1, 2. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ‘ukuphaphamela ukuthandaza’? (b) Imiphi imibuzo yokuzihlola ngokuphathelene nomthandazo okuhle ukuzibuza yona?

OMUNYE umuntu owayesebenza ebusuku uthi: “Isikhathi okunzima kakhulu ukuhlale uphapheme ngaso singaphambi nje kokuntwela kokusa.” Cishe nabanye abake bazama ukuhlale bephapheme ubusuku bonke bangavumelana naye. AmaKristu osuku lwanamuhla abhekene nenselele efanayo ngoba ubusuku obude balesi simiso sezinto sikaSathane esibi manje sebusenkathini emnyama kunazo zonke emlandweni. (Roma 13:12) Yeka ukuthi kungaba ingozi kangakanani ngathi uma singazumeka ngaleli hora lokugcina! Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba ‘sibe abahluzekile engqondweni’ futhi silalele ukunxusa kweBhayibheli kokuba ‘siphaphamele ukuthandaza.’—1 Pet. 4:7.

² Ngenxa yesikhathi esiphila kuso, kuwukuhlakanipha ukuzibuza: ‘Ngiphapheme kangakanani endabeni yomthandazo? Ingabe ngisebenzisa zonke izinhlobo zomthandazo, futhi ingabe ngithandaza njalo? Ingabe ngikwenza umkhuba ukuthandazela abanye, noma imithandazo yami ivame ukugxila ezidingweni zami nasezintweni engizifunayo? Ubaluleke kangakanani umthandazo ekusindisweni kwami?’

3. Iziphi ezinye izinhlobo zomthandazo?

³ Encwadini ayibhalela abase-Efesu, umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma “ngazo zonke izinhlobo zomthandazo.” (Efe. 6:18) Kungenzeka ukuthi emithandazweni yethu sivame ukucela uJehova ukuba asisize sihlangabezane nezidingo zethu futhi sinqobe izithiyo. ‘UMuzwi womthandazo’ uyalalela lapho sicela usizo ngoba uyasithanda. (IHu. 65:2) Nokho, kufanele futhi silwele ukugxila nakwezinye izinhlobo zomthandazo. Zihlanganisa umthandazo wokudumisa, wokubonga nowokunxusa.

4. Kungani kufanele simdumise kaningi uJehova emithandazweni yethu?

⁴ Kunezizathu eziningi zokuba imithandazo yethu  kuJehova ihlanganise namazwi okudumisa. Ngokwesibonelo, sishukumiseleka ukuba simdumise lapho sicabanga ‘ngemisebenzi yakhe yamandla nangokuchichima kobukhulu bakhe.’ (Funda iHubo 150:1-6.) Cabanga nje ngeHubo 150, linamavesi ayisithupha kodwa lisinxusa izikhathi ezingu-13 ukuba sidumise uJehova. Eshukunyiswa inhlonipho ejulile ngoNkulunkulu, umqambi welinye ihubo wahlabelela: “Ngikudumisé kasikhombisa ngosuku ngenxa yezinqumo zakho zokwahlulela ezilungile.” (IHu. 119:164) Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyakufanelekela ukudunyiswa. Ngenxa yalokho, akufanele yini simdumise “kasikhombisa ngosuku,” okungukuthi, kaningi, emithandazweni yethu?

5. Umoya wokubonga emthandazweni uyisivikelo ngayiphi indlela?

⁵ Umthandazo wokubonga ungolunye uhlobo lomthandazo olubalulekile. UPawulu wanxusa amaKristu aseFilipi: “Ningakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa kukho konke izicelo zenu mazaziwe nguNkulunkulu ngomthandazo nangokunxusa kanye nokubonga.” (Fil. 4:6) Ukubonga uJehova ngokusuka enhliziyweni kuyisivikelo. Lokhu kunjalo ikakhulu njengoba siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina ezinabantu ‘abangabongiyo.’ (2 Thim. 3:1, 2) Ngempela izwe ligcwele umoya wokungabongi. Uma singanakile, singazithola sesinawo nathi lowo moya. Ukubonga uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo kuthuthukisa ukwaneliseka futhi kusivimbela ekubeni ‘ababubulayo nabakhonondayo ngokuphila kwethu.’ (Jude 16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho izinhloko zemikhaya zihlanganisa nokubonga lapho zithandaza nabathandekayo bazo, zikhuthaza umoya wokubonga komkazo nasezinganeni zazo.

6, 7. Kuyini ukunxusa, futhi iziphi izinto esingamnxusa kuzo uJehova?

⁶ Ukunxusa kuwumthandazo oqotho ohambisana nomuzwa ojulile. Iziphi izimo esingamnxusa kuzo uJehova? Ngokuqinisekile singamnxusa lapho sishushiswa noma sibhekene nesifo esisongela ukuphila. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi ezikhathini ezinjalo, imithandazo yethu yokucela usizo lukaNkulunkulu iba ukunxusa. Kodwa ingabe kuphakathi nalezi zikhathi kuphela lapho singamnxusa khona uJehova?

⁷ Cabanga ngomthandazo kaJesu oyisibonelo, futhi uphawule ukuthi wathini ngegama likaNkulunkulu, uMbuso wakhe nentando yaKhe. (Funda uMathewu 6:9, 10.) Leli zwe licwile ebubini, futhi ohulumeni babantu bahluleka ngisho nokunikeza izakhamuzi zabo izidingo eziyisisekelo. Khona-ke, kufanele ngempela sikuthandazele ukuba igama likaBaba wethu osezulwini lingcweliswe futhi uMbuso wakhe uqede ukubusa kukaSathane emhlabeni. Lesi futhi yisikhathi sokunxusa uJehova ukuba enze ukuba intando yakhe yenziwe emhlabeni njengasezulwini. Ngakho-ke, masihlale siphapheme, sizisebenzise ngokukhululekile zonke izinhlobo zomthandazo.

8, 9. Kungani kufanele sikuqaphele ukwahlulela uPetru nabanye abaphostoli ngenxa yokulala kwabo ensimini yaseGetsemane?

⁸ Nakuba umphostoli uPetru anxusa amaKristu ukuba ‘aphaphamele ukuthandaza,’ naye wake wahluleka ngesinye isikhathi ukwenza kanjalo. Ungomunye wabafundi abalala ngesikhathi uJesu ethandaza ensimini yaseGetsemane. Ngisho nangemva kokuba uJesu ebatshele ukuba ‘bahlale belindile futhi bathandaze njalo,’ abazange benze kanjalo.—Funda uMathewu 26:40-45.

⁹ Nokho, esikhundleni sokuba sigxeke uPetru nabanye abaphostoli ngokwehluleka kwabo ukuhlale bephapheme, kuhle ukukhumbula ukuthi cishe imizimba yabo ebuthaka yayikhandleke kakhulu ngalolo suku. Babeye balungiselela iPhasika futhi baligubha kusihlwa ngalolo suku. UJesu wabe esemisa iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, ebeka isibonelo sendlela okwakumelwe  kugcinwe ngayo iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe eminyakeni eyayizolandela. (1 Kor. 11:23-25) “Ngemva kokuhlabelela izindumiso, baphuma baya eNtabeni Yeminqumo,” bahamba ibangana emigwaqweni emincane yaseJerusalema. (Math. 26:30, 36) Kumelwe ukuba ngaleso sikhathi lase lishaye ledlula ihora leshumi nambili ebusuku. Ukube sasilapho ensimini yaseGetsemane ngalobo busuku, mhlawumbe nathi ngabe salala. Kunokuba abagxeke abaphostoli bakhe abakhathele, ngothando, uJesu wavuma ukuthi “umoya uyalangazela, kodwa inyama ibuthakathaka.”

10, 11. (a) Isiphi isifundo uPetru asifunda kulokho okwenzeka ensimini yaseGetsemane? (b) Lokho okwenzeka kuPetru kukuthinta kanjani?

¹⁰ UPetru wazuza kulokho okwenzeka ensimini yaseGetsemane. Wafunda isifundo esibuhlungu ngokungahlali kwakhe ephapheme. Ngaphambilini uJesu wayethe: “Nonke nizokhubeka ngami kulobu busuku.” Esabela kulokho, uPetru wathi: “Nakuba bonke abanye bekhubeka ngawe, mina angisoze ngakhubeka!” UJesu waphendula uPetru ngokumtshela ukuthi wayezomphika izikhathi ezintathu. UPetru wanamathela kwayekushilo: “Ngisho noma kungadingeka ngife kanye nawe, angisoze ngakuphika.” (Math. 26:31-35) Noma kunjalo, uPetru wakhubeka, njengoba nje uJesu ayebikezele. Ekhathazwe ukuphika kwakhe uJesu okwesithathu, uPetru “wakhala kamunyu.”—Luka 22:60-62.

¹¹ Ngokuqinisekile uPetru wafunda isifundo kulesi senzakalo futhi wakunqoba ukuthambekela kwakhe kokuzethemba. Cishe, wakunqoba ngosizo lomthandazo. Eqinisweni, kuyaphawuleka ukuthi nguPetru osinikeza iseluleko sokuba ‘siphaphamele ukuthandaza.’ Siyasilalela yini leso seluleko esiphefumulelwe? Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingabe ‘sithandaza njalo,’ ngaleyo ndlela sibonisa ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova? (IHu. 85:8) Masikhumbule neseluleko somphostoli uPawulu: “Lowo ocabanga ukuthi umile makaqaphele angawi.”—1 Kor. 10:12.

12. Kungani uNehemiya eyisibonelo esihle kithi?

¹² Cabanga ngoNehemiya, owayekhonza njengomphathindebe wenkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita ekhulwini lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E. Uyisibonelo esihle somuntu owathandaza ngobuqotho. Kwase kuyizinsuku eziningi ‘ezila ukudla futhi ethandaza njalo phambi kukaNkulunkulu’ ngenxa yesimo esidabukisayo samaJuda eJerusalema. (Neh. 1:4) Lapho u-Aritahishashita embuza ukuthi kungani ehwaqabele, “ngaso leso sikhathi [uNehemiya wathandaza] kuNkulunkulu wamazulu.” (Neh. 2:2-4) Waba yini umphumela?  UJehova wayiphendula imithandazo yakhe futhi waqondisa izinto ngendlela eyazuzisa abantu baKhe. (Neh. 2:5, 6) Yeka ukuthi lokhu kumelwe ukuba kwaluqinisa kanjani ukholo lukaNehemiya!

13, 14. Yini okufanele siyenze ukuze sihlale sinokholo oluqinile futhi simelane nemizamo kaSathane yokusiqeda amandla?

¹³ Ukuthandaza njalo njengoNehemiya, kusisiza ukuba sihlale sinokholo oluqinile. USathane unonya futhi ngokuvamile ugadla ngenkathi sibuthaka. Ngokwesibonelo, uma sigula noma sicindezelekile, singase sibe nomuzwa wokuthi asilutho kuNkulunkulu isikhathi esisichitha enkonzweni inyanga ngayinye. Abanye kithi bangase bacindezelwe imicabango yabo, mhlawumbe ngenxa yezinto ezabehlela ekuphileni. USathane ufuna ukuba sikholelwe ukuthi asizinto zalutho. Ngokuvamile amagalelo akhe ahloselwe ukusilimaza ngokomzwelo kanjalo enze buthaka ukholo lwethu. Nokho, uma ‘sihlale siphaphamele ukuthandaza,’ singahlale sinokholo oluqinile. Ngempela, ‘isihlangu esikhulu sokholo siyosenza sikwazi ukucima yonke imicibisholo evuthayo yomubi.’—Efe. 6:16.

¹⁴ Uma ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza,’ ngeke sizumeke bese siyekethisa uma sifikelwa uvivinyo lokholo singalindele. Lapho sibhekene novivinyo nezilingo, masikhumbule isibonelo sikaNehemiya futhi siphendukele ngokushesha kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo. Singamelana ngokuphumelelayo nezilingo futhi sikhuthazelele uvivinyo lokholo lwethu kuphela ngosizo lukaJehova.

15. Imiphi imibuzo okufanele sizibuze yona ngokuthandazela abanye?

¹⁵ UJesu wanxusela uPetru ukuze ukholo lwalo mphostoli lungapheli. (Luka 22:32) UmKristu othembekile wekhulu lokuqala, u-Ephafra, walingisa uJesu kule ndaba futhi wazikhandla ethandazela abafowabo  baseKolose. UPawulu wababhalela: “Uyazikhandla enithandazela ngaso sonke isikhathi . . . ukuze nime niqinile, niqiniseka ngokugcwele futhi nizinikele ngokuphelele ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu.” (Kol. 4:12, The New English Bible) Senza kahle ngokuzibuza: ‘Ingabe ngiyazikhandla ngithandazela abafowethu abakuwo wonke umhlaba? Kukangaki ngithandazela engikholwa nabo abakhahlanyezwe inhlekelele ethile yemvelo? Ngigcine nini ukuzikhandla ngithandazela labo abanemithwalo yemfanelo emikhulu enhlanganweni kaJehova? Bakhona yini muva nje abantu ebandleni ababhekene nobunzima obuthile engiye ngabathandazela?’

16. Ingabe kubalulekile ngempela ukuthandazela abanye? Chaza.

¹⁶ Ukuthandazela abanye kuJehova uNkulunkulu kungabasiza ngempela. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 1:11.) UJehova akabophekile ukuba athathe isinyathelo ngenxa yobuningi babakhulekeli bakhe abaqhubeka bethandazela abanye, nokho, uyasiphawula isithakazelo ababa naso ngobuningi futhi uyakunaka ukukhathazeka kwabo okuqotho nokujulile njengoba ephendula imithandazo yabo. Ngakho kufanele silibheke ngokungathí sina ilungelo nesibopho sokuthandazela abanye. Njengo-Ephafra, nathi kufanele sibonise ukuthi sibathanda ngokujulile nokuthi sibakhathalela ngokusuka enhliziyweni abafowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya ngokuzikhandla ekubathandazeleni. Uma senza kanjalo siyonezela enjabulweni yethu ngoba “kukhona injabulo eyengeziwe ekupheni kunasekwamukeleni.”—IzE. 20:35.

17, 18. ‘Ukuphaphamela ukuthandaza’ kuyosisiza kanjani?

¹⁷ Ngaphambi nje kokusho ukuthi “ubusuku sebuqhubeke kakhulu; imini isisondele,” uPawulu waqala ngokuthi: “Niyayazi inkathi, ukuthi kakade sekuyihora lokuba niphaphame ebuthongweni, ngoba manje insindiso yethu isiseduze kakhulu kunangesikhathi siba ngamakholwa.” (Roma 13:11, 12) Izwe elisha likaNkulunkulu elithenjisiwe liseduze futhi insindiso yethu isiseduze kakhulu kunalokho esikucabangayo. Akumelwe silale ngokomoya, futhi akufanele nanini sivumele izithikamezo zaleli zwe ziminyanise isikhathi sokuba sodwa noJehova emthandazweni. Kunalokho, ‘masikuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’ Lokho kuyosisiza ukuba sihlanganyele “ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu” njengoba silindele usuku lwakhe. (2 Pet. 3:11, 12) Indlela yethu yokuphila iyobonisa ngalokho ukuthi sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya nokuthi sikukholelwa ngempela ukuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto esibi kungafika noma nini. Ngenxa yalokho, sengathi ‘singathandaza singaphezi.’ (1 Thes. 5:17) Masilingise uJesu nangokufuna izikhathi zokuba sodwa ukuze senze imithandazo yomuntu siqu. Uma sizinika isikhathi eside lapho senza umthandazo womuntu siqu kuJehova, siyosondela ngokwengeziwe kuye. (Jak. 4:7, 8) Yeka indlela lokho okungaba isibusiso ngayo!

¹⁸ ImiBhalo ithi: “Ezinsukwini zenyama yakhe uKristu wenza ukunxusa nezicelo kuLowo owayekwazi ukumsindisa ekufeni, ngokukhala okukhulu nangezinyembezi, futhi wazwiwa ngomusa ngenxa yokwesaba kwakhe kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.” (Heb. 5:7) UJesu wenza ukunxusa nezicelo futhi walondoloza ukwethembeka kwakhe kuNkulunkulu kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe kwasemhlabeni. Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wayisindisa iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo ekufeni futhi wayivuza ngokuphila kokungafi ezulwini. Nathi singathembeka kuBaba wethu osezulwini kungakhathaliseki izilingo novivinyo esingase sibhekane nalo esikhathini esizayo. Ngempela, singawuthola umklomelo wokuphila okuphakade—kuphela nje uma sihlale ‘sikuphaphamele ukuthandaza.’