1, 2. (a) Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza’? (b) Yiphi imibuzo yokuzihlola mayelana lomthandazo okungaba kuhle ukuthi sizibuze yona?

 OMUNYE owake wasebenza ebusuku wathi, “Nxa sekusemadabukakusa kunzima kakhulu ukuthi uhlale uphapheme.” Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi labanye abasebenza ebusuku bangavumelana laye. AmaKhristu lamuhla lawo alobunzima obufanana lalobo ngenxa yokuthi umumo wezinto kaSathane ofaniswa lobusuku obude khathesi usudonse wafika lapho osekunzima khona ukuthi sihlale siphapheme. (Rom. 13:12) Kungaba yingozi enkulu ukuthi sijunywe yibuthongo esikhathini lesi sobusuku. Kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi ‘sicabange ngokuqonda’ njalo silalele isixwayiso esiseBhayibhilini sokuthi ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’​—1 Phet. 4:7, NW.

² Ngenxa yokuthi siphila ekupheleni kwesikhathi, siyabe sihlakaniphile nxa singazibuza ukuthi: ‘Ngikuphaphamele yini ukukhuleka? Ngiyazisebenzisa yini zonke izinhlobo zemikhuleko njalo ngikhuleka kokuphela yini? Ngikujayele yini ukuthandazela abanye kumbe engikwenzayo yikuthandazela lokho mina engikuswelayo lezinto engizifunayo kuphela? Ukukhuleka kuqakathekile yini ukuze ngisinde?’

3. Yiziphi ezinye izinhlobo zemikhuleko?

³ Lapho ebhalela abase-Efesu, umphostoli uPhawuli wathi bathandaze “ngezinhlobo zonke zemikhuleko.” (Efe. 6:18) Emithandazweni yethu singabe sijayele ukucela uJehova ukuthi asincedise ukuze sithole esikudingayo njalo sinqobe ubunzima. “Yena owuzwayo umthandazo,” uyalalela nxa sicela uncedo ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda. (Hubo. 65:2) Kodwa kumele sizame ngamandla ukuthandaza ngezinye izinhlobo zemikhuleko, ezigoqela ukudumisa, ukubonga lokuncenga.

4. Kungani kumele sihlale sidumisa uJehova nxa sithandaza?

⁴ Kulezizathu ezinengi zokuthi kungani kumele  sidumise uJehova emithandazweni yethu. Ngokwesibonelo, sizwa kusithi simdumise nxa sicabanga ‘ngezenzo zakhe zamandla’ kanye ‘lobukhulu bakhe obudlula konke.’ (Bala iHubo 150:1-6.) Kanti njalo amavesi ayisithupha eHubo lesi-150 asikhuthaza izikhathi ezingu-13 ukuthi sidumise uJehova. Umhubi owayemhlonipha kakhulu uNkulunkulu wahlabela wathi: ‘Ngikudumisa kasikhombisa ngelanga ngenxa yemithetho yakho elungileyo.’ (Hubo. 119:164) UJehova ufanele ukudunyiswa sibili. Yikho-ke, lathi emithandazweni yethu, kuhle ukuthi simdumise ‘kasikhombisa ngelanga,’ okutsho ukuthi kumele sikwenze njalonje.

5. Ukubonga emithandazweni yethu kusivikela njani?

⁵ Ukubonga ngolunye uhlobo oluqakathekileyo lomkhuleko. UPhawuli wakhuthaza amaKhristu edolobheni laseFiliphi wathi: “Lingakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa ezintweni zonke, ngokukhuleka langokuncenga, ngokubonga, bekani izicelo zenu kuNkulunkulu.” (Flp. 4:6) Nxa sibonga uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke emithandazweni yethu siyavikelwa. Lokhu kuliqiniso ikakhulu khathesi, njengoba siphila ezinsukwini zokucina lapho okulabantu ‘abangabongiyo.’ (2 Tim. 3:1, 2) Asingeke siphike ukuthi emhlabeni lo kugcwele abantu abangabongiyo. Nxa singananzeleli, lathi singacina sesinjalo. Ukubonga uNkulunkulu emithandazweni yethu kwenza sisuthiseke ngalokho esilakho njalo kusincede ukuthi singabi “ngabakhononi labachothozi.” (Jud. 16) Kanti njalo nxa izinhloko zezimuli zihlala zibonga emithandazweni yazo, ziyabe zikhuthaza amakhosikazi azo labantwabazo ukuthi babe lomkhuba wokubonga.

6, 7. Ukuncenga yikwenzani njalo kuyini esingazincengela khona kuJehova?

⁶ Ukuncenga ngumthandazo oqotho owenziwa ngenhliziyo yonke. Kuyini esingancenga ukuthi uJehova asenzele khona? Singamncenga nxa sihlukuluzwa kumbe nxa silwisana lomkhuhlane ongacina usibulele. Ngezikhathi lezo, imithandazo yethu yokucela usizo kuNkulunkulu isuka ibe yikuncenga. Kodwa uJehova kumele simncenge nxa silohlupho kuphela yini?

⁷ Khangela umthandazo kaJesu oyisibonelo, ubusunanzelela akutshoyo ngebizo likaNkulunkulu, uMbuso wakhe langentando yakhe. (Bala uMathewu 6:​, 10.) Umhlaba lo ucwile ebubini njalo ohulumende bawo behluleka ngitsho lokunika izakhamizi izinswelo eziqakathekileyo zempilo. Kuqakathekile-ke ukuthi sithandazele ukuthi ibizo likaBaba wethu osezulwini lihlonitshwe lokuthi uMbuso wakhe ususe umbuso kaSathane emhlabeni. Kanti njalo lesi yisikhathi sokuthi sincenge uJehova ukuthi enze ukuthi intando yakhe yenziwe emhlabeni njengasezulwini. Yikho-ke asihlaleni siphapheme, sizimisele ukusebenzisa zonke izinhlobo zemikhuleko.

8, 9. Kungani kungamelanga sahlulele uPhetro kanye labanye abaphostoli ngokujunywa yibuthongo esivandeni seGetsemane?

⁸ Umphostoli uPhetro wakhuthaza amaKhristu ukuthi ‘akuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’ Kodwa laye kwake kwamehlula ngelinye ilanga. Wayengomunye wabafundi abajunywa yibuthongo ngesikhathi uJesu ethandaza esivandeni seGetsemane. Lalapho uJesu esebatshelile ukuthi, “lindani likhuleke” kokuphela, kabazange benze njalo.​—Bala uMathewu 26:40-45.

⁹ Kulokuthi sibahlulele kubi uPhetro labanye abaphostoli ukuthi behluleka ukuhlala bephapheme, kungaba kuhle nxa singakhumbula ukuthi basebedinwe befile langalelo. Babelungiselele iPhasika njalo balinanza ngaleyontambama. Okunye njalo yikuthi uJesu waqalisa iSidlo seNkosi Santambama, ebabekela isibonelo sendlela  ababezananza ngayo iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe. (1 Khor. 11:23-25) “Bathi sebehlabele ihubo baphuma baya eNtabeni yama-Oliva,” behamba umangwanyana emigwaqweni emincane yaseJerusalema. (Mat. 26:30, 36) Ngesikhathi leso kumele ukuthi kwasekuzaba semadabukakusa. Aluba sasisesivandeni saseGetsemane ngalobobusuku, engxenye lathi sasizalala. UJesu kazange abatshingele abaphostoli bakhe abasebediniwe kodwa ngothando wavuma ukuthi “umoya uyathanda kodwa umzimba ubuthakathaka.”

10, 11. (a) UPhetro wafundani kokwenzakala esivandeni seGetsemane? (b) Okwenzakala kuPhetro kukufundisani?

¹⁰ Okwenzakala esivandeni seGetsemane kwaba yisifundo kuPhetro. Wafunda isifundo esibuhlungu ngenxa yokulibala kwakhe. Kungakenzakali lokhu, uJesu wayethe: “Ngabonalobu ubusuku lizakwenyela ngami.” UPhetro wahle waphendula wathi: “Loba bonke bengaze benyele ngenxa yakho, mina kimi kungazake kwenzeke.” UJesu waphinda wathi uPhetro wayezamphika kathathu. Engatshedi, uPhetro wathi: “Ngizakufa lawe, ngeke lanini ngikuphike.” (Mat. 26:31-35) Lakanye uPhetro wakhubeka, njengoba uJesu wayetshilo. Esephike uJesu okokucina, wehluleka ukuzibamba “wakhala kabuhlungu.”​—Luk. 22:60-62.

¹¹ Isehlakalo lesi samfundisa isifundo sibili uPhetro njalo wanqoba umkhuba wakhe wokuzithemba. Kusegcekeni ukuthi umthandazo wamnceda kulokhu. Yikho kungamangalisi ukuthi nguye osinika iseluleko sokuthi ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’ Siyasilalela yini iseluleko leso esaphefumulelwayo? Kanti njalo, ‘sikhuleka’ kokuphela yini, ukuze sitshengise ukuthi siyamthemba uJehova? (Hubo. 78:7) Okunye okumele sihlale sikukhumbula yisixwayiso somphostoli uPhawuli owathi: “Uma licabanga ukuthi limile, qaphelani ukuthi lingawi.”​—1 Khor. 10:12.

12. Kungani uNehemiya eyisibonelo esihle kithi?

¹² Asikhangeleni isibonelo sikaNehemiya owayengumphathizitsha ka-Athakisekisi iNkosi yasePhesiya, ngekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E. UNehemiya uyisibonelo esihle ekuzimiseleni ukuthandaza. Okwezinsuku ezinengi, waqhubeka ‘ezila ukudla njalo ekhuleka phambi kukaJehova’ ngenxa yezinhlupho ezazithwalise nzima abakoJuda, eJerusalema. (Neh. 1:4) Lapho u-Athakisekisi embuza ukuthi kungani ubuso bakhe buhlobile njalo embuza ukuthi wayefuna amenzeleni, uNehemiya wahle ‘wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu wasezulwini.’  (Neh. 2:2-4) Kwaphetha ngani? UJehova waphendula imithandazo yakhe waseqondisa izinto ngendlela eyayizanceda abantu bakhe. (Neh. 2:5, 6) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lokhu kwaluqinisa kakhulu ukholo lukaNehemiya!

13, 14. Kumele senzeni ukuze ukholo lwethu luhlale luqinile njalo senelise ukulwisana lemizamo kaSathane yokusibuyisela emuva?

¹³ Ukuthandaza kokuphela njengoNehemiya kusinceda ukuthi sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo. USathane ulesihluku njalo kanengi usihlasela nxa sibuthakathaka. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa silwisana lokugula kumbe ukudana, singaqalisa ukubona angani esikwenzayo ekutshumayeleni inyanga ngayinye akutsho lutho kuNkulunkulu. Engxenye abanye bethu singabe sihlutshwa yikucabanga izinto ezake zenzakala kudala empilweni zethu. USathane ufuna sicabange ukuthi asiqakathekanga. Ezikhathini ezinengi imitshoko ayisebenzisayo yimizwa yethu yokukhathazeka eyiyo ecina isixegisa ukholo lwethu. Kodwa nxa ‘singakuphaphamela ukuthandaza ukholo lwethu lungahlala luqinile.’ Singenza njalo, sizakuba ‘lehawu lokukholwa esizacitsha ngalo yonke imitshoko evuthayo yomubi.’​—Efe. 6:16.

¹⁴ Nxa ‘singakuphaphamela ukuthandaza’ asisoze sibanjwe silibele, besesisiwa nxa ukholo lwethu lulingwa ngesikhathi singacabangeli. Uma sifikelwa yizilingo lobunzima, kasikhumbuleni isibonelo sikaNehemiya owahle wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu. UJehova nguye kuphela ongasenza siphumelele ukunqoba izilingo njalo siqinisele nxa ukholo lwethu lulingwa.

15. Kumele sizibuze yiphi imibuzo mayelana lokuthandazela abanye?

¹⁵ UJesu wancengela uPhetro ukuthi ukholo lwakhe lungehluleki. (Luk. 22:32)  UmKhristu othembekileyo owaphila ngekhulu lokuqala okuthiwa ngu-Ephafra walingisela uJesu ngokuthandaza encengela abafowabo baseKholose. UPhawuli wababhalela wathi: “Uhlezi elikhulekela kakhulu, ukuba liqine kuyo yonke intando kaNkulunkulu, liphelele njalo lithembile.” (Kol. 4:12) Kungaba kuhle ukuzibuza ukuthi: ‘Ngihlezi ngibakhulekela yini abafowethu emhlabeni wonke? Abazalwane abehlelwa yizehlakalo zemvelo ngibakhulekela kangaki? Ngacina nini ukubathandazela ngenhliziyo yonke labo abalemithwalo emikhulu enhlanganisweni kaJehova? Ensukwini ezidlulileyo ngike ngabathandazela yini abanye ebandleni abasebunzimeni?’

16. Ukuthandazela abanye kuqakathekile yini? Chaza.

¹⁶ Nxa sithandazela abanye kuJehova uNkulunkulu kungabanceda sibili. (Bala u-2 Khorinte 1:11.) Ukuthandaza kwezikhonzi zikaJehova ezinengi zicela kanenginengi akusikho okwenza athathe inyathelo elithile. Kodwa nxa ephendula uyakunanzelela ezikuqakathekisayo njalo kakuthathi lula lokho ezikucela ngenhliziyo yonke. Yikho-ke, kumele siwuqakathekise umlandu wethu oyisibusiso wokuthandazela abanye. Kumele sitshengise ukuthi siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu lokuthi siyabakhathalela ngenhliziyo yonke ngokubathandazela siqotho njengo-Ephafra. Singenza njalo sizathokoza kakhulu ngoba “ukupha kubusisekile okudlula ukwamukela.”​—ImiSeb. 20:35.

17, 18. ‘Ukuphaphamela ukuthandaza’ kuzasinceda ngani?

¹⁷ Engakatsho ukuthi “ubusuku sebuzadlula; ukusa sekusondele,” uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Njalo yenzani lokhu liqedisisa isikhathi sakhathesi. Isikhathi sesifikile ukuba livuke ebuthongweni benu, ngoba ukusindiswa kwethu khathesi sekuseduze kakhulu kulekuqaliseni kwethu ukukholwa.” (Rom. 13:11, 12) Umhlaba omutsha esawuthenjiswa nguNkulunkulu ususeduze njalo ukusindiswa kwethu sekuseduze kakhulu kulalokho thina esingakucabanga. Akumelanga silale ekukhonzeni kwethu njalo akumelanga sivumele izinto zomhlaba ukuthi zisincitshe isikhathi sokuthi sithandaze kuJehova sisodwa. Kulokuthi senzenjalo, kumele ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’ Ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda ukuthi ‘siphile impilo engcwele leyokumesaba uNkulunkulu,’ njengoba silindele usuku lukaJehova. (2 Phet. 3:11, 12) Indlela esiphila ngayo yiyo ezatshengisa ukuthi siphapheme yini ekukhonzeni, lokuthi siyakukholwa sibili ukuthi umumo lo omubi sekuseduze kakhulu ukuthi uphele. Yikho-ke, ‘kasikhulekeni kokuphela.’ (1 Thes. 5:17) Kanti njalo silingisele uJesu ngokuzinika isikhathi sokuba sodwa ukuze sithandaze. Nxa sikhuleka kuJehova okwesikhathi eside sisodwa, sizasondela kakhulu phansi kwakhe. (Jak. 4:7, 8) Lokhu kuzabe kuyisibusiso esimangalisayo sibili!

¹⁸ IMibhalo ithi: “Ngezinsuku zokuphila kukaJesu emhlabeni, wakhuleka wacela ngokukhala kakhulu langezinyembezi kuye lowo owayengamsindisa ekufeni, wezwakala ngenxa yokuzehlisa kwakhe okuhloniphekayo.” (Heb. 5:7) UJesu wancenga futhi wacela njalo wahlala ethembekile kuNkulunkulu kwaze kwafika ekucineni kwempilo yakhe yasemhlabeni. Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wasindisa iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ekufeni njalo waseyinika umvuzo womzimba wasezulwini ongafiyo. Lanxa singaze sehlelwe yisiphi isilingo lobunzima esikhathini esizayo, lathi singathembeka kuBaba wethu osezulwini. Singawuthola umvuzo wokuphila okungapheliyo, nxa sihlala ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’