1. Kumele sisibone njani isibusiso esilaso sokuthandaza kuJehova?

 UMDALI wamazulu lomhlaba usinike isibusiso esimangalisayo esokuthandaza kuye. Akucabange, siyenelisa ukuthululela uJehova isifuba loba ngasiphi isikhathi futhi sisebenzisa loba yiluphi ulimi. Siyenelisa ukuthandaza lanxa silalisiwe esibhedlela kumbe sivalelwe ejele, sileqiniso lokuthi uBaba wethu osithandayo uyasizwa. Siyasiqakathekisa sibili isibusiso lesi.

2. INkosi uDavida yatshengisa njani ukuthi iyasiqakathekisa isibusiso sokuthandaza?

² INkosi uDavida yayisiqakathekisa isibusiso sokuthandaza. Yikho yahlabela yathi: “Sengathi umkhuleko wami ungema phambi kwakho njengempepha.” (Hubo. 141:1, 2) Ngesikhathi sikaDavida, impepha engcwele eyayisetshenziswa ekukhonzeni ngabaphristi yayilungiswa ngonanzelelo. (Eks. 30:34, 35) Ukukhuluma kukaDavida ngempepha kutshengisa ukuthi wayefuna ukucabangisisa ngalokho ayezakutsho nxa ethandaza kuYise osezulwini. Lathi njengoDavida sifuna ukuthi imithandazo yethu imthokozise uJehova.

3. Kumele sithandaze njani kuJehova futhi kungani kumele senze njalo?

³ Nxa sithandaza kuJehova kumele sitshengise inhlonipho. Cabanga ngemibono emangalisayo eyabonwa ngu-Isaya loHezekheli loDanyeli loJohane. Imibono le itshiyene sibili, kodwa kukhona abakubonayo okuhambelanayo. Bonke nxa bekhuluma ngoJehova bathi uyiNkosi emangalisayo. U-Isaya ‘wabona uJehova ehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi esiphezulu esiphakemeyo.’ (Isaya. 6:1-3) UHezekheli wabona uJehova ehlezi phezu kwenqola  yakhe ezungezwe ‘yikukhanya okucazimulayo okunjengomchilo wamakhosikazi.’ (Hez. 1:26-28) UDanyeli wabona “uSimakade” egqoke izigqoko ezimhlophe lesihlalo sakhe silavuka umlilo. (Dan. 7:9, 10) UJohane yena wabona uJehova ehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi esasigonjolozelwe ngumchilo wamakhosikazi owawufanana le-emeraldi. (Isam. 4:2-4) Ukucabangisisa ngobukhulu bukaJehova kwenza sibone ukuthi kumele simbonge sibili ngesibusiso sokuthandaza lokuthi nxa sithandaza kuye kumele sitshengise inhlonipho. Kodwa kuyini okumele sikuthandazele?

4. Sifundani emazwini okuqala omthandazo weNkosi okuMathewu 6:9, 10?

⁴ Bala uMathewu 6:9, 10. ENtshumayelweni Yasentabeni uJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi bathandaze ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokuthi “kumele lithandaze kanje,” uJesu waqala ngokuqamba izinto eziqakathekileyo eziphathelane lenhloso kaJehova ezigoqela ukungcweliswa kwebizo lakhe, ukuza koMbuso ozatshabalalisa bonke abaphikisana laye kanye lezinto ezinhle azazenza emhlabeni lazazenzela abantu. Nxa sithandazela izinto ezinjengalezi siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyayiqakathekisa intando kaNkulunkulu.

5. Kuqondile yini ukuthi sithandazele izinto eziphathelane lathi?

⁵ Engxenyeni elandelayo yomthandazo lo, uJesu watshengisa ukuthi kuqondile ukuthandazela izinto eziphathelane lathi. Singacela uJehova ukuthi asinike ukudla kwamhlalokho, asithethelele amacala ethu, angasingenisi ekulingweni kodwa asikhulule komubi. (Mat. 6:11-13) Nxa sicela izinto lezi kuJehova siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sithembela kuye lokuthi sifuna ukumthokozisa.

6. Izinto ezisemthandazweni oyisibonelo yizo zodwa yini okumele sizithandazele? Chasisa.

⁶ UJesu wayengakhangelelanga ukuthi abalandeli bakhe bawalandelele enjengoba enjalo amazwi asemthandazweni oyisibonelo. Ngezinye izikhathi uJesu wayethandaza ngezinto ezitshiyeneyo  ezazimkhathaza. (Mat. 26:39, 42; Joh. 17:1-26) Lathi singathandaza ngaloba yini esikhathazayo. Nxa kulesinqumo okumele sisenze, singathandazela inhlakanipho kanye lokuzwisisa. (Hubo. 119:33, 34) Nxa siphiwe umsebenzi onzima singathandazela ukuthi uJehova asincedise sizwisise ukuthi siwenze njani. (Zaga. 2:6) Abazali bangathandazela abantwababo futhi labantwana bangathandazela abazali babo. Sonke kumele sithandazele labo esifunda labo iBhayibhili lalabo esibatshumayezayo. Kodwa imithandazo yethu akumelanga ibe ngeyokucela kuphela.

7. Kungani kumele simdumise uJehova nxa sithandaza?

⁷ Kumele sikhumbule ukudumisa uJehova emithandazweni yethu. UNkulunkulu wethu nguye kuphela okufanele adunyiswe. “Uyathethelela njalo ulungile.” UnguNkulunkulu “olozwelo, olobubelo, ophuza ukuzonda, owandayo ngothando lokuthembeka.” (Hubo. 86:5, 15) Silazo sibili izizatho zokudumisa uJehova ngenxa yobuntu bakhe lalokho akwenzayo.

8. Yiziphi ezinye izinto uJehova asinike zona ezenza simbonge? (IHubo 104:12-15, 24)

⁸ Ngaphandle kokudumisa uJehova emithandazweni yethu, siphinda simbonge ngenxa yazo zonke izinto asinika zona. Ngokwesibonelo singambonga ngenxa yamaluba alemibala emihle etshiyeneyo langenxa yokudla okumnandi okuyimihlobo etshiyeneyo kanye labangane abasithandayo. UBaba wethu olothando usinika zonke izinto lezi kanye lezinye ezinengi ukuze sithokoze. (Bala iHubo 104:12-15, 24.) Okuqakatheke kakhulu esimbonga ngakho kakhulu uJehova yikusincedisa ukuthi sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo futhi siyambonga langethemba lesikhathi esizayo asinike lona.

9. Kuyini okungasinceda sikhumbule ukubonga uJehova? (U-1 Thesalonika 5:17, 18)

⁹ Kulula ukukhohlwa ukumbonga uJehova ngakho konke asenzela khona. Manje kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sikhumbule?  Ungabhala phansi izinto ezitshiyeneyo ozithandazeleyo ubusuzama ukubona ukuthi uJehova uyiphendule njani imithandazo yakho. Ngemva kwalokho usungathandaza umbonga ngendlela akuncedise ngayo. (Bala u-1 Thesalonika 5:17, 18.) Phela siyathokoza futhi sizizwe sithandwa nxa omunye umuntu angasibonga. LoJehova uyathokoza nxa simbonga ngokuthi uyiphendulile imithandazo yethu. (Kol. 3:15) Kodwa yisiphi esinye isizatho esiqakathekileyo esenza simbonge?

10. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo ngu-1 Phetro 2:21, kungani simbonga uJehova ngokuthi wathumela uJesu emhlabeni?

¹⁰ Bala u-1 Phetro 2:21. Kumele sibonge uJehova ngokuthi wathumela iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ukuthi izosifundisa. Nxa singahlola impilo kaJesu sizafunda okunengi ngoJehova, sifunde lokuthi singenzani ukuze simthokozise. Nxa singatshengisa ukuthi silokholo emhlatshelweni kaKhristu sizakuba ngabangane bakaJehova uNkulunkulu abaseduze futhi sibe lokuthula laye.—Rom. 5:1.

11. Kungani sithandaza ngebizo likaJesu?

¹¹ Siyambonga uJehova ngokuthi siyenelisa ukuthandaza kuye ngebizo leNdodana yakhe. UJehova usebenzisa uJesu ukuze asinike lokho esikucelayo. UJehova uyayilalela futhi ayiphendule imithandazo esiyenza sisebenzisa ibizo likaJesu. UJesu wathi: “Loba yini eliyicela ngebizo lami ngizayenza ukuze uBaba akhazinyuliswe ngeNdodana.”—Joh. 14:13, 14.

12. Yisiphi esinye isizatho esenza simbonge uJehova ngokusinika iNdodana yakhe?

¹² UJehova uyasithethelela izono zethu ngenxa yomhlatshelo kaJesu. IBhayibhili lithi uJesu ‘ungumphristi omkhulu ohlezi ngakwesokudla kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu Omkhulu osemazulwini.’ (Heb. 8:1) UJesu ‘ungumsizi wethu kuBaba.’ (1 Joh. 2:1) Simbonga singaqedi uJehova ngokusinika uMphristi Omkhulu ozwisisa ubuthakathaka bethu futhi ‘osincengelayo.’ (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:15) Silesono, yikho besingeke senelise ukuthandaza kuJehova aluba besingelamhlatshelo kaJesu. Sizahlala simbonga uJehova ngokusinika isipho seNdodana yakhe ayithandayo.

13. Ngobusuku bokucina engakafi, uJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi uyabathanda abafundi bakhe?

¹³ Ngobusuku bokucina engakafi, uJesu wathandazela abafundi bakhe okwesikhathi eside ecela ukuthi uYise ‘abakhangele ngenxa yomubi.’ (Joh. 17:15) Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi wayebathanda sibili. Lanxa wayekwazi ukuthi usezahlupheka kakhulu, wayelokhu ekhathazekile ngabaphostoli bakhe.

14. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu?

¹⁴ Silingisela uJesu ngokungathandazeli okufunwa yithi kuphela kodwa ngokuhlala sithandazela labafowethu labodadewethu. Nxa singenza njalo siyabe silalela umlayo kaJesu wokuthi sithandane futhi sitshengisa uJehova ukuthi siyabathanda sibili labo esikhonza labo. (Joh. 13:34) Ukuthandazela abafowethu labodadewethu kuyabanceda. Phela iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi “umthandazo womuntu olungileyo okhuleka encenga ulamandla futhi uyanceda kakhulu.”—Jak. 5:16.

15. Kungani kumele sithandazele esikhonza labo?

 ¹⁵ Kumele sibathandazele labo esikhonza labo ngoba bahlangana lezinhlupho ezinengi. Singacela uJehova abancedise ukuze baqinisele nxa begula, behlelwe ngumonakalo wemvelo, kulezimpi, behlukuluzwa kumbe belezinye inhlupho. Singathandazela labafowethu labodadewethu abazinikelayo ukuze bancedise abehlelwe ngumonakalo. Mhlawumbe kulabanye obaziyo abaphakathi kobunzima. Baqambe ngamabizo nxa uthandaza uwedwa. Siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda sibili nxa sicela uJehova ukuthi abancedise baqinisele.

16. Kungani kumele sibathandazele abasikhokhelayo?

¹⁶ Abafowethu abakhokhelayo bayabonga kakhulu nxa abanye bebathandazela futhi imithandazo enjalo iyabanceda. Umphostoli uPhawuli wacela abanye ukuthi bamthandazele, wathi: “Lingithandazele lami ukuthi ngiphiwe amazwi lapho sengivula umlomo wami ukuze ngenelise ukukhuluma ngesibindi nxa sengiveza imfihlo engcwele yezindaba ezinhle.” (Efe. 6:19) Lalamuhla kulabazalwane abanengi abasikhokhelayo abasebenza nzima. Sitshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda ngokucela uJehova ukuthi abusise umsebenzi abawenzayo.

17-18. Kunini lapho esingacelwa khona ukuthi sithandaze simele abanye futhi kuyini okumele sikukhumbule?

¹⁷ Kwezinye izikhathi singacelwa ukuthi sithandaze simele abanye. Ngokwesibonelo udade angacela omunye udade aphume laye ekutshumayeleni ukuthi athandaze esifundweni. Udade oceliweyo angabe engamazi kuhle umfundi, yikho angacela ukuthi athandaze nxa sebephetha isifundo. Lokhu kuzamnceda akwazi ukuthi athandazeleni.

¹⁸ Umzalwane angacelwa ukuthi athandaze emhlanganweni wokuya ekutshumayeleni kumbe emhlanganweni webandla. Abazalwane abayabe bephiwe isibusiso leso kumele bacabange ngenhloso yomhlangano. Umthandazo akumelanga usetshenziswe ukunika ibandla iseluleko kumbe ukwenza izaziso. Izikhathi  ezinengi emihlanganweni yebandla ingoma lomthandazo kuthatha imizuzu emihlanu. Yikho umzalwane ozathandaza akumelanga asebenzise “amazwi amanengi” ikakhulu emthandazweni wokuvula.—Mat. 6:7.

19. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale silulindele usuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela?

¹⁹ Kumele siwuqakathekise kakhulu umthandazo njengoba usuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela seluseduze. Ekhuluma ngendaba le, uJesu wathi: “Ngakho hlalani liphapheme, lithandaze zikhathi zonke lincenga ukuze lenelise ukuphunyuka ezintweni zonke lezi okumele zenzakale.” (Luk. 21:36) Nxa singahlala sithandaza, ukholo lwethu luzaqina futhi sizahlala silulindele usuku lukaNkulunkulu.

20. Singenzani ukuze imithandazo yethu ibe njengempepha enukelela mnandi?

²⁰ Sifundeni esihlokweni lesi? Kumele sisiqakathekise kakhulu isibusiso somthandazo. Izinto eziqakatheke kakhulu okumele sizithandazele ngeziphathelane lenhloso kaJehova. Kumele simbonge ngokusinika iNdodana yakhe langoMbuso wakhe futhi kumele sithandazele abafowethu labodadewethu. Singathandazela esikudingayo nsuku zonke, sicele lokuthi asincedise sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo. Nxa singacabangisisa ngalokho esifuna ukukuthandazela siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyasiqakathekisa isibusiso lesi. Amazwi ethu azaba njengempepha enukelela mnandi kuJehova, okutsho ukuthi ‘azamthokozisa.’—Zaga. 15:8.