutulungan mo sila sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa kanila ng mga salitang sasabihin. Try a prayer like this (get them to repeat the sentences after you):

Dear God. I know you love me. I’m sorry for my sin and that I have gone my own way. Thank you for your son Jesus who died on the cross for my sins and rose again. Today I turn from my sin and trust in Jesus alone. Amen.

Reinforce to them that these are not magic words, they’re an expression of the heart and that God sees their honest heart.

This framework is designed to help you articulate the gospel message. Don’t feel the pressure to share it all at once. In fact, it would be rare that you would do that in one go. More often it’s a helpful structure to keep in mind to help you diagnose what your friends might need to hear. For example, do they need to understand more about who God is? Or perhaps a helpful definition of the nature of sin. Often sharing Jesus doesn’t come down to one conversation where you explain the whole gospel. It can be helpful to gradually explain it over time, based on the needs and questions of your friend.

Spend time over a week committing these 4 words and the related questions, ideas and verses to memory so that you feel prepared to articulate the gospel story with meaning and clarity next time you have an opportunity to share it.

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Maaaring maging weird or uncomfortable ang pakikipagusap about Jesus. O kaya nahihirapan kang humanap ng opportunities para magshare, pakiramdam mo din hindi sapat yung kaalaman na meron ka. Perhaps you don’t want to cause tension in your relationships or be perceived as “pushy”.

Life is increasingly feeling like a warzone of competing worldviews. This is an intimidating landscape to navigate when you’re attempting to share Jesus with people you care about. So what’s your gameplan? How do you go about sharing Jesus?

Here’s a simple 3 step approach to help set you up for sharing Jesus…

1. Pray — Be a Christian

The starting point for authentic evangelism is a current, honest and intimate relationship with Jesus. Kung hindi mo masyado kilala si Jesus, magiging weird at pilit yung pagshare about Him. In any relationship, familiarity comes through communication, and life with Jesus is no different. Our modern idea of prayer can often be reduced to a one way conversation with God. But when it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, your prayer life needs to be more than that.

You need to know His voice to respond to opportunities to share the gospel and navigate conversations. Kapag alam natin ang voice ng Holy Spirit, nagkakaroon tayo ng discernment if the voice we’re hearing is from Him or not. You need to be familiar with Him to talk about Him to all kinds of people, and to respond any time, any place to questions about Him.

2. Connect — Be a friend

Mahirap i-share si Jesus kung wala tayong meaningful relationships – o kahit koneksyon sa mga hindi Kristiyano. There’s no judgment here – it’s just a good question to ask. Marami sa atin ang passionate about our faith at open to sharing Jesus, at dahil sa passion na ito, we’re serving at church and running small groups or organising events and before you know it we’re stuck in a Christian bubble with no friends outside of church.

Kaya kung naghahanap ka ng paraan para ma-share si Jesus, find non-Christians in your everyday life. Focus on where you are already personally connected and start by intentionally growing natural friendships with these people.

3. Respond — Be a messenger

Kapag filled ka ng Holy Spirit through prayer, and connecting well with the people in your world, makakakita ka ng opportunities para ma-share si Jesus. Ang Holy Spirit ang magbabago sa hearts ng mga tao sa paligid mo when you share the gospel to them. Staying connected to Him and responding to what he asks you to do takes the pressure off of you.

It might look like being ready to pray with someone, telling your story, explaining the gospel, or inviting people to church. You might get asked why you’re different, or a conversation might suddenly turn towards topics like God and faith. Perhaps you’ll see someone that needs help, or the Holy Spirit will challenge you to do or say something. It could be anything! Participating in someone’s journey towards Jesus is a super exciting way to live.

If you’re struggling to make a start sharing your faith, begin with these simple steps. Build an authentic, honest relationship with Jesus, meaningful connections with non-Christians, and a prayerful willingness to respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Na-feel mo na ba na hindi ka qualified to share Jesus? Binigyan ka ng trabahong gagawin sa trabaho o isang gawain sa unibersidad. Maaari itong maging overwhelming. Di mo alam kung paano magsisimula kaya isinasantabi mo muna ang task. Maaaring ganito ang nafi-feel mo sa pagshare kay Jesus. Alam mo yung Great Commission pero nahihirapan kang isabuhay ito.

The good news is you don’t have to feel unqualified, because you’re not. God made you on purpose and with a purpose. You are qualified to share Jesus because God created you with a unique personality, and skills and abilities to reach the specific people in your everyday life.

Here’s some truth to speak against the lie that you’re unworthy to share the gospel. You are who God intended and created you to be. You are not a mistake.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb… I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Psalm 139:13-14

God has given you gifts, passions, and a personality that are designed to do the work of sharing Jesus that He has prepared for you (Ephesians 2:10).

Here’s the bottom line. Hindi mo kailangan maging ibang tao para ma-share si Jesus sa mga kaibigan mo. Be the ‘you’, God made you to be. For example, if you love hosting parties and cooking for people, do that. Iinvite mo yung mga tao sa place mo at ipagluto mo sila gamitin mo yung time na ‘yon to share your lives together. As you go, find opportunities to talk about Jesus. If you’re a creative person, find ways to share Jesus through your creativity. There are many ways you can translate your gifts, passions, and personality to sharing the gospel – the only limit is your imagination.

Nasa tamang lugar ka, sa tamang oras. Your mission field is all around you.

Think about your friends, your family, the barista at your coffee shop, the people in your study group or sporting club. These are the people God has placed in your life to share Jesus with. Just like the words said to Esther in the Old Testament, you have been called for “such a time as this” ( Esther 4:14 ). Open your eyes each day to the mission field you already find yourself in.

So, how do you start?

1. Start by praying for the people in your world and ask God for opportunities to have conversations and build relationships.
2. Be salt and light. Let God bring out His flavours and colours in your life, and when people ask what is different about you, be ready to give an answer to what Jesus has done in your life.

Inilagay ka ng Diyos kung nasaan ka ngayon for a reason. Don’t try to be someone else, be yourself. Isipin mo yung mga tao sa buhay mo na may contact ka, paano mo gagamitin ang gifts, passions, or personality na meron ka para i-share si Jesus?

Naaalala mo ba yung pakiramdam mo nung nagsimula kang mag-follow kay Jesus? Nung naunawaan mo ang gravity ng gospel? Not just in your mind, but deep in your heart? When the emptiness was filled with the fullness of love. Don’t forget that.

This gospel message of hope has been resounding throughout humanity since Jesus stood on that mountain and said to his 12 friends, “Go tell everyone! Don’t keep this to yourself.” This call wasn’t meant for them alone. It was meant for you. You’re not meant to keep hope to yourself.

You know you hold the answer. You know you have hope. So what’s holding you back? What would happen if you trusted Jesus and shared this hope?

Here’s 3 encouragements if you’re holding back from sharing Jesus and stepping into the calling of the Great Commission:

1. You have a purpose

Bawat Kristiyano ay called para ibahagi si Jesus. This is our purpose – to make Him known and glorify His name.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Romans 10:13-14

2. It starts with you

Evangelism is not just for a chosen few – ito ang calling para sa lahat ng Kristyano. You have your own unique circle of people who trust and value your words. By sharing your faith in your own genuine way, you can make a significant impact on their lives.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

John 20:21

3. You are not alone

Never forget that you’re part of something bigger. Maaaring mahirap o nakakatakot ang pag-share ng gospel. Pero parte ka ng global movement of people sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Mahalaga ang parte mo sa movement na ito.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Hebrews 12:1

As you share the hope that you’ve found in Jesus, you’re stepping into your purpose as a follower of Jesus and taking your place in the greatest movement the world has ever seen. Napakalaking privilege ang maging parte ng spiritual journey ng mga friends and family mo. Wag kang mag hold back! Di ka nag-iisa. You’ve got this!

As Christians, we’re all aware of the Great Commission. When Jesus stood on that mountain top and said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.” Often that can feel like it’s easier said than done. Kung gusto mong ibahagi si Jesus pero pakiramdam mo awkward ito at baka maging pilit, the first step is to understand that sharing Jesus needs to come from a place of relationship with Him. A relationship that’s honest and intimate.

Gusto mo ba ng closer relationship with God, pero minsan pakiramdam mo malayo sa Kanya at disconnected?

Just like any relationship, nurturing your bond with God requires care, attention, and intentional practices. Merong tinatawag na “Spiritual Disciplines” like prayer time, studying the Bible, worship, joining a church community. These practices are the heartbeat of the Christian faith and build a relationship with Jesus from which evangelism flows naturally.

Here are 5 practices that you can start today:

1. Read your Bible

The Bible is God’s love letter, instruction manual, all in one. Its contents and teachings are God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness ( 2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, the Bible is showing you the goodness of God, who He is and who you are to Him, and instructing you how to live a good life. So start reading the Bible today. If it seems daunting, just start with 15 minutes a day reading it and you’ll start feeling closer to God.

2. Pray

Ang prayer ay ang pakikipagusap natin kay God. He loves it when we pray to Him. It’s like a sweet aroma to Him ( Psalm 141:2 ). At kung hindi ka sigurado kung ano ang sasabihin don’t worry, the Holy Spirit will intercede for you ( Romans 8:26-27 ). As you read your Bible, include some time for prayer too. There are a bunch of different ways to pray: spoken prayers, journaling, praying the Psalms, praying for other people, silence and solitude, just to name a few.

3. Worship

Worship is more than just singing at church or a style of music on Spotify. Everything we do is designed to be worship to God. The way you treat strangers can be worship, the effort you put into your study or work can be worship, the way you love your family can be worship.

In the same way that God has given us music to worship Him ( Psalm 33:1-4 ), He has given us our lives to worship Him ( Romans 12:1 ). So, why not do both! Pwede ka gumawa ng worship playlist na mapapakinggan for your morning commute or for your gym workout and choose songs which speak of God’s greatness. Also, endeavour to live your life in a way that pleases God. This will take time (a life-time, in fact), but you will feel closer to God, because it’s literally what He created you for.

4. Join a church community

Church is so dear to Jesus’ heart that He calls it His bride ( Revelation 21:9-11 ). It is designed by God to help you – a community to support and encourage each other in the good way and in glorifying Jesus ( Hebrews 10:24-25 ). Attending a church service is a great start but it’s when you get involved in the life of the church and in the community of fellow Christians that you begin to become more like Jesus. Find a healthy church, make deep friends and be involved in their lives. If you have trouble making friends (people can be cliquey sometimes) ask the pastor to help, or find a church where you connect easily.

5. Talk to people about Jesus

Jesus told His disciples to go out and share the story of Jesus to the whole world ( Matthew 28:18-2 ). The foundation of growing your relationship with Jesus is cultivating obedience to Him. This means you’re a disciple of Jesus, and so you are called to share the Gospel with the world. Hindi kailangan pumunta sa ibang bansa para mag-share ng gospel, pwede ito mangyari sa mga kapitbahay mo o mga taong nasa paligid mo.

Kung pakiramdam mo ay malayo ka kay God at gusto mong magkaroon ng deeper relationship sa Kanya, start building these practices into your week; read your bible daily, pray daily, worship daily, join a church community, and talk to people about Jesus. And remember, take it easy. The best habits are built by the accumulation of small gains, so give yourself encouragement. And as you go, keep a prayerful outlook for opportunities to share Jesus. You’ll be surprised how they naturally come about.

Conversations about faith and religion always bring important questions and objections to the surface. These objections can often be misinterpreted as scary, discouraging, negative moments. In reality, an objection isn’t something to be feared; it’s an opportunity to engage.

When it comes to addressing objections, often it’s as much about how we respond as it is about the response we give.

Halimbawa, ang isang tao ay maaaring nahihirapan makabalik sa faith dahil sa violence involved in the Crusades. Ngunit habang mas nakikinig ka narealise mo na behind their question is a personal experience where they were hurt by the church. Why would people who claim to love in the name of Jesus act so hurtfully? Often resolving a question doesn’t just mean giving “the right answers”.

Ever heard the old adage: “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care”? How we speak speaks volumes. Mahalaga na ma-discern natin ang dahilan kung bakit nila natatanong ang mga tanong na meron sila. This gives more value than a masterful apologetic response.

Here are 4 tips so you can respond rather than react when objections are raised:

1. Don’t be surprised

If may mga challenging questions na naitanong, don’t assume that you’re being attacked. There are many reasons that objections to Jesus and the Bible are raised. They can come from a place of hurt, misunderstanding or from competing worldviews. And often the most alienating way we can respond is with surprise or alarm. Don’t be surprised: invite conversation.

2. Engage

Huwag iwasan ang objections, better to engage with them. Magtanong ka ng good questions kapag may mga objections ka na ma-encounter. This is an excellent conversational tool. Ask often: “What makes you say that?” It slows down the conversation and makes the thought process more of a dialogue.

Nagbibigay rin ito sa’yo ng space para makinig, mag-isip, at manalangin. Halimbawa, may nagsabi ng “I just don’t understand how a good God can allow so much pain in this world.” By asking “What makes you say that?” you will uncover the heart behind the objection. Maaaring ma-discover mo din na baka may sakit sila, o may loved one na namatay recently. Ultimately, you’re not answering a question, you’re answering a person.

3. Learn as you go

Getting completely stumped in a conversation is an opportunity to learn. Di mo kailangan maging expert or “get it perfect.” Admitting that you don’t know an answer can sometimes be the best answer to give. Say you’ll look into it and get back to them. This keeps the conversation going, shows humility, and helps build your knowledge and resources.

Remember – there’s more going on behind the scenes than just a conversation. The Holy Spirit is always at work. Be honest and trust Him.

4. Be ready

The Bible says to be ready to “make a defence to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you” ( 1 Peter 3:15 ). Sharing Jesus and loving your neighbour means engaging in difficult conversations.

Pag-isipan mo mabuti kung bakit ka naniniwala kay Jesus. Bakit mas naniniwala ka kay Jesus kaysa kay Buddha or Mohammad? Study the Bible and listen to a wide range of good apologetics podcasts (apologetics means defence of the faith). Include them in your weekly listening and study. Consider these things for yourself, and be ready to respond in gentleness and respect.

Gusto mo bang i-share si Jesus sa tao pero natatakot ka? The problem is when we give fearful thoughts power in our mind they start to influence our behaviour, and can even stop us from being able to say yes to what the Holy Spirit wants us to do.

Overcoming fear leads to greater freedom but also greater obedience to the will of the Holy Spirit. Bilang mga Kristiyano called tayo maging strong and courageous: to step out in faith and trust in God. Pero paano natin gagawin ito kung natatakot tayo?

Have you heard of the principle, you reap what you sow? Whatever thoughts you pay the most attention to will grow. Literally! Your brain is constantly changing and evolving. Your thought patterns create physical neural pathways, and the pathways that get stronger and more automatic are the ones that get used the most. Whereas the pathways that are ignored or not used will eventually fade away.

Which thoughts are you watering? Thoughts of hope, grace, love, and courage? Or thoughts of fear, insecurity, and negativity? When it comes to talking about Jesus, are you giving power to the thoughts of fear, or the thoughts of who you are in Christ?

You have power over your mindset – you can choose to strengthen the right thoughts by filling your mind with the things of God. Paul the Apostle talks about this:

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realised. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

Philippians 4:8-9

Here’s some helpful tips on how to overcome fears and strengthen pathways of life:

Step 1: Notice and name the thought

By noticing and naming the thought, nagagawa nating marecognize ang lie and speak truth to it. Doing this will help you separate yourself from the fear and break its power over you.

Step 2: Let the thought go

Don’t give the thought power by paying attention to it; simply let it go and bring your attention back to the present moment. Sometimes there’s value in getting someone else in for this step.

Step 3: Do something brave and courageous, no matter how small

Every action you take that goes against the instinct of fear is a step on the neural pathway that leads to Christ.

Pag-isipan mo mabuti kung bakit ka naniniwala kay Jesus. Bakit mas naniniwala ka kay Jesus kaysa kay Buddha or Mohammad? Study the Bible and listen to a wide range of good apologetics podcasts (apologetics means defence of the faith). Include them in your weekly listening and study. Consider these things for yourself, and be ready to respond in gentleness and respect.