1, 2. Yini ekwenza ucabange ukuthi umthandazo uyilungelo elikhulu, futhi kungani kufanele sazi lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngomthandazo?

UMHLABA mncane kakhulu uma uqhathaniswa nezinkanyezi ezisemkhathini. Uma uJehova esibuka esezulwini, sibonakala sinjengeconsi lamanzi ebhakedeni. (IHubo 115:15; Isaya 40:15) Noma kunjalo, iHubo 145:18, 19 lithi: “UJehova useduze nabo bonke abambizayo, useduze nabo bonke abambiza ngeqiniso. Uyokwanelisa isifiso sabo bonke abamesabayo, nokukhalela kwabo usizo uyokuzwa, abasindise.” Kuyilungelo ngempela lokho! UJehova, uMdali onguMninimandla Onke, ufuna ukusondelana nathi futhi alalele imithandazo yethu. Ngempela, umthandazo uyilungelo nesipho esikhethekile uJehova asinike sona.

² UJehova uyosilalela kuphela uma sithandaza kuye ngendlela ayifunayo. Singakwenza kanjani lokho? Ake sibone ukuthi iBhayibheli lithini ngomthandazo.

3. Kungani kufanele uthandaze kuJehova?

³ UJehova ufuna ukhulume naye. Sikwazi kanjani lokho? Sicela ufunde eyabaseFilipi 4:6, 7. Cabanga nje, uMbusi wamazulu nomhlaba ukukhathalela ngokujulile kangangokuthi ufuna umtshele indlela ozizwa ngayo kanye nezinkinga zakho.

4. Ukuthandaza nsuku zonke kubuqinisa kanjani ubungane bakho noJehova?

⁴ Umthandazo usisiza sibe abangane abaseduze noJehova.  Uma abangane bexoxa njalo ngezinto abazicabangayo nezibakhathazayo kanye nendlela abazizwa ngayo, ubungane babo buqina kakhulu. Kuyinto efanayo nangokuthandaza kuJehova. Esebenzisa iBhayibheli, ukubonisile lokho akucabangayo nendlela azizwa ngayo ngawe futhi ukutshelile lokho azokwenza esikhathini esizayo. Ungakwazi ukumtshela imizwa yakho ejulile ngokukhuluma naye nsuku zonke. Uma ukwenza lokho, ubungane bakho noJehova buyoqina kakhulu.—Jakobe 4:8.

5. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova akayilaleli yonke imithandazo?

⁵ UJehova uyilalela yonke yini imithandazo? Cha, ikhona angayilaleli. Ngesikhathi somprofethi u-Isaya, uJehova watshela ama-Israyeli: “Ngisho noma nenza imithandazo eminingi, angilalele; zona kanye izandla zenu zigcwele igazi.” (Isaya 1:15) Uma singanakile,  singenza izinto ezingasiqhelisa kuJehova bese engayilaleli imithandazo yethu.

6. Kungani ukholo lubalulekile? Ungabonisa kanjani ukuthi unokholo?

⁶ Uma sifuna uJehova alalele imithandazo yethu, kufanele sibe nokholo kuye. (Marku 11:24) Umphostoli uPawulu uyachaza: “Ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa ngoba lowo oza kuNkulunkulu kumelwe akholelwe ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.” (Hebheru 11:6) Akwanele ukumane sithi sinokholo. Kufanele sibonise ukuthi sinokholo, ngokulalela imithetho kaJehova nsuku zonke.—Funda uJakobe 2:26.

7. (a) Kungani kufanele sithobeke futhi sihloniphe uma sithandaza kuJehova? (b) Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi imithandazo yethu iqotho?

⁷ Kufanele sithobeke futhi sihloniphe lapho sithandaza kuJehova. Kungani? Uma besingakhuluma nenkosi noma nomongameli, besingakhuluma ngenhlonipho. Akufanele yini sibonise inhlonipho nokuthobeka okukhulu nakakhulu lapho sikhuluma noJehova, uMninimandla Onke? (Genesise 17:1; IHubo 138:6) Kunokusho umthandazo owodwa njalo, kufanele sithandaze kuJehova ngokusuka enhliziyweni.—Mathewu 6:7, 8.

8. Yini enye okufanele siyenze lapho sithandazela into ethile?

⁸ Nalapho sithandazela okuthile, kufanele nathi senze imizamo ukuze ziphumelele izicelo zethu. Ngokwesibonelo, uma sithandaza kuJehova sicela izinto esizidingayo futhi sinamandla okusebenza ukuze sikwazi ukuzithola, ngeke sihlale phansi singenzi lutho bese silindela ukuba uJehova asinike lezo zinto. Kufanele sizikhandle, samukele noma yimuphi umsebenzi esikwazi ukuwenza. (Mathewu 6:11; 2 Thesalonika 3:10) Uma sithandaza kuJehova simcela ukuba asisize siyeke ukwenza into engafanele, kumelwe sigweme noma yini engasilinga. (Kolose 3:5)  Manje, asixoxe ngeminye imibuzo evame ukubuzwa mayelana nomthandazo.

9. Kufanele sithandaze kubani? UJohane 14:6 usifundisani ngomthandazo?

⁹ Kufanele sithandaze kubani? UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze ‘kubaba wethu osemazulwini.’ (Mathewu 6:9) Waphinde wathi: “Mina ngiyindlela neqiniso nokuphila. Akekho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuba eze ngami.” (Johane 14:6) Ngakho, kufanele sithandaze kuJehova kuphela, egameni likaJesu. Kusho ukuthini ukuthandaza egameni likaJesu? Ukuze uJehova ayamukele imithandazo yethu, kufanele sihloniphe isikhundla esibalulekile uJehova asinikeza uJesu. Njengoba sesifundile, uJesu weza emhlabeni ukuze asisindise esonweni nesekufeni. (Johane 3:16; Roma 5:12) UJehova uphinde wabeka uJesu ukuba abe uMpristi Ophakeme noMahluleli.—Johane 5:22; Hebheru 6:20.

10. Kufanele sime ngendlela ethile yini lapho sithandaza? Chaza.

¹⁰ Kufanele sime kanjani lapho sithandaza? UJehova akasho ukuthi asiguqe, sihlale noma sime lapho sithandaza. IBhayibheli lisifundisa ukuthi singakhuluma noJehova noma ngabe simi kanjani. (1 IziKronike 17:16; Nehemiya 8:6; Daniyeli 6:10; Marku 11:25) Into ebalulekile kuJehova akukhona ukuthi simi kanjani lapho sithandaza, kodwa ukuthi sikhuluma naye ngenhlonipho nokuthi sithandaza ngokusuka enhliziyweni. Noma ngabe kunini, nanoma ngabe sikuphi, singathandaza ngenhliziyo noma siphimisele. Uma sithandaza kuJehova, singaqiniseka ukuthi uyasizwa ngisho noma kungekho muntu omunye osizwayo.—Nehemiya 2:1-6.

11. Yiziphi ezinye izinto esingakhuluma noJehova ngazo?

 ¹¹ Yini esingayithandazela? Singathandazela noma yini eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini esiyicelayo ngokwentando yakhe, uyasizwa.” (1 Johane 5:14) Singathandaza yini ngezindaba zethu eziyimfihlo? Yebo. Ukuthandaza kuJehova kufana nokukhuluma nomngane oseduze. UJehova singamtshela konke okusenhliziyweni nasengqondweni yethu. (IHubo 62:8) Singathandazela ukuba asiphe umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze senze okulungile. (Luka 11:13) Singamcela ukuba asiphe ukuhlakanipha ukuze senze izinqumo ezinhle, singathandazela namandla okunqoba izinkinga. (Jakobe 1:5) Kufanele sicele uJehova ukuba asixolele amaphutha ethu. (Efesu 1:3, 7) Kufanele sithandazele nabanye, okuhlanganisa imindeni yethu kanye nabafowethu nodadewethu abasebandleni.—IzEnzo 12:5; Kolose 4:12.

12. Yini okufanele ibaluleke kakhulu emithandazweni yethu?

¹² Yini okufanele ibaluleke kakhulu emithandazweni yethu? UJehova nentando yakhe. Kufanele simbonge ngokusuka enhliziyweni ngakho konke asenzele kona. (1 IziKronike 29:10-13) Lapho uJesu esemhlabeni, wafundisa abafundi bakhe indlela yokuthandaza. (Funda uMathewu 6:9-13.) Wathi into yokuqala okwakufanele bayithandazele ukuba igama likaNkulunkulu lingcweliswe, okusho ukuthi liphathwe njengelingcwele. Waphinde wabonisa ukuthi kumelwe sithandazele ukuba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uze, nokuthi intando kaJehova yenziwe kuwo wonke umhlaba. UJesu wathi singazithandazela izidingo zethu ngemva kokuba sesithandazele lezi zinto ezibalulekile kuqala. Uma emithandazweni yethu siqala ngokukhuluma ngoJehova nangentando yakhe, lokho kuyobonisa ukuthi yini ebalulekile kithi.

13. Kufanele ibe mide kangakanani imithandazo yethu?

 ¹³ Kufanele ibe mide kangakanani imithandazo yethu? IBhayibheli alisho. Imithandazo yethu ingaba mifushane noma ibe mide, kuye ngezimo. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphambi kokudla singasho umthandazo omfushane, kodwa lapho sibonga uJehova noma simtshela izinto ezisikhathazayo, ungase ube mude. (1 Samuweli 1:12, 15) Asifuni ukusho imithandazo emide ngoba sifuna ukubukisa kwabanye, njengoba abanye babenza  ngesikhathi zikaJesu. (Luka 20:46, 47) Imithandazo enjalo ayimjabulisi uNkulunkulu. Okubalulekile kuJehova imithandazo esuka enhliziyweni.

14. Kufanele sithandaze kangaki, futhi lokhu kusifundisani ngoJehova?

¹⁴ Kufanele sithandaze kangaki? UJehova usimema ukuba sithandaze kuye njalo. IBhayibheli lithi kufanele ‘sithandaze njalo,’ ‘siphikelele emthandazweni,’ futhi ‘sithandaze singaphezi.’ (Mathewu 26:41; Roma 12:12; 1 Thesalonika 5:17) UJehova uhlale ekulungele ukulalela imithandazo yethu. Singambonga nsuku zonke ngothando nomusa wakhe. Singacela nesiqondiso sakhe, amandla nenduduzo. Uma sibheka ukuthandaza kuJehova njengelungelo elikhethekile, siyosebenzisa wonke amathuba avelayo okukhuluma naye.

15. Kungani kufanele sithi “amen” ekugcineni komthandazo?

 ¹⁵ Kungani kufanele sithi “amen” ekugcineni komthandazo? Igama elithi “amen” lisho ukuthi “ngokuqinisekile” noma “makube njalo.” Kuyindlela yokubonisa ukuthi siyaqiniseka ngalokho esikushoyo. (IHubo 41:13) IBhayibheli lisifundisa ukuthi kuhle ukuthi “amen,” ngenhliziyo noma siphimisele ekugcineni komthandazo oshiwo ebandleni, okubonisa ukuthi siyavumelana nalokho okushiwo.—1 IziKronike 16:36; 1 Korinte 14:16.

16. UJehova uyayiphendula yini imithandazo yethu? Chaza.

¹⁶ UJehova uyayiphendula yini imithandazo yethu? Yebo, uyayiphendula. IBhayibheli limbiza ngokuthi ‘uMuzwi womthandazo.’ (IHubo 65:2) UJehova uyayizwa futhi ayiphendule imithandazo eqotho yezigidi zabantu, futhi uyiphendula ngezindlela ezingafani.

17. UJehova uzisebenzisa kanjani izingelosi nabantu bakhe ukuze aphendule imithandazo yethu?

¹⁷ Ukuze aphendule imithandazo yethu, uJehova usebenzisa izingelosi nabantu bakhe. (Hebheru 1:13, 14) Kunezibonelo eziningi zabantu abathandazela usizo lokuqonda iBhayibheli, futhi ngokushesha ngemva kokuba bethandazile, bavakashelwa oFakazi BakaJehova. IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi izingelosi ziyasiza ekumemezeleni ‘izindaba ezinhle’ emhlabeni. (Funda isAmbulo 14:6.) Abaningi kithi bake bathandaza kuJehova ngenkinga ethile, futhi bathola usizo ababeludinga kumfowethu noma kudadewethu esikhonza naye.—IzAga 12:25; Jakobe 2:16.

18. UJehova uwusebenzisa kanjani umoya wakhe ongcwele neBhayibheli ukuze aphendule imithandazo yethu?

 ¹⁸ UJehova usebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze aphendule imithandazo yethu. Uma sithandazela usizo lokubhekana nezinkinga zethu, angasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze asinike isiqondiso namandla. (2 Korinte 4:7) UJehova uphinde asebenzise iBhayibheli ukuze aphendule imithandazo yethu, asisize senze nezinqumo ngokuhlakanipha. Lapho sifunda iBhayibheli, singathola amavesi angasisiza. UJehova angasebenzisa othile ophendula emhlanganweni webandla ukuba asho okuthile okuzosiqinisa, noma asebenzise umdala ukuba asikhuthaze ngemiBhalo eseBhayibhelini.—Galathiya 6:1.

19. Kungani ngezinye izikhathi kungabonakala sengathi uJehova akayiphenduli imithandazo yethu?

¹⁹ Ngezinye izikhathi singase sizibuze, ‘Kungani uJehova engakawuphenduli umthandazo wami?’ Khumbula, uyazi ukuthi kufanele awuphendule nini futhi kanjani umthandazo wakho. Uyakwazi esikudingayo. Kungase kudingeke siqhubeke sithandaza ukuze sibonise ukuthi siqinisile ngempela ngalokho esikushoyo, futhi sibonise ukuthi sinokholo ngempela kuye. (Luka 11:5-10) Ngezinye izikhathi uJehova uphendula imithandazo yethu ngendlela esingayilindele. Ngokwesibonelo, singathandaza ngenkinga esibhekene nayo, kunokuyisusa leyo nkinga uJehova angase asinike amandla okubhekana nayo.—Funda eyabaseFilipi 4:13.

20. Kungani kufanele sithandaze njalo kuJehova?

²⁰ Umthandazo uyilungelo elikhethekile ngempela! Singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyasilalela lapho sithandaza. (IHubo 145:18) Uma siqhubeka sithandaza kuNkulunkulu ngokusuka enhliziyweni, ubungane bethu naye buzoqina kakhulu.