Aninaso isikhathi sokuthandaza empilweni yenu yansuku zonke. Abantu bahlezi bengawunaki umthandazo. Imithandazo yabo yayivame ukuchitha icala nje phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Akekho owayeke anikele ngokupheleleyo ngenhliziyo yakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu futhi axoxe ngomkhuleko oyiqiniso noNkulunkulu. Abantu bathandaza kuNkulunkulu uma kwenzeke okuthile kuphela kubona. Kuso sonke lesi sikhathi, uke wathandaza ngokweqiniso kuNkulunkulu? Uke wakhala izinyembezi zobuhlungu phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngaphambilini? Uke wathola ukuzazi phambi kukaNkulunkulu? Uke waba nesikhathi sokuthulula konke okusenhliziyweni yakho phambi kukaNkulunkulu? Ukuthandaza kuza ngokuzijwayeza: Uma ungavamile ukuthandaza ekhaya, ngeke ukwazi ukuthandaza uma ususenkonzweni, futhi uma ungavamile ukuthandaza phambi kwabantu abancane, ngeke futhi ukwazi nokuthandaza phambi kwabantu abaningi. Uma ungavamile ukuzisondeza eduze noNkulunkulu noma ukuzindla ngamazwi kaNkulunkulu, lapho-ke ngeke ube nalutho ozolusho uma sekuyisikhathi sokuthandaza—futhi ngisho noma uthandaza, kuyoba wenza ngezindebe zakho nje; uyobe ungathandazi ngokweqiniso.

Kusho ukuthini ukuthandaza kweqiniso? Kuchaza ukukhuluma amazwi angaphakathi kuwena uwatshela uNkulunkulu, kanye nokuxhumana noNkulunkulu usuyiqonda kahle intando Yakhe futhi loku ukususela emazwini Akhe; kuchaza ukuzizwa useduze noNkulunkulu, uzwe sengathi uphambi Kwakho, futhi unokuthile ongakusho Kuye; futhi kuchaza ukuba nenkazimulo enkulu ngaphakathi enhliziyweni yakho, kanye nemizwa yokuthi uNkulunkulu muhle ngempela. Uyozizwa unentshisekelo ngokukhethekile, futhi emva kokuzwa amazwi akho abazalwane bakho bayozizwa benelisekile, bazozwa sengathi amazwi akho akhulume lokho obekusezinhliziyweni zabo, amazwi abebefisa ukuwasho, kanye nokuthi lokho okushilo kumele lokho abafuna ukukusho. Kusho lokhu-ke ukuthandaza kweqiniso? Emva kokuba usuthandaze ngokweqiniso, enhliziyweni yakho uzozwa unokuthula, udelisekile; amandla kaNkulunkulu azonyuka, futhi uzozwa ukuthi ayikho into empilweni yakho yonke ebaluleke noma edlula ukuthanda uNkulunkulu—futhi konke lokhu kuzofakazisela ukuthi umthandazo wakho ube yimpumelelo. Uke wathandaza ngale ndlela?

Ayethini amazwi omthandazo wakho? Kufanele uthandaze, kancane kancane, ngokuhambisana nesimo sakho sangempela kanye nalokho okuzokwenziwa nguMoya oNgcwele, futhi kufanele uxoxisane noNkulunkulu njengokwentando kaNkulunkulu nezimfuno zaKhe kumuntu. Uma uqala ukuzejwayeza ukuthandaza, qala ngokunikela inhliziyo yakho kuNkulunkulu. Ungazami ukubamba intando kaNkulunkulu; zama kuphela ukukhuluma amazwi angaphakathi enhliziyweni yakho uwatshele uNkulunkulu. Lapho uza phambi kukaNkulunkulu, khuluma kanje: “Awu Nkulunkulu! Ngibona namhlanje ukuthi angikulalelanga Wena. Ngimubi futhi ngiyenyanyeka ngempela. Ngaphambilini, bengichitha isikhathi sami; kusukela namhlanje ngizokuphilela, ngizophila impilo enenhloso, ngenelise intando Yakho. Ngifuna ukuba uMoya Wakho usebenze njalo ngaphakathi kimina, futhi uhlale njalo ungikhanyisa futhi ungikhanyisela, ukuze ngibe nobufakazi obunamandla phambi Kwakho, ngivumele uSathane abone udumo Lwakho, ubufakazi Bakho, kanye nobufakazi bokunqoba Kwakho ngaphakathi kithina.” Uma ukhuleka ngale ndlela, inhliziyo yakho izokhululwa ngokuphelele, uma usukhuleke ngale ndlela, inhliziyo yakho izoba seduze noNkulunkulu, futhi ngokukhuleka ngale ndlela njalo, uMoya oNgcwele uzosebenza kuwena ngaphakathi nakanjani. Uma ngaso sonke isikhathi ubiza uNkulunkulu ngale ndlela uhambise iziphakamiso zakho phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kuyofika usuku lapho isiphakamiso sakho siyokwamukeleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu, lapho inhliziyo yakho nawe uqobo sewamukelwe nguNkulunkulu, futhi bese upheleliswa nguNkulunkulu. Umthandazo ubaluleke kakhulu kuwena. Uma uthandaza, uthola umsebenzi kaMoya oNgcwele, inhliziyo yakho ngakho-ke ithintwa nguNkulunkulu, kanti namandla othando lukaNkulunkulu ngaphakathi kuwena ayavela. Uma ungathandazi ngenhliziyo yakho, uma ungavuli inhliziyo yakho ukuze ukhulume noNkulunkulu, lapho-ke uNkulunkulu akakwazi ukusebenza ngaphakathi kuwena. Uma, usuthandazile, ukhulume wonke amazwi angaphakathi enhliziyweni yakho futhi uMoya kaNkulunkulu ungasebenzanga, uma uzizwa ungenantshisekelo ngaphakathi kuwena, lokhu-ke kukhomba ukuthi inhliziyo yakho ayiqinisekanga, ukuthi amagama akho awalona iqiniso, futhi ayihlanzekanga. Uma, usuthandazile, uzizwe udelisekile, kusho ukuthi imithandazo yakho yamukeliwe nguNkulunkulu noMoya kaNkulunkulu usebenzile ngaphakathi kuwena. Njengomuntu osebenza phambi kukaNkulunkulu, awukwazi ukuhlala ungenayo imithandazo. Uma ubona ukukhulumisana noNkulunkulu njengento enokubaluleka neyigugu, pho ungakwazi ukuwulahla umthandazo? Akekho ongaphila ngaphandle kokukhulumisana noNkulunkulu. Ngaphandle komthandazo, uphila enyameni, uphila ngaphansi kobugqila bukaSathane; ngaphandle komthandazo wangempela, uphila ngaphansi kwethonya lobumnyama. Ngethemba ukuthi abazalwane bayakwazi ukuthandaza kwangempela usuku nosuku. Lokhu akukona ukuthobela izimfundiso, kodwa-ke, umphumela okufanele ufezekiswe. Ingabe uzimisele ukuzincisha ubuthongo nokuzijabulisa wena, wenze umthandazo wasekuseni entathakusa bese uthokozela amazwi kaNkulunkulu? Uma uthandaza ngenhliziyo emsulwa futhi udla uphuza amazwi kaNkulunkulu kanje, uzokwamukeleka kakhudlwana Kuye. Uma ukwenza lokhu njalo ekuseni, uma zonke izinsuku, uzejwayeza ukunikeza inhliziyo yakho kuNkulunkulu, uxoxa futhi uxoxisana Naye, lapho-ke ulwazi lwakho ngoNkulunkulu nakanjani luzokwanda, futhi uzokwazi ukuzwa kangcono intando kaNkulunkulu. Kufanele uthi: “Awu Nkulunkulu! Ngifuna ukugcwalisa isibopho sami. Ukuze Wena udunyiswe kithina, futhi uthokozele ubufakazi kithina, kuleli qembu labantu, akukho engingakwenza ngaphandle kokunikela isiqu sami sonke Kuwe. Ngiyakunxusa ukuba usebenze ngaphakathi kithina, ukuze ngikuthande ngeqiniso futhi ngikwenelise Wena, futhi ube yilokhu engikulangazelele.” Uma unalo mthwalo, uNkulunkulu nakanjani uzokwenza upheleliswe; akufanele uzithandazele wena kuphela, kodwa futhi uthandazele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu, kanye nokuba umthande. Lowo-ke umthandazo weqiniso. Ingabe uthandazela ukuba wenze intando kaNkulunkulu?

Ngaphambilini, naningakwazi ukuthandaza, futhi ningawunaki umthandazo; namuhla, kufanele nenze konke okusemandleni ukuba niziqeqeshele ukuthandaza. Uma ungakwazi ukuthola amandla ngaphakathi kuwena okuba uthande uNkulunkulu, pho ungathandaza kanjani? Kufanele uthi: “Awu Nkulunkulu! Inhliziyo yami ayikwazi ukukuthanda ngokweqiniso, ngifisa ukukuthanda kodwa anginawo amandla. Ngenzenjani? Ngifisa ukuba uvule amehlo ami angokomoya, ngifisa uMoya Wakho uthinte inhliziyo yami, ukuze uma ngiphambi Kwakho kusuke konke ukunganaki, futhi ngingavinjwa muntu, nalutho, noma nani na; inhliziyo yami ngiyeneka phambi Kwakho, kangangokuthi isimo sami sonke ngisinikele phambi Kwakho, ukuba ungangihlola nangayiphi indlela ofisa ngayo. Manje, ngisusa yonke imicabango yami, futhi angiboshwanga nawukufa. Ngisebenzisa inhliziyo yami ekuthandayo, ngifisa ukufuna indlela yokuphila. Zonke izinto nezimo zisesandleni Sakho, ikusasa lami lisezandleni Zakho, futhi, phezu kwalokho, impilo yami ilawulwa yizandla Zakho. Manje, ngilangazelele uthando Lwakho, kungakhathalekile noma uyangivumela ukuba ngikuthande, kungakhathalekile ukuthi uSathane ungenelela kangakanani, ngizimisele ukukuthanda.” Lapho uhlangabezana nezinto ezinje, uthandaza ngale ndlela. Uma wenza nje zonke izinsuku, amandla okuthanda uNkulunkulu azokhula kancane kancane.

Umuntu ungena kanjani emthandazweni wangempela?

Ngenkathi uthandaza, inhliziyo yakho kufanele ibe nokuthula phambi kukaNkulunkulu, futhi kufanele ibe nokuqiniseka. Ukhuluma futhi uthandaza uNkulunkulu ngokweqiniso—akufanele uzame ukukhohlisa uNkulunkulu ngamazwi ezwakala kamnandi. Umthandazo kufanele ube ngumongo walokho uNkulunkulu afisa ukukufeza namhlanje. Cela uNkulunkulu akulethele ukukhanyiseleka nenkazimulo enkulu, futhi akunikeze isimo kanye nezinkinga zakho njengoba kunjalo, wenze isiphakamiso phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Umthandazo akukona ukulandela izinqubo, kodwa ukufuna uNkulunkulu usebenzisa inhliziyo eqinisekile. Cela uNkulunkulu avikele inhliziyo yakho, ayenze ikwazi ukuba noxolo njalo phambi kukaNkulunkulu, akwenze ukwazi ukuzazi, kanjalo nokuzicasukela, ulahle umina endaweni uNkulunkulu akubekele yona, ngaleyo ndlela ube nobudlelwane obuhle nobujwayelekile noNkulunkulu akwenze ube umuntu omthanda ngokweqiniso uNkulunkulu.

Yini ukubaluleka komthandazo?

Umthandazo enye yezindlela umuntu asebenzisana ngazo noNkulunkulu, yindlela umuntu abiza ngayo uNkulunkulu, futhi yinqubo umuntu athintwa ngayo uMoya kaNkulunkulu. Kungashiwo ukuthi labo abangenawo umthandazo ngabafile emoyeni, ubufakazi bokuthi abanazo izindlela zokuthintwa uNkulunkulu. Ngaphandle komthandazo, abantu abakwazi ukuthola impilo yomoya ejwayelekile, futhi abakwazi nokulandela umsebenzi kaMoya oNgcwele; ngaphandle komthandazo, balimaza ubudlelwane babo noNkulunkulu, futhi abakwazi ukuthola imvume evela kuNkulunkulu. Uma ungumuntu okholwa kuNkulunkulu, ngenkathi uthandaza kaningi, kungale nkathi uzothintwa uNkulunkulu. Abantu abafana nalaba baneziphakamiso ezinkulu futhi bayakwazi ukuthola njalo ukukhanyiselwa okuvela kuNkulunkulu; ngenxa yalokho ngabantu abafana nalaba kuphela abakwazi ukupheleliswa ngokushesha nguMoya oNgcwele.

Yini efezwa ngumthandazo?

Abantu bayakwazi ukwenza umkhuba wokuthandaza baqonde ukubaluleka komthandazo, kodwa umphumela ofezwa umthandazo awuyona into encane. Umthandazo akukona nje ukwenza izinqubo zenjwayelo, noma imidanti, noma ukulolozela amagama kaNkulunkulu, okusho ukuthi, umthandazo awuchazi ukubiza amagama noma ukulinganisa abanye abantu. Emthandazweni, kufanele unikele inhliziyo yakho kuNkulunkulu, wabelane ngamagama asenhliziyweni yakho ukuze ukwazi ukuthintwa uNkulunkulu. Ukuze imithandazo yakho ibe nempumelelo, kufanele igxile ekufundeni kwakho amazwi kaNkulunkulu. Kungenxa yokuthandaza phakathi kwamazwi kaNkulunkulu kuphela lapho uzokwazi khona ukuthola ukukhanyiseleka nenkazimulo ethe xaxa. Umthandazo weqiniso ubonakala ngokuba nenhliziyo elangazelele izimfuno ezishiwo uNkulunkulu, kanye nokuzimisela ukugcwalisa lezi zimfuno; uzokwazi ukuzonda konke lokho okuzondwa uNkulunkulu, ngenxa yolwazi onalo, futhi uzokwazi uphinde ucacelwe kahle mayelana namaqiniso achazwa nguNkulunkulu. Uma unesiphakamiso, nokholo, nolwazi, kanye nendlela yokuphila emva kokuthandaza—lokho-ke ukuthandaza kweqiniso, futhi umthandazo onjengalowo osebenzayo. Kodwa umthandazo kufanele wakhelwe phezu kwesisekelo sokuthokozela amazwi kaNkulunkulu nokukhuluma noNkulunkulu ngamazwi aKhe, inhliziyo yakho ikwazi ukufuna uNkulunkulu kanye nokuba nokuthula phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Umthandazo onjengalowo sewuvele ufinyelele lapho kunokukhuluma noNkulunkulu kweqiniso.

Ulwazi oluyisisekelo ngokuthandaza:

1. Ungavele usho noma yini efika engqondweni. Kufanele kube nokuzisola enhliziyweni yakho, okuchaza ukuthi, kufanele ube nenjongo lapho uthandaza.

2. Imithandazo yakho kufanele ibe namazwi kaNkulunkulu; kufanele igxile emazwini kaNkulunkulu.

3. Uma uthandaza, akufanele uphinde izindaba ezindala. Imithandazo yakho kufanele iphathelane namazwi amanje kaNkulunkulu, futhi lapho uthandaza, tshela uNkulunkulu imicabango yakho engaphakathi ekujuleni.

4. Umthandazo weqembu kufanele ube nomongo, okufanele ube ngumsebenzi kaMoya oNgcwele namuhla.

5. Bonke abantu kufanele bafunde umkhuleko owenziwa egameni lakho noma lomunye. Lokhu kuyindlela futhi yokukhombisa ukucabangela intando kaNkulunkulu.

Umthandazo womuntu usekelwe ekuqondeni ukubaluleka komthandazo kanye nolwazi oluyisisekelo somthandazo. Umuntu kufanele kaningi athandazele ukusilela kwakhe empilweni yakhe yansuku zonke, athandazele kaningi amaphutha akhe, athandezele ukuletha inguquko esimweni sakhe empilweni, bese ethandaza esisekelweni solwazi lwamazwi kaNkulunkulu. Umuntu ngamunye kufanele asungule eyakhe impilo yomthandazo, kufanele athandazele ulwazi olugxile emazwini kaNkulunkulu, kufanele athandaze ukuze afune ulwazi lomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Neka isimo sakho phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ube nokuqiniseka, unganaki indlela yemidanti; okusemqoka ukuthola ulwazi lwangempela, kanye nokuba namava kaNkulunkulu. Noma ubani ofuna ukungena empilweni yangokomoya kufanele akwazi ukuthandaza ngezindlela eziningi. Umthandazo wokuthula, ukuninga ngamagama kaNkulunkulu, ukuthola ukwazi imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, nokunye nokunye—lo msebenzi ogxilile wokukhulumisana, ukuze ukwazi ukuthola ukungena empilweni yomoya ejwayelekile, ukwenza isimo sakho ngaphambi kukaNkulunkulu sibe ngcono nangcono, nokudala inqubekelaphambili enkulu empilweni yakho. Ngamafuphi, konke okwenzayo—noma ngabe udla noma ngabe uphuza amazwi kaNkulunkulu, noma ukuthandaza ngokuthula noma ukuthandaza uphimise—ukuze ubone ngokucacile amazwi kaNkulunkulu, nomsebenzi Wakhe, kanye nalokho afisa ukukufeza kuwena. Okubaluleke kakhulu, kungenxa yokufuna ukufikelela ezingeni uNkulunkulu alifunayo kanye nokudlulisela impilo yakho ezingeni elilandelayo. Izinga eliphansi kakhulu uNkulunkulu alidingayo kubantu ukuba bakwazi ukumvulela izinhliziyo zabo. Uma umuntu enikeza inhliziyo yakhe ngokweqiniso asho lokho okungaphakathi kuyena kuNkulunkulu, lapho-ke uNkulunkulu uzimisele ukwenza umsebenzi kumuntu; uNkulunkulu akafuni inhliziyo yomuntu esontekile, kodwa ufuna inhlizyo yakhe emsulwa nethembekile. Uma umuntu engakhulumi ngokweqiniso athulule inhliziyo yakhe kuNkulunkulu, lapho-ke uNkulunkulu akayithinti inhliziyo yomuntu, noma asebenze ngaphakathi kuyena. Yingakho, into ebaluleke kakhulu mayelana nokuthandaza ukukhuluma amazwi eqiniso asenhliziyweni yakho kuNkulunkulu, utshele uNkulunkulu amaphutha akho noma isimo sokungalaleli kanye nokuzeneka ngokuphelele kuNkulunkulu. Yilapho kuphela-ke uNkulunkulu eba nentshisekelo emithandazweni yakho; uma kungenjalo, uNkulunkulu uzofihla ubuso Bakhe kuwena. Uhlaka oluncane oludingekayo lomthandazo ukuthi kufanele ukwazi ukuba nokuthula enhliziyweni yakho ngaphambi kukaNkulunkulu, futhi akufanele isuke kuNkulunkulu. Mhlawumbe, ngalesi sikhathi, awukatholi umbono omusha nophakeme, kodwa kufanele usebenzise umthandazo ukugcina izinto njengoba zinjalo—awukwazi ukuhlehla. Lena yinto encane okufanele ukwazi ukuyenza. Uma ungakwazi ukufeza ngisho nalokhu, lokho kufakazela ukuthi impilo yakho yangokomoya ayikabi sezingeni elifanele; ngenxa yalokho, awukwazi ukubambelela embonweni wakho wasekuqaleni, futhi awunalo ukholo lukaNkulunkulu, isiphakamiso sakho siyanyamalala ngenxa yalokho. Ukungena kwakho empilweni yangokomoya kuphawulwa ngukuthi imithandazo yakho isingenile endleleni elungile. Bonke abantu kufanele bangene kulesi simo, kufanele benze wonke umsebenzi wokuziqeqesha emthandazweni, hhayi ukulinda nje ngokunganaki, kodwa ukufuna ngokunenhloso ukuthintwa nguMoya oNgcwele. Yilapho kuphela lapho abantu bezoba abantu abafuna uNkulunkulua.

Uma uqala ukuthandaza, kufanele ube nokungokoqobo, futhi ungazinwebi kakhulu; awukwazi ukwenza izimfuno eziphoqayo, uthembe ukuthi uma uvula umlomo wakho uzothintwa uMoya oNgcwele, ube ngokhanyiselekile nonenkazimulo, futhi ogcwaliswe umusa. Lokho angeke kwenzeke—uNkulunkulu akazenzi izinto ezingezona ezenyama. UNkulunkulu ufeza imithandazo yabantu ngesikhathi saKhe futhi kwesinye isikhathi uhlola ukholo lwakho ukuze abone ukuthi uthembekile na Kuye. Uma uthandaza kufanele ube nokholo, ukubekezela, kanye nesiphakamiso. Uma beqala ukuziqeqeshela ukuthandaza, abantu abaningi abazizwa sengathi bathintwe uMoya oNgcwele bese belahlekelwa yithemba. Lokho akwamukelekile! Kufanele ube nokuphikelela, kufanele ugxile ekuzweni ukuthintwa nguMoya oNgcwele, kanye nokufuna nokuhlaziya. Kwesinye isikhathi, yindlela owenza ngayo engalungile; kwesinye isikhathi, izintshisekelo zakho nemicabango akukwazi ukuma phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngakho uMoya kaNkulunkulu akakunyakazisi; ngakho futhi kunezikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu ebheka ukuthi uthembekile yini noma cha. Ngamafuphi, kufanele ube nokuzinikela kakhulu ekuziqeqesheni kwakho. Uma uthola ukuthi indlela owenza ngayo iphuma endleleni yokwenza elungile, ungashintsha indlela othandaza ngayo. Inqobo uma ufuna ngokweqiniso, ulangazelele ukwamukela, lapho-ke uMoya oNgcwele nakanjani uzozibonakalisa kuwena. Kwesinye isikhathi uthandaza ngenhliziyo eqinisekile kodwa ungazizwa sengathi uthintekile. Ezikhathini ezifana nalezo kufanele uncike okholweni lwakho, uthembe ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayibona imithandazo yakho; kufanele ubekezele emithandazweni yakho.

Kufanele uthembeke, futhi uthandaze ukuze uxoshe ububi obusenhliziyweni yakho. Njengoba usebenzisa umthandazo ukuzicwenga nanini na lapho kudingeka, futhi uwusebenzisela ukuba uthintwe uMoya kaNkulunkulu, isimo sakho sizoya ngokuya sishintsha. Impilo yangokomoya yeqiniso yimpilo yokuthandaza, futhi yimpilo ethintwa uMoya oNgcwele. Inqubo yokuthintwa uMoya oNgcwele yinqubo yokushintsha isimo somuntu. Impilo engakathintwa uMoya oNgcwele akuyona impilo yangokoMoya, yimpilo nje yokulandela imikhuba nemidanti yenjwayelo; yilabo abavame ukuthintwa uMoya oNgcwele kuphela, abanokukhanyiseleka nenkazimulo kaMoya oNgcwele, abantu asebengene empilweni yangokomoya. Isimo somuntu silokhu sishintshashintsha ngenkathi ekhuleka, futhi ngale nkathi enyakazizwa uMoya oNgcwele kakhulu, kungale nkathi ekhuthala futhi eba ngolalelayo. Ngakho-ke, futhi, nenhliziyo yakhe izoya ngokuya icwengeka, emva kwalokho nesimo sakhe sizoya ngokuya sishintsha. Unjalo-ke umthelela womkhuleko weqiniso.