1. Sifanele sizive njani ngento yokuba uYehova esivumele ukuba sithandaze kuye?

 YINYHWEBA enkulu nyhani le siyinikiweyo yokukwazi ukuthandaza kuMdali wezulu nomhlaba. Khawuyicinge le nto: Siyakwazi ukumkhuphela yonk’ into esentliziyweni uYehova nanini na sifuna, nangaluphi na ulwimi. Singathandaza kuye nokuba silaliswe esibhedlele okanye sivalelwe etrongweni siqinisekile ukuba uTata wethu osithandayo uza kusiva. Asiyithathi kancinci le nyhweba sinayo.

2. UKumkani uDavide wabonisa njani ukuba akawuthathi kancinci umthandazo?

² Umthandazo wawungeyonto encinci kuKumkani uDavide. Wathi xa wayeculela uYehova: “Kwanga umthandazo wam ungaba njengesiqhumiso esiqholiweyo phambi kwakho.” (INdu. 141:1, 2) Ngexesha awayephila ngalo uDavide, isiqhumiso esingcwele esasisetyenziswa ngababingeleli sasilungiswa kakuhle. (Eks. 30:34, 35) Ukuthetha kukaDavide ngesiqhumiso kubonisa ukuba wayefuna ukuqala acinge kakuhle ngento aza kuyithetha kuTata wakhe osezulwini. Sifuna ukwenza loo nto nathi. Sifuna imvuyise uYehova imithandazo yethu.

3. Simele sithethe njani noYehova? Kutheni simele sithethe ngolo hlobo naye?

³ Xa sithandaza kuYehova, kufuneka sikulumkele ukuthetha nje nakanjani. Masibe nembeko xa sithetha naye. Cinga ngemibono emangalisayo eyabonwa nguIsaya, uHezekile, uDaniyeli noYohane. Babona izinto ezahlukahlukeneyo, kodwa kwakukhona into ezazifana ngayo. Yonke  yayibonisa ukuba uYehova ngoyena Kumkani umkhulu. UIsaya ‘wabona uYehova ehleli kwitrone ephakamileyo nephezulu.’ (Isa. 6:1-3) Yena uHezekile wambona ehleli kwinqwelo yakhe yasezulwini, ejikelezwe “kukukhanya okuqaqambileyo okufana nokomnyama.” (Hez. 1:26-28) UDaniyeli wabona “Lowo Kanaphakade” enxibe iimpahla ezimhlophe, etroneni Yakhe kuphuma amadangatye omlilo. (Dan. 7:9, 10) UYohane wabona uYehova ehleli etroneni ejikelezwe yinto efana nomnyama omhle onjenge-emeraldi. (ISityhi. 4:2-4) Xa sicinga ngale ndlela azuke ngayo uYehova, sitsho sikhumbule inyhweba esinayo yokuthetha naye ngomthandazo nendlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuyenza ngembeko loo nto. Simele sithandaze njani ke?

4. Sifunda ntoni kumazwi okuqala omthandazo uYesu awawufundisa abafundi bakhe okuMateyu 6:9, 10?

⁴ Funda uMateyu 6:9, 10. KwiNtshumayelo Yasentabeni, uYesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe indlela yokuthandaza efunwa nguThixo. Emva kokuba ethe “ngoko ke, nina nize nithandaze ngale ndlela,” uqala achaze izinto ezibalulekileyo ezinento yokwenza nezinto uYehova afuna ukuzenza: ukungcwaliswa kwegama Lakhe; ukufika koBukumkani obuza kutshabalalisa bonke abantu abangamfuniyo uThixo; nezinto ezintle aza kuzenzela abantu emhlabeni. Xa sizithandazela ezi zinto, sibonisa ukuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kubalulekile kuthi.

5. Ikhona ingxaki xa sithandazela izinto zethu?

⁵ Xa uqhubeka lo mthandazo, uYesu wabonisa ukuba akukho ngxaki xa sithandazela nezinto zethu. Singacela uYehova asiphe ukutya kosuku, asixolele izono zethu, asikhusele xa silingwa, asisindise nakuSathana. (Mat. 6:11-13) Xa simcela ezi zinto uYehova, sibonisa ukuba sixhomekeke kuye ibe siyafuna ukumvuyisa.

6. Ngaba simele sithandazele izinto ezikumthandazo weNkosi kuphela? Cacisa.

⁶ UYesu wayengalindelanga ukuba abalandeli bakhe bankqaye igama negama kumthandazo awabafundisa wona.  Kweminye imithandazo awayenzayo uYesu, wathetha ngezinto ezahlukahlukeneyo awayenexhala lazo ngelo xesha. (Mat. 26:39, 42; Yoh. 17:1-26) Nathi singathandazela nantoni na esenza sibe nexhala. Xa kufuneka senze isigqibo, sinokuthandazela ubulumko nokuqonda. (INdu. 119:33, 34) Xa siza kuqalisa isabelo esinzima, sinokuthandazela ukuqonda indlela yokusenza. (IMize. 2:6) Abazali banokuthandazela abantwana babo, abantwana banokuthandazela abazali babo, futhi sonke yinto esinokukwazi ukuyenza nesifanele siyenze ukuthandazela abantu esibafundisa iBhayibhile nesishumayela kubo. Kodwa, xa sithandaza asimele sicele kuphela.

7. Kutheni sifanele simdumise uYehova xa sithandaza?

⁷ Enye into esifanele singayilibali kukumdumisa uYehova xa sithandaza. Ngoyena mntu esifanele simdumise. ‘Ulungile futhi usoloko efuna ukuxolela.’ ‘Unenceba, uyabavela abantu, ucaphuka kade, futhi uphuphuma luthando olungagungqiyo nokuthembeka.’ (INdu. 86:5, 15) Sinezizathu ezivakalayo zokumdumisa uYehova ngenxa yomntu anguye nezinto azenzayo.

8. Zeziphi ezinye izinto esinokumbulela ngazo uYehova? (INdumiso 104:12-15, 24)

⁸ Simele singapheleli nje ekumdumiseni uYehova xa sithandaza, kodwa simele simbulele nangezinto ezintle asenzela zona. Ngokomzekelo, sinokumbulela ngemibala emihle esiyibona kwiintyatyambo, iintlobo ezahlukahlukeneyo zokutya okumnandi, nangabahlobo esibathandayo. UTata wethu osithandayo usinika ezi zinto nezinye ezininzi, kuba nje efuna sonwabe. (Funda iNdumiso 104:12-15, 24.) Eyona nto ibalulekileyo esimbulela ngayo uYehova zizo zonke izinto asifundisa zona ezenza ukholo lwethu luhlale luqinile, nethemba elimangalisayo lezinto aza kusenzela zona kwixesha elizayo.

9. Yintoni enokusinceda singalibali ukumbulela uYehova? (1 Tesalonika 5:17, 18)

⁹ Kungalula ukulibala ukumbulela uYehova ngezinto asenzela zona. Yintoni  engakunceda ungalibali? Ungabhala zonke izinto oye wazicela kuye uze umane ujonga ukuba ukuphendule njani. Emva koko thandaza umbulele. (Funda ama-1 Tesalonika 5:17, 18.) Yicinge kanje le nto: Siyavuya futhi siziva sithandwa xa abantu besibulela. NoYehova ke uyavuya xa simbulela kuba ephendule imithandazo yethu. (Kol. 3:15) Kodwa, sesiphi esinye isizathu esibalulekileyo sokumbulela uThixo wethu?

10. Ngokutsho kuka-1 Petros 2:21, kutheni sifanele simbulele uYehova ngokuthumela uYesu emhlabeni?

¹⁰ Funda u-1 Petros 2:21. Sifanele simbulele uYehova ngokuba ethumele uNyana wakhe ukuze asifundise. Xa sifunda ngobomi bukaYesu sitsho sazi into eninzi ngoYehova nendlela esinokumvuyisa ngayo. Xa sisenza izinto ezibonisa ukuba sinokholo kwidini likaKristu, siza kuba ngabahlobo abathandwayo nguYehova uThixo ibe siza kuba seluxolweni naye.—Roma 5:1.

11. Kutheni sithandaza egameni likaYesu?

¹¹ Siyambulela uYehova kuba sikwazi ukuthandaza kuye ngoNyana wakhe. UYehova usebenzisa uYesu ukuze asinike izinto esizicelayo. Umamela aze aphendule imithandazo eyenziwa egameni likaYesu. UYesu wayibeka kanje le nto: “Nantoni na eniyicela egameni lam, ndiza kuyenza, ukuze uTata azukiswe ngoNyana.”—Yoh. 14:13, 14.

12. Sesiphi esinye isizathu sokuba simbulele uYehova ngoNyana wakhe?

¹² UYehova uyakwazi ukusixolela izono zethu ngenxa yokuba sahlawulelwa ngedini likaYesu. IZibhalo zithi xa zimchaza uYesu, ‘ngumbingeleli wethu omkhulu ohleli phantsi ngasekunene kwetrone yoThixo omkhulu emazulwini.’ (Heb. 8:1) UYesu ‘ngumncedi wethu okunye noTata.’ (1 Yoh. 2:1) Simbulela kakhulu uYehova ngokusinika uMbingeleli Omkhulu osivelayo, obuqonda kakuhle ubuthathaka bethu ‘nosicelelayo’! (Roma 8:34; Heb. 4:15) Ngaphandle kwedini likaYesu besingasoze sikwazi ukuthetha noYehova ngomthandazo kuba sinesono. Masivume ukuba soze sikwazi ukumbulela ngokwaneleyo uYehova ngesipho esixabisekileyo asiphe sona, uNyana wakhe amthandayo!

13. Ngobusuku obungaphambi kokuba afe, uYesu wabonisa njani ukuba uyabathanda abafundi bakhe?

¹³ Ngobusuku obungaphambi kokuba afe, uYesu wathandaza ixesha elide, ethandazela abafundi bakhe, ecela uTata wakhe ukuba ‘abakhusele kuSathana.’ (Yoh. 17:15) Wayebathanda nyhani! Nangona wayesazi ukuba sekukufutshane ukuba eve ubuhlungu, wacinga ngabapostile bakhe.

14. Singabonisa njani ukuba siyabathanda abazalwana noodade?

¹⁴ Silinganisa uYesu ke ngokuthi singahoyi kuphela izinto ezidingwa sithi. Endaweni yaloo nto, sihlala sithandazela nabazalwana noodade. Xa sisenza loo nto, sithobela umthetho kaYesu wokuba sithandane, sibonisa noYehova indlela esibathanda ngayo abo sikhonza nabo. (Yoh. 13:34) Asidlali ngexesha xa sithandazela abazalwana noodade. ILizwi LikaThixo lisixelela ukuba “umthandazo welungisa unamandla.”—Yak. 5:16.

15. Kutheni abazalwana noodadewethu beyidinga imithandazo yethu?

 ¹⁵ Abazalwana noodadewethu bayayidinga imithandazo yethu kuba behlelwa ziingxaki ezininzi. Singacela uYehova abancede banyamezele xa begula, behlelwe ziintlekele zemvelo, iimfazwe, intshutshiso okanye naziphi na ezinye iingxaki. Singathandazela nabo bazincamayo ukuze bahoye abo badinga uncedo. Mhlawumbi bakhona obaziyo abanezo ngxaki. Bathandazele, ubabize ngamagama. Sibonisa ukuba sibathanda nyhani abazalwana noodade xa sicela uYehova abancede banyamezele.

16. Kutheni sifanele sibathandazele abazalwana abakhokelayo?

¹⁶ Abazalwana abakhokelayo ebandleni babulela kakhulu xa abanye bebathandazela ibe iyabanceda loo mithandazo. Kwakunjalo nakumpostile uPawulos. Wabhala wathi: “Ndithandazeleni nam, ukuze ndiwanikwe amazwi emandiwathethe xa ndivula umlomo, ndikwazi ukuthetha ngesibindi xa ndishumayela ngemfihlelo engcwele yeendaba ezilungileyo.” (Efe. 6:19) Nanamhlanje sinabazalwana abaninzi abakhokelayo abasebenza nzima. Sibonisa ukuba siyabathanda xa sicela uYehova abancede kulo msebenzi.

17-18. Kunini apho sinokucelwa ukuba sithandaze, ibe yintoni esifanele sihlale siyikhumbula?

¹⁷ Ngamanye amaxesha siye sicelwe ukuba senze umthandazo. Ngokomzekelo, udade oqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile unokucela udade ahamba naye ukuba athandaze. Kuba lo dade ahamba naye engamazi kakuhle lo mntu ufundiswayo, usenokukhetha ukwenza umthandazo wokuvala. Le nto iza kumnceda azazi izinto anokuzithetha xa ethandazela umfundi.

¹⁸ Umzalwana usenokucelwa ukuba athandaze kwintlanganiso yenkonzo yasentsimini okanye kwintlanganiso yebandla. Abazalwana abanikwe loo nyhweba kufuneka bahlale beyikhumbula injongo yaloo ntlanganiso. Umthandazo awuyonto yokulungisa okanye yokufundisa ibandla, ungelilo nexesha lokwenza izaziso. Kwiintlanganiso zebandla ezininzi, ingoma nomthandazo ziye zibekelwe  imizuzu emihlanu, ngoko umzalwana oza kuthandaza umele angawenzi ‘mde’ umthandazo, ingakumbi owokuvula.—Mat. 6:7.

19. Yintoni enokusinceda ifike siyilindele imini kaYehova yomgwebo?

¹⁹ Kuba isondele imini kaYehova yomgwebo, lixesha lokuba umthandazo ubaluleke kakhulu ebomini bethu. UYesu wayithetha le nto wathi: “Ngoko ke, hlalani nithe qwa, nimcenga ngalo lonke ixesha uThixo, ukuze nisinde kuzo zonke izinto ezimele zenzeke.” (Luka 21:36) Xa kuyinto yethu ukuthandaza, ukholo lwethu luza komelela ize ifike siyilindele imini kaThixo yomgwebo.

20. Sinokuyenza njani imithandazo yethu ifane nesiqhumiso esinuka kamnandi?

²⁰ Sifunde ntoni? Asiyithathi kancinci inyhweba esinayo yokuthandaza. Ezona zinto zibalulekileyo esimele sizithandazele zizinto ezinento yokwenza nenjongo kaYehova. Enye into, siyambulela uThixo ngoNyana wakhe nangoBukumkani, sithandazela nabazalwana noodade esikhonza nabo. Kanti, sinokuthandazela nezinto esizidingayo, nezinto ezinokusinceda sihlale sinokholo olomeleleyo. Indlela esibonisa ngayo ukuba asiyithathi kancinci le nyhweba sinayo kukuba sicinge kakuhle ngento esiza kuyithetha xa sithandaza. Xa sizenza zonke ezi zinto, imithandazo yethu iza kufana nesiqhumiso esinuka kamnandi kuYehova, ‘ayithande.’—IMize. 15:8.