Indlela Yokuthandaza Ngokuphumelelayo: Umhlahlandlela WeBhayibheli Womthandazo Onamandla Nophendulwayo

“Umthandazo womuntu olungileyo unamandla amakhulu njengoba usebenza.”—Jakobe 5:16

Umthandazo ungenye yamalungelo amakhulu uNkulunkulu awanike abantwana Bakhe. Ngomthandazo siyamkhulekela, sikhula ebuhlotsheni Naye, sithola isiqondiso Sakhe, sinxusela abanye, futhi sihlanganyela emsebenzini Wakhe emhlabeni. Kuyo yonke imiBhalo sibona uNkulunkulu efeza izinjongo Zakhe ngabesilisa nabesifazane abavamile ababemfuna ngezinhliziyo eziqotho. U-Abrahama wathandazela iSodoma. UMose wanxusela u-Israyeli. UHana wakhala ngendodana. U-Eliya wathandaza futhi imvula yanqamuka iminyaka, wabe esethandaza futhi amazulu avuleka. UDaniyeli wafuna uNkulunkulu ngenxa yesizwe sakhe. ISonto lokuqala lathandaza ndawonye, ​​​​futhi indawo lapho babebuthene khona yanyakaziswa njengoba babegcwaliswa kabusha ngoMoya oNgcwele (IzEnzo 4:31).

Kodwa amakholwa amaningi aqotho abuza umbuzo oqotho:

"Uma uNkulunkulu esimema ukuba sithandaze, kungani imithandazo eminingi kangaka ibonakala ingaphendulwa?"

Lowo mbuzo udinga impendulo yeBhayibheli.

Inkinga akukhona ukuthi uNkulunkulu akasafuni ukuzwa abantu baKhe. Kusukela kuGenesise kuya kusAmbulo, uziveza ngokuphindaphindiwe njengoBaba ojabulayo kulabo abamfunayo. UJesu uqobo wakhuthaza abafundi baKhe:

"Celani, niyophiwa; funani, niyothola; ngqongqothani, niyovulelwa." (Mathewu 7:7)

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, imiBhalo icacile ngokufanayo ukuthi akuwona wonke umthandazo osebenzayo. IBhayibheli liqukethe izithembiso ezingavamile mayelana nomthandazo kanye nezixwayiso ezinengqondo mayelana nezimo zengqondo nezenzo eziwuvimbelayo. UNkulunkulu akasibizi nje ukuba sithandaze njalo; usibiza ukuba sithandaze ngokwenhliziyo Yakhe, iZwi Lakhe, kanye nentando Yakhe.

Lokhu kuwumehluko obalulekile.

Umthandazo ungaphezu kokunikeza uNkulunkulu uhlu lwezicelo. Ubuhlobo noBaba wethu osezulwini. Kuyilungelo lokusondela kuYe, ukuvumelanisa izinhliziyo zethu nezaKhe, nokuhlanganyela ekufezeni izinjongo zaKhe emhlabeni. Umthandazo ophumelelayo uqala isikhathi eside ngaphambi kokuba sikhulume amazwi ethu okuqala—uqala ngempilo yokuzinikela.

UJesu wakubonisa lokhu ngokuphelele.

Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi wahoxa ngaphambi kokuphuma kwelanga ukuze ayochitha isikhathi noYise (Marku 1:35), wathandaza ubusuku bonke ngaphambi kokukhetha abaphostoli abayishumi nambili (Luka 6:12), noma wadela izifiso Zakhe eGetsemane ngokuthi, “Makungabi yintando Yami, kodwa eyakho” (Luka 22:42), imithandazo Yakhe yayivela ekuthembeleni ngokuphelele kuBaba.

Abaphostoli bafunda esibonelweni Sakhe.

Ngemva kokuvuka kukaKristu, amakholwa aqhubeka nokuzinikela emthandazweni (IzEnzo 1:14). Lapho kufika ukuphikiswa, abazange baqale ngokuchaza ukwesaba kwabo noma ukukhononda ngezimo zabo. Kunalokho, bamemezela imiBhalo, bakhulisa ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu, futhi bacela isibindi sokuqhubeka nokumemezela uKristu. UNkulunkulu waphendula ngokubagcwalisa ngoMoya oNgcwele nokubanika amandla omsebenzi waKhe (IzEnzo 4:23–31).

Enye yezindlela eziphawuleka kakhulu kulo lonke iBhayibheli ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babevame ukuthandaza besebenzisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Imithandazo yakho iba namandla uma ibunjwa yimiBhalo ngoba iZwi likaNkulunkulu lembula ubuntu baKhe, izithembiso zaKhe, kanye nentando yaKhe. INkosi iyaliqapha iZwi laKhe ukuze ilifeze (Jeremiya 1:12). Izwi laKhe alibuyi lingenalutho kodwa lifeza injongo elilithumelela yona (Isaya 55:11). Ngisho noJesu wamelana noSathane ehlane ngokumemezela iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe (Mathewu 4:1-11). Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, enye yezindlela eziphumelela kakhulu zokuthandaza ukugcwalisa imithandazo yethu ngemiBhalo kunokuthembela emicabangweni nasemizweni yethu kuphela. Lokhu kugcizelela kuyisisekelo sokufundisa umhlahlandlela we- How to Pray Effectively .

Kodwa iBhayibheli lifundisa nelinye iqiniso elibalulekile.

Kunezimo zengqondo, izono, kanye nezindlela zokuphila eziphazamisa ubudlelwano bethu noNkulunkulu futhi zibuthaka imithandazo yethu. U-Isaya wamemezela,

"Ububi benu bunahlukanisile noNkulunkulu wenu; izono zenu zifihle ubuso bakhe kini, ukuze angezwa." (Isaya 59:2)

UJesu waxwayisa ngokuthi ukwenqaba ukuthethelela abanye kuthinta ubuhlobo bethu noBaba (Mathewu 6:14-15). UJakobe wachaza ukuthi eminye imithandazo ayiphendulwa ngoba yenziwa ngezisusa zobugovu (Jakobe 4:3). UPetru wafundisa ukuthi ngisho nendlela indoda ephatha ngayo umkayo ingavimbela imithandazo yayo (1 Petru 3:7). Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, uNkulunkulu ubiza njalo abantu baKhe ukuba bathobe, baphenduke, bakholwe, balalele, futhi bazinikele ngenhliziyo yonke phambi kwaKhe. Umhlahlandlela wakho uhlanganisa lezi zingqikithi zeBhayibheli zibe yizithiyo ezinkulu ezingamashumi amabili nanye zomthandazo ophumelelayo, ngasinye sisekelwa yimiBhalo.

Lokhu akufanele kusidikibalise. Okuphambene nalokho. Inhloso yalezi zixwayiso akusikho ukusenza sesabe ukuthandaza kodwa ukusimema ebuhlotsheni obujulile noKristu. Ngokufa nokuvuka Kwakhe, uJesu wasivulela indlela yokungena ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu ngokuzethemba.

"Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, njengoba sinesibindi sokungena ezindaweni ezingcwele ngegazi likaJesu ..." (Hebheru 10:19)

Ukuqiniseka kwethu akusekelwe ekupheleleni kwethu kodwa ekulungeni kwaKhe. Njengoba sivuma izono zethu, sihlala kuKristu, sithethelela abanye, sihamba ngokulalela, futhi sithandaza ngokweZwi likaNkulunkulu, sithola ukuthi umthandazo uba ngaphezu kwesibopho senkolo—uba ubudlelwano obujabulisayo noBaba wethu kanye nokuhlanganyela emsebenzini waKhe emhlabeni wonke.

Amakhasi alandelayo ahlola izimiso zeBhayibheli eziqinisa umthandazo, izithiyo imiBhalo esixwayisa ngazo, kanye nezindlela ezisebenzayo zokukhula empilweni yomthandazo ophumelelayo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umusha ekulandeleni uKristu noma usuhambe naye iminyaka eminingi, isimemo sikaNkulunkulu sisalokhu sifana:

"Niyakungifuna, ningifumane, uma ningifuna ngenhliziyo yenu yonke." (Jeremiya 29:13)

Kwangathi lo mhlahlandlela ungakukhuthaza hhayi nje ukuthi uthandaze kakhulu, kodwa futhi wazi uNkulunkulu ngokujulile, umethembe ngokuphelele, futhi ubone intando Yakhe ifezeka empilweni yakho, emndenini wakho, esontweni lakho, edolobheni lakho, nasezizweni.

Yini Eyenza Umthandazo Uphumelele?

Umthandazo ungenye yamalungelo amakhulu uNkulunkulu awanike abantwana Bakhe, kodwa futhi ungenye yezinto ezingaqondwa kahle kakhulu. Amakholwa amaningi afisa ngobuqotho impilo yomthandazo ejulile kodwa azibuza buthule ukuthi kungani imithandazo yawo ibonakala ingenawo amandla noma ukuthi kungani evame ukuzizwa ehlangothini olulodwa. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi badinga nje ukuthandaza isikhathi eside. Abanye bakholelwa ukuthi badinga ukholo olukhulu, imizwa eyengeziwe, noma amazwi angcono. Nakuba ngayinye yalezi inendawo yayo, imiBhalo isikhomba njalo kokuthile okujulile kakhulu.

Ukuphumelela komthandazo akunqunywa kakhulu ubude bawo, ukukhuluma kwawo kahle, noma ngisho nokuqina kwawo. Kuyo yonke iBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu uphendula amadoda nabesifazane abanezinhliziyo ezihlobene naye ngokufanele. Inkinga akukhona ukufunda indlela kodwa ukuhlakulela ubuhlobo. Ngaphambi kokuba umthandazo ube yinto esiyenzayo, kuwukubonakaliswa kwalokho esiyikho njengabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.

Leli qiniso liyacaca lapho abafundi bakaJesu benza isicelo esisodwa esiphawulekayo. Abazange bamcele ukuba abafundise ukushumayela, ukwenza izimangaliso, noma ukuhola izixuku. Bamane bathi, “Nkosi, sifundise ukuthandaza” (Luka 11:1). Njengoba babeqaphele impilo Yakhe, baqaphela ukuthi konke akwenzayo kwakuvela ekuxhumaneni Kwakhe noBaba. Igunya Lakhe, ukuhlakanipha, ububele, kanye nokulalela konke kwakusekelwe empilweni yomthandazo.

Lapho uJesu ephendula isicelo sabo, amazwi okuqala abanika wona kwakungeyona imiyalelo mayelana nezindlela noma amafomula kodwa kwakuwubuhlobo.

"Baba wethu osezulwini ..." (Mathewu 6:9)

Lawo magama amabili ashintsha yonke into. Umthandazo uqala ngokuqaphela ukuthi labo abangabakaKristu basondela kuBaba obaziyo, obathandayo, futhi osevele ebonakalise uthando Lwakhe ngesiphambano. Asithandazeli ukukholisa uNkulunkulu ongathandi ukuba anakekele izidingo zethu. Sithandaza ngoba usimemile ebukhoneni Bakhe ngeNdodana Yakhe. Njengoba umbhali wamaHebheru esho,

"Ngakho-ke masisondele ngesibindi esihlalweni somusa, ukuze samukele isihawu, sifumane umusa wokusiza ngesikhathi esifaneleyo." (Hebheru 4:16)

Nokho, lokhu kuqiniseka akufanele kudidaniswe nokujwayelana noma ukuzicabangela. UBaba ofanayo osamukelayo nguNkulunkulu ongcwele izingelosi ezimemeza phambi kwakhe njalo, “Ungcwele, ungcwele, ungcwele.” Ngakho-ke umthandazo weBhayibheli uhlanganisa kokubili ukusondelana kanye nenhlonipho. Siza ngesibindi ngenxa kaKristu, kodwa ngokuthobeka ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu ungubani.

Enye yemibono eyiphutha kakhulu ngomthandazo umqondo wokuthi inhloso yawo eyinhloko ukukholisa uNkulunkulu ukuba enze lokho esikufunayo. ImiBhalo inikeza isithombe esihluke kakhulu. Umthandazo uyindlela uNkulunkulu avumelanisa ngayo izinhliziyo zethu nezakhe. Njengoba simfuna, izifiso zethu ziqala ukushintsha. Sifunda ukuthanda lokho akuthandayo, ukudabuka ngalokho okumzwisa ubuhlungu, nokujabulela lokho okumlethela udumo.

Akukho mthandazo ochaza lokhu kahle kakhulu kunalowo uJesu awunikeza eNsimini yaseGetsemane. Ekwazi ukuhlupheka okwakumlindele, wathandaza wathi,

"Baba, uma uthanda, susa lesi sitsha kimi. Kodwa-ke, kungabi yintando yami, kodwa eyakho." (Luka 22:42)

Lawo mazwi embula inhliziyo yayo yonke imithandazo esebenzayo. Umgomo akukhona ukugoba intando kaNkulunkulu ibe ngeyethu kodwa ukuzithoba ngenjabulo intando yethu kuye. Umthandazo uba yindawo lapho izifiso zethu, ukwesaba, kanye nezinhlelo zethu zinikezelwa khona ukuze izinjongo Zakhe zifezeke kithi.

Yingakho umphostoli uJohane ayengabhala ngokuqiniseka okukhulu:

"Yilokhu ukuqiniseka esinakho kuye, ukuthi uma sicela utho ngokwentando yakhe uyasizwa." (1 Johane 5:14)

Ukuthandaza ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu akukhona ukukhawulela umthandazo kodwa kuwuqinisa. Intando Yakhe ayifihliwe kulabo abamfuna ngenkuthalo. Yembulwa kulo lonke iZwi Lakhe. Njengoba sizicwilisa emiBhalweni, imithandazo yethu kancane kancane ayigxili ezifisweni zethu kodwa igxile kakhulu embusweni kaNkulunkulu, ekulungeni Kwakhe, nasenkazimulweni Yakhe.

Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, enye yezindlela ezinamandla kakhulu zokuthandaza ukuthandaza iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kugcizelela kuvela ngokuphindaphindiwe kulo lonke Indlela Yokuthandaza Ngokuphumelelayo . Esikhundleni sokuvumela imithandazo yethu ilawulwe ukwesaba, imizwa, noma izimo, sifunda ukuyigcwalisa ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu, imiyalo yaKhe, nezinjongo zaKhe ezembulwe.

UJesu uqobo lwakhe wabeka isibonelo salesi simiso. Ngesikhathi elingwa ehlane, konke ukuhlasela kukaSathane kwaphendulwa ngamazwi athi, “Kulotshiwe.” INkosi yethu ayizange ithembele ezimpikiswaneni ezihlakaniphile noma ekuhlakanipheni kwabantu. Yama phezu kwegunya lalokho uYise ayesekukhulumile. Ngendlela efanayo, iSonto lokuqala lasabela ekushushisweni ngokumemezela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu nangokuthandaza ngokweZwi laKhe kunokuvumela ukwesaba kulawule imithandazo yabo (IzEnzo 4:24-31). Umphumela awuzange ube induduzo nje kuphela kodwa nesibindi esivuselelwe kanye namandla kaMoya oNgcwele.

Ukuthandaza ngemiBhalo akusho ukuphindaphinda amavesi ngendlela evamile njengokungathi ayizindlela. Kunalokho, kusho ukuvumela iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuthi lilolonge kokubili okuqukethwe kanye nesiqondiso semithandazo yethu. Ake sithi umzali uthandazela indodana noma indodakazi ephambukile eNkosini. Esikhundleni sokucela uNkulunkulu ukuba “ababuyisele,” lowo mzali angathandaza kuHezekeli 36:26, ecela uNkulunkulu ukuba abanike inhliziyo entsha, noma kwabase-Efesu 1:17–18, ecela ukuba avule amehlo okuqonda kwabo. Ngokwenza kanjalo, umthandazo awusaqondiswa yizifiso zomuntu kuphela kodwa yizithembiso ezembula ubuntu nezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu.

Ukholo luyisici esibalulekile somthandazo ophumelelayo, kodwa lapha futhi imiBhalo iphonsela inselelo imibono eminingi evamile. Ukholo lweBhayibheli alukona ukucabanga okuhle, futhi alusikho ukuqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzophendula zonke izicelo njengoba nje sicabanga. Ukholo luwukuqiniseka ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Luthemba ukuthi uBaba uhlakaniphe ngokuphelele, unothando oluphelele, futhi uthembekile ngokuphelele, ngisho noma izimpendulo Zakhe zihlukile kulokho esikulindele.

Umbhali wencwadi yamaHebheru uyasikhumbuza,

"Ngaphandle kokukholwa akunakwenzeka ukumthokozisa, ngokuba osondela kuNkulunkulu umelwe ukukholwa ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uyabavuza labo abamfunayo." (Hebheru 11:6)

Lolu hlobo lokholo luveza ukuphikelela. Luyaqhubeka nokufuna uNkulunkulu ngoba luyamethemba, hhayi ngoba seluthole impendulo. U-Abrahama walinda amashumi eminyaka indodana uNkulunkulu ayeyithembisile. UHana wathulula umphefumulo wakhe phambi kweNkosi ngaphambi kokuba uSamuweli akhulelwe. UDaniyeli waqhubeka ethandaza ngisho nalapho lokho kubeka impilo yakhe engozini. Ukuthembela kwabo kwakungasekelwe ezimweni kodwa ekuthembekeni kwaLowo ababethandaza kuye.

UJesu wafundisa nokuthi umthandazo ophumelelayo uvela ebudlelwaneni obuhlala njalo naye.

"Uma nihlala kimi, namazwi ami ehlala kini, celani noma yini eniyifunayo, niyoyenzelwa yona." (Johane 15:7)

Qaphela ukuthi isithembiso silandela ubudlelwano. Ngaphambi kokuba uJesu akhulume ngokucela, ukhuluma ngokuhlala. Igatsha lithela izithelo kuphela ngoba lihlala lixhumene nomvini. Ngokufanayo, umthandazo othela izithelo uvela empilweni ehlala inakekelwa yinhlanganyelo noKristu. Njengoba iZwi laKhe ligcwalisa izinhliziyo zethu noMoya waKhe ubumba izifiso zethu, imithandazo yethu ibonakalisa inhliziyo yaKhe ngokwandayo.

Okokugcina, umthandazo ophumelelayo awunakuhlukaniswa nokuphila kokulalela. Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, labo abahlangana noNkulunkulu ngempela babenganeliseki ngokuzwa izwi Lakhe nje kuphela. Baphendula. U-Isaya wazinikela enkonzweni yeNkosi. UPetru washiya amanetha akhe ukuze alandele uKristu. Abaphostoli bathandazela isibindi base bememezela ivangeli ngokushesha naphezu kokushushiswa. Umthandazo wangempela uhlala usishukumisela ekulaleleni okukhulu ngoba ukuhlangana kweqiniso noNkulunkulu kuguqula labo abangena ebukhoneni Bakhe.

Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, umbuzo awukhona nje ukuthi siyathandaza yini, kodwa ukuthi izimpilo zethu zibunjwa yiLowo esithandaza kuye. Umthandazo uyisimemo sikaNkulunkulu sokumazi, ukuguqulwa nguYe, nokuhlanganyela emsebenzini waKhe wokuhlenga emhlabeni wonke. Njengoba ubudlelwano bethu naye bujula, imithandazo yethu iba nempumelelo kakhulu—hhayi ngoba sesiyifundile indlela ethile, kodwa ngoba izinhliziyo zethu ziya ngokuya zifana nezakhe.

Lokhu kuholela ngokwemvelo komunye umbuzo obalulekile. Uma imiBhalo ifundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakujabulela ukuzwa imithandazo yabantu baKhe, kungani futhi ixwayisa ngokuthi izimo zengqondo nezenzo ezithile zingayivimba leyo mithandazo? Impendulo ayihloselwe ukusidumaza kodwa ukusidonsela ekuphendukeni okujulile kanye nobudlelwano obuseduze noKristu.

Esigabeni esilandelayo, sizohlola izithiyo ezingamashumi amabili nanye eziseBhayibhelini zomthandazo ophumelelayo futhi sithole ukuthi uNkulunkulu, ngomusa waKhe, ususa kanjani zonke izithiyo kulabo abamfuna ngokuthobeka.

Izithiyo Ezingama-21 ZeBhayibheli Zokuthandazela Okuphumelelayo

Isono Esingaphenduki

Isithiyo esikhulu somthandazo ophumelelayo yinhliziyo enamathela esonweni ngamabomu ngaphandle kokuphenduka. Isono siphazamisa ubudlelwano bethu noNkulunkulu, hhayi ngoba ejabulela ukusenqaba, kodwa ngoba ubungcwele bakhe busibiza ukuba sihambe ekukhanyeni. Ngomprofethi u-Isaya, iNkosi yamemezela:

U-Isaya 59:2 — “Ububi benu bunihlukanisile noNkulunkulu wenu, nezono zenu zifihle ubuso bakhe kini, ukuze angezwa.”

UDavide waqonda leli qiniso ngokuhlangenwe nakho okubuhlungu (2 Samuweli 11-12). Esikhundleni sokufihla isono sakhe, wasivuma futhi wacela isihawu sikaNkulunkulu.

IHubo 51:10 — “Dala kimi inhliziyo ehlanzekile, Nkulunkulu, uvuselele umoya oqinileyo ngaphakathi kwami.”

UNkulunkulu akalokothi asicele ukuba senze sengathi asizange sone. Usimema ukuba sivume izono zethu futhi sibuyele kuYe. Ukuphenduka akusona isiphetho somthandazo—ngokuvamile kuyisiqalo sobudlelwano obubuyiselwe.

Inhliziyo Engathetheleli

UJesu wakhuluma ngokuqondile ngokuthethelela kunanoma yisiphi esinye isiphazamiso somthandazo. Ngemva kokufundisa abafundi bakhe indlela yokuthandaza, wagcizelela ngokushesha isidingo sokuthethelela abanye.

UMathewu 6:14-15 — “Ngokuba uma nithethelela abanye iziphambeko zabo, noYihlo osezulwini uyakunithethelela nani, kepha uma ningabathetheleli abanye iziphambeko zabo, noYihlo akayikunithethelela iziphambeko zenu.”

Ukuthethelela akusixoleli isono noma ukunganaki ubulungiswa. Kunalokho, kukhulula impindiselo yomuntu siqu ezandleni zikaNkulunkulu futhi kubonakalisa isihe esisithole ngoKristu.

Ulaka luyenza lukhuni inhliziyo, kuyilapho ukuthethelela kubuyisela ubuhlobo noNkulunkulu kanye nabanye.

IBhayibheli linokuningi kakhulu elingakufundisa ngokuthethelela kunalokho okungase kuhlanganiswe kulo mhlahlandlela. Bhalisela ukufinyelela mahhala ku-ebook yethu ethi Indlela Yokuthethelela NgokweBhayibheli, lapho sihlola khona lokho okufundiswa yimiBhalo ngokuthethelela, imiphumela yenhliziyo engathetheleli, kanye nezinyathelo ezisebenzayo zokuthethelela ngokweZwi likaNkulunkulu (Mathewu 18:21–35). Uzothola nokufinyelela mahhala kulabhulali yethu ephelele yezinsiza zeBhayibheli.

Ukunganaki Ubudlelwano NoKristu

Umthandazo ungaphezu kokuletha izicelo kuNkulunkulu; uvela ebuhlotsheni obuphilayo noJesu Kristu. Ngobusuku bangaphambi kokubethelwa kwakhe esiphambanweni, uJesu wafundisa ukuthi umthandazo ophendulwayo ukhula ngobudlelwano obuhlala njalo naye.

Johane 15:7 — “Uma nihlala kimi, namazwi ami ehlala kini, celani noma yini eniyifunayo, niyoyenzelwa.”

Ukuhlala kuKristu kusho ukuhlala eduze kwaKhe ngeZwi laKhe, ukulalela, kanye nokuhlangana kwansuku zonke. Njengoba sikhula ebudlelwaneni naYe, izifiso zethu ziya ngokuya zibonakalisa ezaKhe, futhi imithandazo yethu ihambisana nentando yaKhe.

Ukuntuleka Kokholo

Ukholo lubalulekile emthandazweni ophumelelayo ngoba lubonisa ukuqiniseka ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu. ImiBhalo ayichazi ukholo njengokucabanga okufiswayo noma ukuqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzophendula njalo njengoba silindele. Kunalokho, kuwukuthembela ekuhlakanipheni, ebulungiseni, nasekuthembekeni kukaBaba wethu osezulwini.

KumaHebheru 11:6 — “Ngaphandle kokholo akunakwenzeka ukumjabulisa, ngoba noma ubani osondela kuNkulunkulu kumelwe akholwe ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uyabavuza labo abamfunayo.”

Njengoba sizindla ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi sikhumbula ukwethembeka kwaKhe kuyo yonke imiBhalo, ukuzethemba kwethu kuyakhula. Ukholo alususi yonke imibuzo, kodwa luhlala lukhetha ukuthemba Lowo ongaguquki.

Ukungalaleli

Umthandazo awukwazi ukuthatha indawo yokulalela. Nakuba uNkulunkulu esimema ngomusa ukuba silethe konke okusikhathazayo phambi Kwakhe, usibizela nokuthi silalele lokho asekwembule kakade eZwini Lakhe.

IzAga 28:9 — “Uma umuntu evala indlebe yakhe ekuzweni umthetho, ngisho nomthandazo wakhe uyisinengiso.”

UNkulunkulu ufisa okungaphezu kwamazwi akhulunywa emthandazweni; Ufisa izinhliziyo ezizimisele ukulandela izwi Lakhe. Njengoba sisabela ngokulalela, ubudlelwano bethu Naye buyajula, futhi imithandazo yethu ibonakalisa ngokwengeziwe izinjongo Zakhe kunezethu.

Ukwethembeka Okuhlukene

UJesu wafundisa ukuthi akekho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili (Mathewu 6:24). Inhliziyo ehlukene phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nezwe iyoba nzima ukujabulela ubudlelwano obujulile naye ngoba uthando lwayo olukhulu lungolwakwenye indawo.

UJakobe uxwayisa amakholwa:

UJakobe 4:4 — “Anazi yini ukuthi ubungane nezwe buwubutha noNkulunkulu? Ngakho-ke lowo othanda ukuba ngumngane wezwe uzenza isitha sikaNkulunkulu.”

UNkulunkulu akasiceli nje ukuthi simfake phakathi kwezinto eziza kuqala kithi. Usibiza ukuba simthande ngaphezu kwakho konke okunye. Njengoba uKristu eba yingcebo enkulu kunazo zonke ezinhliziyweni zethu, imithandazo yethu ngokwemvelo iba egxile kakhulu embusweni waKhe kunasezifisweni zethu.

Ukuziqhenya

Umthandazo weqiniso uqala ngokuthobeka. Njalo lapho siza phambi kukaNkulunkulu, siyavuma ukuthi sithembele kuYe futhi sivuma ukuthi ukuhlakanipha namandla ethu akwanele.

UJesu wakuchaza lokhu ngomfanekiso womFarisi nomthelisi (Luka 18:9-14). Ngesikhathi umFarisi ethembele ekulungeni kwakhe, umthelisi wamane wamemeza wathi:

Luka 18:13 — “Nkulunkulu, ngihawukele mina soni!”

UNkulunkulu uyajabula ngezinhliziyo ezithobekile ngoba ukuthobeka kuyaqaphela isidingo sethu somusa waKhe. Ukuziqhenya kususa ukuzethemba kwethu kuNkulunkulu kuye kithi ngokuthula, kuyilapho ukuthobeka kusidonsela emuva njalo ebukhoneni baKhe.

Izisusa Zobugovu

UNkulunkulu akagcini nje ngokuzwa lokho esikucelayo kodwa futhi uhlola ukuthi kungani sikucela. UJakobe ukhumbuza amakholwa ukuthi eminye imithandazo ayiphendulwa ngoba iqhutshwa yizifiso zobugovu kunokuba iqhutshwa yinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu.

UJakobe 4:3 — “Niyacela kodwa anamukeli, ngoba nicela kabi, ukuze nikuchithele ezinkanukweni zenu.”

UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba baqale umthandazo ngokufuna igama likaBaba, umbuso, nentando yakhe ngaphambi kokuveza izidingo zabo (Mathewu 6:9-10). Njengoba uthando lwethu ngoKristu lukhula, izisusa zethu ziyahlanzwa, futhi imithandazo yethu ibonakalisa ngokwengeziwe izinjongo Zakhe esikhundleni sezifiso zethu zomuntu siqu.

Ukungabaza Isimo SikaNkulunkulu

Wonke umuntu okholwayo ubhekana nezikhathi zokungaqiniseki, kodwa imiBhalo isikhuthaza ukuba siqinise ukuqiniseka kwethu ebuntwini bukaNkulunkulu obungaguquki kunokuba siqinise ezimweni ezishintshayo.

UJames uyabhala:

UJakobe 1:6 — “Kepha makacele ngokholo, engangabazi ngalutho...”

Ikhambi lokungabaza akusikho ukuzethemba okukhulu kodwa ulwazi olujulile ngoNkulunkulu. Njengoba sikhumbula ukwethembeka Kwakhe kuyo yonke imiBhalo nasezimpilweni zethu, ukuzethemba kwethu kuyakhula. Sifunda ukuthemba hhayi ngoba siqonda yonke impendulo, kodwa ngoba siyamazi Lowo ozwa yonke imithandazo.

Ukunganaki iZwi likaNkulunkulu

Umthandazo uyingxoxo noNkulunkulu, kodwa amakholwa amaningi achitha isikhathi esiningi ekhuluma kunokulalela. UNkulunkulu wembule ngomusa ubuntu Bakhe, izithembiso Zakhe, kanye nentando Yakhe ngemiBhalo, futhi imithandazo yethu iba namandla njengoba ibunjwa yiZwi Lakhe.

UJesu waxhumanisa la maqiniso amabili lapho ethi:

Johane 15:7 — “Uma nihlala kimi, namazwi ami ehlala kini, celani noma yini eniyifunayo, niyoyenzelwa.”

Qaphela ukuthi uJesu akakhulumanga nje kuphela ngokuhlala kuYe kodwa nangamazwi aKhe ahlala kithi. Njengoba iZwi likaNkulunkulu ligcwalisa izinhliziyo zethu, liphinda libumbe izifiso zethu, liqinise ukholo lwethu, futhi lisifundisa indlela yokuthandaza ngokwentando yaKhe. Esikhundleni sokuthandaza ngokwemizwa noma izimo zethu, siqala ukuthandaza ngokweqiniso laKhe. Enye yezindlela ezilula zokuqinisa impilo yakho yomthandazo ukuchitha isikhathi ufunda imiBhalo ngaphambi kokuba uqale ukuthandaza.

Ukuntuleka Kothando

Uthando lusenhliziyweni yempilo yobuKristu. UJesu wafundisa ukuthi imiyalo emikhulu kakhulu ukuthanda uNkulunkulu ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu nokuthanda umakhelwane wethu njengoba sizithanda thina (Marku 12:29-31). Ngakho-ke akunakwenzeka ukujabulela ubudlelwano obuseduze noNkulunkulu ngenkathi wenqaba njalo ukuthanda abanye.

Umphostoli uJohane uyabhala:

1 Johane 4:20 — “Uma umuntu ethi, ‘Ngiyamthanda uNkulunkulu,’ kodwa ezonda umfowabo, ungumqambimanga; ngoba lowo ongamthandi umfowabo ambonileyo akanakumthanda uNkulunkulu angambonanga.”

Uthando oluseBhayibhelini lungaphezu nje komzwelo. Luyabekezela, lunomusa, luthobekile, luyathethelela, futhi luzimisele ukufuna okuhle kwabanye (1 Korinte 13:4-7). Njengoba uMoya oNgcwele uveza lolu thando ngaphakathi kithi, imithandazo yethu ayigxili kakhulu kithi futhi ikhathalela kakhulu inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu nezidingo zalabo abasizungezile.

Ukunganaki Izidingo Zabanye

Kuyo yonke iBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu wembula ukukhathazeka kwakhe okujulile ngabampofu, abafelokazi, izintandane, nalabo abahlupheka ngokungalungi. Impilo yomthandazo enempilo ayinakuhlukaniswa nenhliziyo enesihawu.

USolomoni uyabhala:

IzAga 21:13 — “Noma ubani ovala indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni kwabampofu naye uyomemeza angaphendulwa.”

La mazwi asikhumbuza ukuthi ukukhulekela kwangempela akubonakaliswa ngomthandazo kuphela kodwa nangokulalela. UNkulunkulu uvame ukuphendula imithandazo yalabo abaswele ngokusebenza ngabantu baKhe. Njengoba sikhula esihawini nasekuphaneni, izinhliziyo zethu ziya ngokuya zivumelana nezaKhe, futhi imithandazo yethu ibonisa uthando lwaKhe ngalabo abalimele nabakhohliwe.

Ukungezwani Emshadweni

IBhayibheli lifundisa ukuthi ubudlelwano bethu nabanye buthinta ubudlelwano bethu noNkulunkulu, futhi akukho ndawo lapho lokhu kugcizelelwa khona ngokucace kakhulu kunasemshadweni.

UPetru unxusa amadoda:

1 Petru 3:7 — “Kanjalo, madoda, hlalani nomkenu ngendlela yokuqonda, nibanike udumo njengesitsha esibuthakathaka, lokhu beyizindlalifa zomusa wokuphila kanye nani, ukuze imithandazo yenu ingavinjelwa.”

Nakuba uPetru ekhuluma ngqo namadoda, lesi simiso sikhumbuza wonke umuntu okholwayo ukuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna ukuthula, udumo, intethelelo, nothando emakhaya ethu. Ukuqhubeka nokuba nolaka, ulaka, noma izingxabano ezingaxazululwanga kungaphazamisa ubudlelwano bethu naYe. Ubudlelwano obuhle abuzuzisi umusa kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bubonisa izinhliziyo eziguqulwa ngomusa waKhe.

Ukwenqaba Ukulalela UNkulunkulu

Umthandazo awugcini nje ngokukhuluma noNkulunkulu; kodwa futhi uwukumlalela. Amakholwa amaningi acela isiqondiso kuNkulunkulu ngobuqotho kuyilapho edebeselela iZwi akhulume ngalo kakade.

Incwadi yezAga inikeza lesi sixwayiso esiqinile:

IzAga 28:9 — “Uma umuntu evala indlebe yakhe ekuzweni umthetho, ngisho nomthandazo wakhe uyisinengiso.”

UNkulunkulu ufisa abantwana abangagcini nje ngokuletha izicelo phambi Kwakhe kodwa futhi abamukela imfundiso Yakhe ngezinhliziyo ezithobekile. Njengoba sifunda imiBhalo futhi siphendula ngokulalela, siba nomuzwa ojulile ezwini Lakhe futhi sikulungele ukuqaphela ukuhola Kwakhe. Umthandazo ophumelelayo uhlala uhlanganisa kokubili ukukhuluma nokulalela.

Ukuntuleka Kokubekezela

ImiBhalo ikhuthaza amakholwa ukuthi angagcini nje ngokuthandaza kodwa futhi aphikelele emthandazweni. Isikhathi sikaNkulunkulu sivame ukuhluka kwesethu, futhi uvame ukusebenzisa izinkathi zokulinda ukuze ajulise ukholo lwethu, aqinise ubuntu bethu, futhi asifundise ukuthembela okukhulu kuYe.

UJesu wagcizelela leli qiniso ngokulandisa umfanekiso “wokuthi kufanele bathandaze njalo bangadangali” (Luka 18:1). Waphetha indaba ngala mazwi:

ULuka 18:7 — “UNkulunkulu akayikubahlulela abakhethiweyo bakhe abakhala kuye imini nobusuku, na? Uyakulibala ngenxa yabo na?”

Ukubekezela akumthonyi uNkulunkulu ongafuni ukuthatha isinyathelo. Kunalokho, kubonisa ukuqiniseka kwethu ukuthi uthembekile, uhlakaniphile, futhi uyasebenza ngisho nalapho singakayiboni impendulo. Ukholo luyaqhubeka luthandaza ngoba luthemba Lowo ozwa yonke imithandazo.

Ukunganaki Umthandazo

Mhlawumbe isithiyo esisobala kakhulu emthandazweni ophumelelayo ukwehluleka ukuthandaza. Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, uNkulunkulu umema abantu baKhe ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuba bamfune, kodwa kungenzeka ukuba matasa kakhulu, uphazamiseke, noma uzimele kangangokuthi umthandazo uyanyamalala kancane kancane empilweni yansuku zonke.

UPawulu unikeza lesi siqondiso esilula kodwa esijulile:

1 Thesalonika 5:17 — “Thandazani ningaphezi.”

Lokhu akusho ukuthi umzuzu ngamunye kumelwe usetshenziswe ukhuluma amazwi omthandazo. Kunalokho, kuchaza impilo yobudlelwano obuqhubekayo noNkulunkulu—ukuphendukela kuYe usuku lonke ngokubonga, ukuncika, ukukhulekela, ukuvuma izono, kanye nokunxusa.

Umthandazo akufanele ube impendulo yethu yokugcina lapho zonke ezinye izixazululo zehlulekile. Kufanele ube impendulo yethu yokuqala ngoba siyaqaphela ukuthembela kwethu njalo eNkosini.

Ubuholi Obungcolile Obungokomoya Nokuxhashazwa Kwabakholwayo

UNkulunkulu uthatha ubuholi obungokomoya ngokungathi sína. Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, uyabalahla labo abasebenzisa izikhundla zegunya ukuze bazuze bona, baphathe abantu baKhe kabi, noma babaholele kude neqiniso laKhe. Ngomprofethi uMika, uNkulunkulu waxwayisa abaholi abonakele:

UMika 3:4 — “Khona bayakukhala kuJehova, kodwa akayikubaphendula; uyakufihla ubuso bakhe kubo ngaleso sikhathi, ngokuba benze izenzo zabo zaba zimbi.”

Lesi sixwayiso siqondiswe ikakhulukazi kulabo abafundisa, abelusa, noma abathonya abanye egameni likaNkulunkulu. Ubuholi obungokomoya buyisibopho esingcwele, hhayi ithuba lamandla, ukuqashelwa, noma inzuzo yezezimali. UNkulunkulu ufisa abaholi abakhonza ngokuthobeka, ubuqotho, nothando lwangempela ngabantu baKhe.

Ukuba Nomqondo Ombaxambili

UNkulunkulu ufuna ukwethemba ngenhliziyo yonke. Inhliziyo ehlukene phakathi ehlala inqikaza phakathi kokholo nokungakholwa ilwela ukuthandaza ngokuzethemba ngoba ayikazinikeli ngokugcwele eNkosini.

UJames uyabhala:

UJakobe 1:6-8 — “Kodwa makacele ngokholo, engangabazi, ngokuba ongabazayo ufana negagasi lolwandle eliqhutshwa futhi lishukunyiswa ngumoya... ungumuntu onhliziyombili, ongazinzi ezindleleni zakhe zonke.”

Ukuba nomqondo ombaxambili kungaphezu kokungaqiniseki ngezikhathi ezithile. Kuyinhliziyo edonswa ngezindlela ezimbili, ifuna kokubili intando kaNkulunkulu kanye neyayo. Umthandazo ophumelelayo uyakhula njengoba sifunda ukuthemba uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke, siphumule ekuhlakanipheni Kwakhe ngisho noma singaziqondi ngokushesha izimpendulo Zakhe.

Ukunganaki Ubulungiswa Bezintandane Nabafelokazi

Kuyo yonke iBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu wembula ukukhathalela kwakhe okukhethekile ngezintandane, abafelokazi, nalabo abangakwazi ukuzivikela. Ufisa ukukhulekelwa okubonakaliswa hhayi ngamazwi kuphela kodwa nangobulungisa, ububele, nesihe.

Ngo-Isaya, iNkosi yamemezela:

U-Isaya 1:17 — “Fundani ukwenza okuhle; funani ubulungisa, niqondise ukucindezelwa; nilwele izintandane, nimele abafelokazi.”

UJames uphindela kulesimiso esifanayo:

UJakobe 1:27 — “Inkolo emsulwa nengangcolile phambi kukaNkulunkulu uBaba yile: ukuhambela izintandane nabafelokazi osizini lwabo, nokuzigcina ungangcoliswa yizwe.”

Umthandazo ohambisana nokuphila okunesihawu nokulalela ubonakalisa inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu uqobo.

Ukunganaki Abampofu

UNkulunkulu ubiza abantu baKhe ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuba banakekele labo abaswele. Ukholo lwangempela alubonakali nje kuphela emthandazweni kodwa futhi lubonakaliswa nangothando olungokoqobo kulabo abalambile, abacindezelwe, nabahluphekayo.

USolomoni uyabhala:

IzAga 21:13 — “Noma ubani ovala indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni kwabampofu naye uyomemeza angaphendulwa.”

Ngokufanayo, ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uNkulunkulu wachaza uhlobo lokuzila ukudla okumthokozisayo—impilo ehlanganyela isinkwa nabalambile, yamukela abangenamakhaya, futhi enakekela abaswele (Isaya 58:6–9). Imithandazo yethu iba njengekaKristu lapho izinhliziyo zethu ziba nesihawu kakhulu kulabo abathandayo.

Imithandazo Evivinya UNkulunkulu

Ukholo luthemba uNkulunkulu; aludingi ukuthi azibonakalise ngokwalokho esikulindele. Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, uNkulunkulu uxwayisa abantu bakhe ngokumlinga ngokungakholwa, ukugabadela, noma izimfuno zobugovu.

Lapho uSathane emlinga uJesu ukuba aziphonse ethempelini, iNkosi yethu yaphendula:

UMathewu 4:7 — “Kulotshiwe futhi ukuthi, ‘Ungayilingi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho.’”

Umthandazo weBhayibheli uphawulwa ukwethemba ngokuthobeka kunokuba kube yimizamo yokuphoqa isandla sikaNkulunkulu. Siza phambi Kwakhe ngokuzethemba ngoba uthembekile, kodwa futhi sizithoba ekuhlakanipheni Kwakhe okuphelele, ngesikhathi, kanye nentando Yakhe. Ukholo oluvuthiwe lufuna ukudumisa uNkulunkulu kunokumvivinya.

Imicabango Yokuphetha

Njengoba sesibonile kulo lonke leli bhukwana, inhloso yalezi zixwayiso zeBhayibheli akukhona ukusenza singathandi ukuthandaza kodwa ukusidonsela ebuhlotsheni obujulile noNkulunkulu. Ngenxa kaJesu Kristu, singasondela kuBaba ngokuzethemba, sazi ukuthi uyajabula ngokuthethelela, ukubuyisela, nokuguqula labo abamfunayo.

Njengoba uqhubeka ukhula emthandazweni, cela uMoya oNgcwele ukuthi ahlole inhliziyo yakho, asuse zonke izithiyo ezivimbela ubudlelwano bakho noNkulunkulu, futhi akufundise ukuthandaza ngokweZwi laKhe nentando yaKhe. UBaba akafuni abantu abaphelele—ufuna izinhliziyo ezithobekile ezimethembayo, ezimlalelayo, nezifisa ukumazi ngokujulile.

KumaHebheru 4:16 — “Ngakho-ke masisondele ngesibindi esihlalweni somusa, ukuze samukele isihawu, sithole umusa wokusiza ngesikhathi esifanele.”

Kwangathi impilo yakho yomthandazo ingaba ngaphezu komkhuba wansuku zonke. Kwangathi ingaba ubudlelwano obujabulisayo nobokuphila konke noBaba wakho osezulwini, okuthi ngaye umbuso wakhe uthuthuke empilweni yakho, emndenini wakho, esontweni lakho, emphakathini wakho, nasezizweni.