1. Singasichitha kanjani isikhathi noJehova?

SIYAKUTHANDA ukuchitha isikhathi nabantu esibakhathalelayo. Abantu abajabulile emshadweni ayikho into abayithanda njengokuchitha isikhathi sakusihlwa ndawonye. Abantu abasha bathanda ukuchitha isikhathi nabangane babo. Sonke siyakujabulela ukuchitha isikhathi nalabo esikholwa nabo. Nokho, ngaphezu kwakho konke, siyathanda ukuchitha isikhathi noNkulunkulu wethu. Lokhu singakwenza ngokuthandaza, ngokufunda iZwi lakhe nangokuzindla ngenjongo yakhe nezimfanelo zakhe ezinhle. Isikhathi esisichitha noJehova siyigugu ngempela!​—IHu. 139:17.

2. Iyiphi inselele esibhekene nayo?

² Nakuba sikuthanda ukuchitha isikhathi noJehova, kunenselele esibhekene nayo. Ukuphila kwethu kumatasa, lokho kwenza kube nzima ukubeka isikhathi sokwenza izinto ezingokomoya. Umsebenzi, izibopho zomndeni nezinye izinto kungadla isikhathi sethu esiningi kangangokuba singaba nomuzwa wokuthi simatasa kakhulu ukuba sithandaze, sitadishe noma sizindle.

3. Iyiphi enye into engadla isikhathi sethu?

³ Kukhona nenye into ecashile engadla isikhathi sethu. Uma singaqaphile, singavumela izinto ezingezimbi ukuba zidle isikhathi sethu ebesingasisebenzisela ukusondela kuJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendaba yezokuzilibazisa. Sonke siyakujabulela ukuphumula kancane. Kodwa ngisho nezokuzilibazisa  ezihlanzekile zingadla isikhathi sethu size sisalelwe isikhathi esincane sezinto ezingokomoya. Kufanele sikwazi ukulinganisela uma kuziwa kwezokuzilibazisa.​—IzAga 25:27; 1 Thim. 4:8.

4. Yini esizofunda ngayo manje?

⁴ Kulesi sihloko, sizofunda ukuthi kungani kudingeka senze izinto ezibalulekile zize kuqala. Sizofunda nangokuthi singasisebenzisa kanjani kahle isikhathi sethu noJehova nokuthi singazuza kanjani ngokusebenzisa leso sikhathi ngokuhlakanipha.

5. Ukufunda iseluleko esikweyabase-Efesu 5:15-17 kungamsiza kanjani osemusha akhethe ukuphila okungcono?

⁵Khetha ukuphila okungcono. Intsha ivame ukukhathazeka ngokuthi ingaphumelela kanjani ekuphileni. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, othisha nezihlobo ezingebona oFakazi zingayikhuthaza ukuba ifune imfundo ephakeme ukuze ikwazi ukuthola umsebenzi ohlonishwayo. Ukwenza lokho kungase kudle isikhathi sayo esiningi. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abazali nabangane ebandleni bangase bakhuthaze abasebasha ukuba bachithe ukuphila kwabo enkonzweni kaJehova. Yini engasiza osemusha othanda uJehova ukuba enze isinqumo esihle? Angazuza ngokufunda eyabase-Efesu 5:15-17 azindle ngayo. (Yifunde.) Ngemva kokufunda la mavesi, osemusha angase azibuze: ‘“Iyini intando kaJehova”? Yisiphi isinqumo esizomjabulisa? Yisiphi isinqumo esizongenza ngisisebenzise kahle isikhathi sami?’ Khumbula, “izinsuku zimbi” futhi lesi simiso esibuswa uSathane sizophela maduze. Kuyoba ukuhlakanipha ukusebenzisa ukuphila kwethu ngendlela ezokwenza uJehova asithande.

6. UMariya wenza siphi isinqumo, futhi kungani sasihlakaniphile?

⁶Yenza izinto ezibalulekile zize kuqala. Ngezinye izikhathi, ukusebenzisa kahle isikhathi sethu kuhilela ukukhetha phakathi kwezinto ezimbili ezingezimbi zona ngokwazo. Indaba edumile kaJesu evakashele uMariya noMarta ilikhanyisa kahle leli phuzu. Akungabazeki ukuthi uMarta owayephana wayejabula njengoba uJesu ayebavakashele, ngakho wenza isiphihli sedili. Udadewabo, uMariya, yena wasisebenzisa kahle leso sikhathi wahlala eduze kweNkosi yakhe, wayilalela njengoba ifundisa. Nakuba izisusa zikaMarta zazizinhle, uMariya ‘wakhetha isabelo esihle.’ (Luka 10:38-42) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kungenzeka uMariya wakhohlwa ukuthi kwakudliwani ngalelo langa, kodwa singaqiniseka ukuthi akakukhohlwanga akufunda kuJesu. Njengoba nje uMariya asazisa isikhathi esincane asichitha noJesu, nathi siyasazisa isikhathi sethu noJehova. Singasisebenzisa kanjani kahle leso sikhathi?

7. Kungani kubalulekile ukuthandaza, ukutadisha nokuzindla?

⁷Khumbula ukuthi ukuthandaza, ukutadisha nokuzindla kuyingxenye yokukhulekela kwethu. Lapho sithandaza sisuke sikhuluma noBaba wethu osezulwini osithanda kakhulu. (IHu. 5:7) Lapho sitadisha iBhayibheli sisuke singenisa “ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu,” onguMthombo wakho konke ukuhlakanipha. (IzAga 2:1-5) Lapho sizindla sisuke sicabanga ngobuntu bukaJehova obuhle kanye nenjongo yakhe emangalisayo ngayo yonke indalo nendlela thina esingena ngayo kuleyo njongo. Ikhona yini indlela engcono kunale ocabanga ukuthi ungasisebenzisa ngayo isikhathi  sakho? Kodwa singazuza kanjani ngokugcwele kulesi sikhathi esincane esinaso?

8. Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda endleleni uJesu asebenzisa ngayo isikhathi sakhe ehlane?

⁸Uma kungenzeka, khetha indawo engenaziphazamiso. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJesu. Ngaphambi kokuba aqale inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, wachitha izinsuku ezingu-40 ehlane. (Luka 4:1, 2) Kuleyo ndawo engenaziphazamiso, wayengathandaza kuJehova azindle nangentando kaYise ngaye. Akungabazeki ukuthi ukwenza kanjalo kwamsiza walungela uvivinyo olwaluzoza maduze. Ungazuza kanjani esibonelweni sikaJesu? Uma niwumndeni omkhulu ekhaya, ungase ungakwazi ukuthola indawo engenaziphazamiso. Uma kunjalo, ungase ufune indawo ekahle ngaphandle. Yilokho okwenziwa uJulie lapho efuna ukuchitha isikhathi ethandaza kuJehova. Yena nomyeni wakhe bahlala endaweni enamakamelo amancane eFrance, kunzima ukuthola isikhathi sokuba abe yedwa futhi angaphazamiseki. UJulie uthi: “Ngiya epaki nsuku zonke. Uma sengilapho ngedwa, ngiyakwazi ukuzindla ngikhulume noJehova.”

9. Naphezu kokuhlale ematasa, uJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyabazisa ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova?

⁹ UJesu wayehlale ematasa. Phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, wayelandelwa izixuku ezazifuna ukuba azinake nomaphi lapho eya khona. Ngesinye isikhathi, “lonke idolobha laliqoqanele emnyango” lizombona. Noma kunjalo, uJesu wayebekela eceleni isikhathi sokuthandaza kuJehova. Ngaphambi kokuba kuphume ilanga, wathola ‘indawo engenabantu’ ayengachitha kuyo isikhathi eyedwa noYise.​—Marku 1:32-35.

10-11. NgokukaMathewu 26:40, 41, yisiphi iseluleko esibalulekile uJesu asinikeza abafundi bakhe ensimini yaseGetsemane, kodwa kwenzekani?

¹⁰ Ngobusuku bokugcina esemhlabeni ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo yakhe, uJesu wafuna indawo engenaziphazamiso ukuze azindle futhi athandaze. Wayithola indawo enjalo ensimini yaseGetsemane. (Math. 26:36) Ngaleso sikhathi, uJesu wanikeza abafundi bakhe iseluleko esibalulekile ngokuthandaza.

¹¹ Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka. Lapho befika ensimini yaseGetsemane, kwakusebusuku kakhulu, mhlawumbe kwase kuphakathi kwamabili. UJesu wacela abafundi bakhe ukuba ‘balinde,’ wayesehamba eyothandaza. (Math. 26:37-39) Kodwa lapho esathandaza, balala. Lapho ebafica belele, uJesu waphinde wabanxusa wathi “hlalani nilindile futhi nithandaze njalo.” (Funda uMathewu 26:40, 41.) Waqaphela ukuthi babecindezeleke kakhulu futhi bekhathele. Ngozwela uJesu wavuma ukuthi “inyama ibuthakathaka.” Waphinde wahamba okwesibili eyothandaza, lapho  ebuya wabafica belele abafundi bengathandazi.​—Math. 26:42-45.

12. Yini esingayenza uma sizizwa sicindezeleke noma sikhathale kakhulu ukuba singathandaza?

¹²Khetha isikhathi esikahle. Ngezinye izikhathi singase sizizwe sicindezeleke noma sikhathale kakhulu ukuba singathandaza. Uma lokho kuye kwenzeka kuwe, awuwedwa neze. Yini ongayenza? Abanye abavame ukuthandaza kuJehova ekupheleni kosuku bakuthole kuwusizo ukuthandaza kungakabi sebusuku futhi bengakakhathali kakhulu. Abanye bathole ukuthi ukuguqa noma ukuhlala lapho bethandaza kungaba nomthelela omuhle. Kodwa kuthiwani uma uzizwa ukhathazeke kakhulu noma udangele ukuba ungathandaza? Tshela uJehova indlela ozizwa ngayo. Ungaqiniseka ngokuthi uBaba wethu onesihe uyaqonda.​—IHu. 139:4.

13. Imishini yezobuchwepheshe ingasiphazamisa kanjani lapho sichitha isikhathi noJehova?

¹³Gwema iziphazamiso lapho utadisha. Umthandazo awukuphela kwendlela esingaqinisa ngayo ubuhlobo bethu noJehova. Ukutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu nokuya emihlanganweni yebandla nakho kungasisiza sisondelane noNkulunkulu. Kukhona yini ongakwenza ukuze usisebenzise kahle isikhathi sokutadisha nesikhathi osichitha emihlanganweni yebandla? Zibuze, ‘Yini evame ukungiphazamisa lapho ngisemihlanganweni noma lapho ngizama ukutadisha?’ Ingabe uphazanyiswa izingcingo ezingenayo, ama-email, imiyalezo efonini yakho noma komunye umshini wezobuchwepheshe? Namuhla baningi kakhulu abantu abanale mishini ewusizo. Abanye abacwaningi bathi lapho sizama ukugxilisa ingqondo kokuthile, ukuba nefoni nje eduze kungasiphazamisa. Uprofesa wokusebenza kwengqondo uthi: “Awukwazi ukugxila kulokho okwenzayo. Ingqondo yakho iyazulazula.” Ngaphambi kwemihlangano emikhulu nemincane, sivame ukutshelwa ukuba sicuphe imishini yethu ngendlela engeke iphazamise abanye. Singakwazi yini ukwenza okufanayo ukuze imishini yethu ingasiphazamisi nathi lapho sichitha isikhathi noJehova?

14. NgokweyabaseFilipi 4:6, 7, uJehova angasisiza kanjani sigxilise ingqondo yethu?

¹⁴Cela uJehova akusize ugxilise ingqondo. Lapho uphawula ukuthi ingqondo yakho iyazulazula uma utadisha noma  usemihlanganweni yebandla, cela uJehova akusize. Uma unezinkathazo kungase kungabi lula ukungacabangi ngazo ugxile ezintweni ezingokomoya, kodwa kubalulekile ukugxila ezintweni ezingokomoya. Thandazela ukuthula okuyoqapha inhliziyo yakho ‘nemicabango yakho.’​—Funda eyabaseFilipi 4:6, 7.

15. Kuzuzisa ngani ukuchitha isikhathi noJehova?

¹⁵ Uma uzipha isikhathi sokukhuluma noJehova, sokumlalela nesokucabanga ngaye, uzozuza kakhulu. Kanjani? Okokuqala, uzokwenza izinqumo ezinhle. IBhayibheli lisiqinisekisa ngokuthi “ohamba nabahlakaniphile uyohlakanipha.” (IzAga 13:20) Ngakho, uma uchitha isikhathi noJehova, owuMthombo wokuhlakanipha, uyohlakanipha nakakhulu. Uyoqonda nakangcono ukuthi kufanele umjabulise kanjani nokuthi ungakugwema kanjani ukwenza izinqumo ezimzwisa ubuhlungu.

16. Ukuchitha isikhathi noJehova kuyithuthukisa kanjani indlela esifundisa ngayo?

¹⁶ Okwesibili, uzoba umfundisi ongcono. Lapho ufunda iBhayibheli nothile, omunye wemigomo ebaluleke kunayo yonke ukusiza umfundi asondele kuJehova. Lapho sithandaza njalo kuBaba wethu osezulwini, yilapho uthando lwethu ngaYe luyokhula khona bese siyakwazi ukumfundisa ukuthanda uJehova. Kwaba njalo ngoJesu. Wachaza uYise ngamagama amnandi nathinta inhliziyo kangangokuba abalandeli bakhe abathembekile nabo bavele bamthanda uJehova.​—Joh. 17:25, 26.

17. Kungani umthandazo nokutadisha kusisiza siqinise ukholo lwethu?

¹⁷ Okwesithathu, ukholo lwakho luzoqina nakakhulu. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzekayo lapho ucela uNkulunkulu ukuba akuqondise, akududuze noma akusekele. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho uJehova ephendula leyo mithandazo, ukholo lwakho luyaqina. (1 Joh. 5:15) Yini enye engakusiza uqinise ukholo lwakho? Isifundo somuntu siqu. Phela khumbula ukuthi “ukholo lulandela into ezwiweyo.” (Roma 10:17) Kodwa ukwakha ukholo oluqinile kudinga okungaphezu kokungenisa ulwazi. Yini enye okudingeka siyenze?

18. Bonisa ukuthi kungani kudingeka sizindle.

¹⁸ Kudingeka sizindle ngalokho esikufundayo. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kumbhali weHubo 77. Wayecindezelekile ngenxa yokuthi wayecabanga ukuthi yena nama-Israyeli ayekanye nawo babengasamukeleki kuJehova. Leyo micabango yayimncisha ubuthongo. (Amavesi 2-8) Yini ayenza? Wathi kuJehova: “Ngizozindla ngawo wonke umsebenzi wakho ngizocabangisisa ngezenzo zakho.” (Ivesi 12) Ngokuqinisekile, umhubi wayezazi  kahle izinto uJehova ayezenzele abantu baKhe esikhathini esidlule, noma kunjalo le ndoda ekhathazekile yazibuza: “UNkulunkulu usekhohliwe yini ukubonisa umusa, noma ingabe intukuthelo yakhe iqede isihe sakhe?” (Ivesi 9) Umhubi wazindla ngezinto ezazenziwe uJehova nangokuthi uNkulunkulu wayebonise isihe nesihawu esikhathini esidlule. (Ivesi 11) Waba yini umphumela? Umhubi waqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova akasoze abashiya abantu baKhe. (Ivesi 15) Ngendlela efanayo, ukholo lwakho luyoqina nakakhulu njengoba uzindla ngalokho uJehova asekwenzele abantu bakhe nangalokho asekwenzele kona wena.

19. Iyiphi enye indlela esizuza ngayo ngokuchitha isikhathi noJehova?

¹⁹ Okwesine, okubaluleke nakakhulu, uthando lwakho ngoJehova luzokhula. Uthando, ngaphezu kwazo zonke ezinye izimfanelo, yilona oluzokwenza ulalele uJehova, uzidele ukuze umjabulise futhi ukhuthazelele noma iluphi uvivinyo. (Math. 22:37-39; 1 Kor. 13:4, 7; 1 Joh. 5:3) Ayikho into eyigugu ukwedlula ubungane obuseduze nobunothando noJehova!​—IHu. 63:1-8.

20. Yini ozoyenza ukuze ube nesikhathi ozosichitha noJehova?

²⁰ Khumbula ukuthi ukuthandaza, ukutadisha nokuzindla kuyingxenye yokukhulekela kwethu. NjengoJesu, funa indawo engenaziphazamiso ukuze uchithe isikhathi noJehova. Gwema iziphazamiso ezingadingekile. Cela uJehova akusize ugxilise ingqondo lapho wenza izinto ezingokomoya. Uma usisebenzisa kahle manje isikhathi sakho, uJehova uyokuvuza ngokuphila okuphakade ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu.​—Marku 4:24.