Apostle Grace Lubega
Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV); And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Oftentimes, people excuse their inability to spend time in the presence of God by claiming that they cannot spare enough time for it. They are very busy, so they claim, as such, to find an hour in their schedules to speak to God would be asking for too much.
For some, their jobs are too demanding, they claim. They are required to be up very early to make it to the office in time and when they return, they are too tired and sleep is their sole focus. How should they be expected to pray when they must dash out of their homes in the morning in order to beat the traffic or return home too exhausted from the day’s activities? Should they be blamed if their days are too hectic for them to even consider praying within the day itself?
Today, I write to that man or woman who thinks that the reason they are not praying is because they do not have time to pray.
The truth is that consistency in prayer is not a question of how much free time a person may or may not have, it is a question of the heart. In our theme scripture, God says that when you seek Him, you must do so with all your heart. A willing heart will always find a way to spend time with God.
Martin Luther, the seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation once said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours[of my day] in prayer.” That was a willing heart. A willing heart will pray through the veils of fatigue at the end of a long day, until the strength to pray more deeply rises in his heart. More importantly, a willing heart is yielded to the Spirit of God to lead him in prayer in any place and at any time.
If you find yourself struggling to find the time to pray, understand that it is not because you are too busy. It is most likely that your heart doesn’t beat after His presence. Instead of asking God to avail you time to pray, ask Him to deal with your heart.
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 18:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17
GOLDEN NUGGET: Consistency in prayer is not a question of how much free time a person may or may not have, it is a question of the heart. A willing heart will always find a way to spend time with God.
PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank You for this word. The Bible says that men ought to always pray and not to faint. It says that I must pray without ceasing. It says that You have given to me the Spirit of prayer and supplication and that my labour in prayer is not by power nor might but by Your Spirit. You cause me to pray and to abide consistently in You. I am without excuse because I have received this understanding. I can never live a prayerless life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
OMUTIMA OGWAGALA
Omutume Grace Lubega
Yeremiya 29:13 (KJV); Era mtulinnoonya ne mundaba, bwe mulinkenneenya n’omutima gwammwe gwonna.
Ebiseera ebisinga, abantu beekwasa obutasobola kumala kadde mu kubeerawo kwa Katonda nga bagamba nti tebasobola kufissa kadde kamala ku lwakyo. Babeera na bingi eby’okukola, bwe bagamba, n’olwekyo, okufuna essaawa emu mu ebyo bye bakola okwogera ne Katonda kijja kubeera nga kitwala kinene gye bali.
Abamu, emirimu gyabwe gibeetaagisa nnyo, bwe bagamba. Kibeetaagisa okuzuukuka nga bukyali nnyo okusobola okutuuka ku ofiisi mu budde era ne bwe bakomawo, babeera bakoowu nnyo era otulo twebaba batunuulidde okusinga. Basuubirwa batya okusaba bwe baba balina okwanguwa okuva ewaka kumakya okusobola okwewala akalippagano k’ebidduka oba okudda ewaka nga bakooye nnyo olw’ebyo bye bakoze mu lunaku? Balina okunenyezebwa bweziba ng’ennaku zaabwe zibakooya nnyo okusobola n’okulowooza ku kusaba mu lunaku lwennyini?
Olwa leero, mpadiikira omusajja oba omukazi oyo alowooza nti ensonga lwaki tasaba eri nti kubanga talina budde busaba.
Amazima gali nti okusaba okwa buli kaseera okwenkalakkalira tekwekuusa ku budde omuntu bw’ayinza okuba nabwo oba bw’ayinza obutaba nabwo, kwekuusa ku mutima. Mu kyawandiikibwa kyaffe ekigguddewo, Katonda ayogera nti Bw’omunoonya, olina okumunoonya n’omutima gwo gwonna. Omutima ogwagala gujja kuzuulanga engeri y’okumala obudde ne Katonda.
Martin Luther, omusajja omukulu ennyo mu bukristaayo lumu yagamba, ” Nnina eby’okukola bingi nnyo nti nja kumala essaawa ssatu ezisooka [ez’olunaku lwange ] mu ssaala.” Ogwo gwali mutima ogwagala. Omutima ogwagala gujja kusaba okuyita mu kukugirwa ky’obukoowu ku nkomerero y’olunaku oluwanvu, okutuusa amaanyi g’okweyongera okusaba e buziba ennyo lwe geyongera mu mutima gwe. Ekisinga obukulu, omutima ogwagala gwewaddeyo eri omwoyo wa Katonda okumukulembera mu kusaba mu kifo kyonna era ne mu kaseera konna.
Bwe weesanga ng’olafuubana okufuna obudde okusaba, tegeera nti tekiri lwakuba olina bingi eby’okukola. Ebiseera ebisinga kiraga nti omutima gwo tegukubira Kubeerawo Kwe. Mu kifo ky’okusaba Katonda okubeera n’akadde okusaba, musabe akwasaganye omutima gwo.
YONGERA OSOME: Lukka 18:1, 1 Abasessoloniika 5:17
AKASUMBI KA ZAABU: Okusaba okwa buli kaseera okwenkalakkalira tekwekuusa ku budde omuntu bw’ayinza okuba nabwo oba bw’ayinza obutaba nabwo, kwekuusa ku mutima. Omutima ogwagala gujja kuzuulanga engeri y’okumala obudde ne Katonda.
ESSAALA: Kitange Omwagalwa, Nkwebaza ku lw’ekigambo kino. Baibuli egamba nti abantu bateekeddwa okusabanga bulijjo obutakoowanga. Egamba nti nnina okusabanga obutayosa. Egamba nti ompadde omwoyo w’okusaba n’okwegayirira era n’ebyo byenkola mu kusaba tebiri ku lw’amaanyi wadde obuyinza wabula lwa Mwoyo Gwo. Ondeetera okusaba era n’okubeera lubeerera mu Ggwe. Sirina kya kwekwasa kubanga nfunye okutegeera kuno. Ssisobola kubeera mu bulamu bw’obutasaba. Mu linnya erya Yesu, Amiina.
OMUTIMA OGWEKUNDEIRE
Entumwa Grace Lubega
Yeremia 29:13 (KJV);Muryansherura, mumbone, ku murinsherura n’omutima gwanyu gwona.
Obwiire obwingi, abantu nibagira ngu obutabaasa kuza omu maisho ga Ruhanga nahabw’okubura obwiire burikumara. Baine byingi by’okukora, ahabw’ekyo, okutuunga eshaaha emwe omu mirimo yaabo kugamba na Ruhanga noba oshabire obwiire bwingi.
Abamwe, nibagira ngu baine byingi by’okukora aha mirimo yaabo. Nebetengyesa kukyeera kare munonga kuhikaho omu bwiire. Kandi kubarikugaruka omuka, baija baruhire bata omutima aha kubyaama. Nibabaasa bata kushaba kandi obwo bashemereire kuruga omuka kare munonga kuraba omu motoka nyingi nari bakagaruka omuka n’oburihe bw’emirimo y’eizooba? Bashemereire kuvunaanwa kandi obwo baine amazooba gagumire bakabura n’okushaba ahagati y’eizooba?
Erizooba nimpandikira omushaija nari omukazi ogwo orikuteekateeka ngu enshonga ahabwenki batarikushaba nahabw’okuba tibaine bwiire bw’okushaba.
Amazima gari ngu okuguma omu kushaba tikibuuzo ky’obwiire obu omuntu aine nari ataine, n’ekibuuzo ky’omutima. Omu mutwe gw’ebyahandiikirwe byaitu, Ruhanga nagira ati ku orikumusherura, oshemereire kukikora n’omutima gwaawe gwoona. Omutima ogwekundeire nigwiija kuguma nigusherura omwanya gw’okuza omu maisho ga Ruhanga.
Martin Luther, omuntu mukuru aha batandikire okugarurwa busya kw’obukristayo omurundi gumwe akagira ati, “Nyine byingi by’okukora, nyine kumara eshaaha ishatu z’okubanza (omu izooba ryaagye) omu kushaba.” Ogwo gukaba guri omutima ogwekundeire. Omutima gwekundeire niguza kushaba omu buruhe bwingi ahamuheru gw’eizooba riraingwa, mpaka amaani g’okushaba munonga gaimukiibwe omu mutima gwaawe. Ekikuru munonga, omutima ogwekundeire nigworobera Omwoyo wa Ruhanga kumwebembera omu kushaba omu mwanya gwoona kandi eshaaha yoona.
Ku orikushanga obuzirwe obwiire bw’okushaba, yetegyereza ngu tihabw’okuba oine byingi by’okukora. Nahabw’okuba omutima gwaawe tigurikuteera ahabw’okuguma omu maisho gye. Embu y’okushaba Ruhanga kukuha obwiire bw’okushaba, mushabe akoragane n’omutima gwaawe.
Hallelujah!
SHOMA NEEBI: Luka 8:1, 1 Abatesalonika 5:17.
EZAABU: Okuguma omu kushaba tikibuuzo ky’obwiire obu omuntu aine nari ataine, n’ekibuuzo ky’omutima. Omu mutwe gw’ebyahandiikirwe byaitu, Ruhanga nagira ati ku orikumusherura, oshemereire kukikora n’omutima gwaawe gwoona. Omutima ogwekundeire nigwiija kuguma nigusherura omwanya gw’okuza omu maisho ga Ruhanga.
OKUSHABA: Taata Omukundwa, Ninkusiima ahabw’amazima aga. Baiburi negira eti abantu bashemereire kushaba obutoosha okutariha. Negira eti nshemereire kushaba obutoosha. Negira eti ompaire Omwoyo w’okushaba n’okweshengyereza kandi okwezirika kwangye omu kushaba tihabw’amaani, kandi tihabw’obushoboorozi, kureka n’ahabw’Omwoyo waawe. Nondetera kushaba n’okuguma omuri iwe obutoosha. Tinyiine rwekwaatsyo ahabw’okuba nyine okwetegyereza oku. Tindikubaasa kugira amagara agataine kushaba. Omu eiziina rya Yesu, Amiina.
OMUTIMA OGUKUGONZA
Omukwenda Grace Lubega
Yeremiya 29:13 (KJV); Nainywe mulinse’ra mulinzora, obumulinse’ra nomutima gwanyu gwona.
Obusumi obukira obwingi, abantu be’kwasa okulemererwa kwabu okumara obwire omu kubaho kwa Ruhanga nibagamba ngu tibakusobora okutungaho obwire obukumara habweki. Bakwatiraine muno, nukwo bagira, batyo, okutunga esaaha omu ntekaniza yabu ey’ebyokukora okubaza na Ruhanga kukuba kubasaba kingi muno.
Hali abandi, emirimo yabu ekubatonga muno, nukwo bagira. Betagisibwa okuzinduka omurukyakya okuba omu nyamirimo ha bwire kandi obubagaruka, baba bajwahire muno nibabya’ma omu kwetaho bonka omutima. Banihirwa bata okusaba kunu baine okudinbuka kuruga omu maka gabu nyenkya kara nukwo basingule okukwatana kwebyendibata rundi obubagaruka omuka bajwahire muno okuruga hali ebyokukora eby’ekiro eki? Bajuna’nwe ebiro byabu obubira’ba nibibaruhya muno bo okuba nibatekereza na hakusaba omu kiro eki kyonyini?
Kiro kinu, nkuhandikira omusaija rundi omukazi ogwo anyakutekereza ngu ensonga habwaki batakusaba eri habwokuba tibaine bwire obw’okusaba.
Amazima gali nti okugumaho omukusaba tikiri kihabuzo ky’obwire bwingi ki oburoho omuntu obwainabwo rundi obwataine, kiri kihabuzo ky’omutima. Omu kyahandikirwe kyaitu ekya hamutwe, Ruhanga agamba ngu obw’omuseera, oine kukora eki n’omutima gwawe gwona. Omutima ogukugonza bukya bukya kuzoora omulingo gwokutwara obwire na Ruhanga.
Martin Luther, ayatwaliriize omu Kutebwaho kw’Abahakaniza akagamba, “Nyina bingi muno ebyokukora ngu nja kumara esaaha isatu ezokubanza [ezekiro kyange] omu kusaba.” Ogu gukaba mutima ogukugonza. Omutima ogukugonza gusaba okuraba omu bisereko by’okuruha hankango y’ekiro ekiraira, okuhika amaani agokusaba muno omunziha obugaimuka omumutima gwe. Ekikira omugaso, omutima ogukugonza gwehaireyo hali Omwoyo wa Ruhanga okumwebembera omu kusaba omu mwanya gwona kandi obwire bwona.
Kuba oyesanga notaba’na nokutunga obwire okusaba, wetegereze ngu tikiri habwokuba okukora muno. Kisobora kuba ngu omutima gwawe tigukute’ra haBwokubaho Kwe. Mukiikaro kyokusaba Ruhanga okukute’raho obwire kusaba, musabe akole ha mutima gwawe.
GALIHYA N’OSOMA: Luka 18:1, 1 Abasesalonika 5:17
EBIKURU OMUBYOONA: Okugumaho omukusaba tikiri kihabuzo ky’obwire bwingi ki oburoho omuntu obwainabwo rundi obwataine, kiri kihabuzo ky’omutima. Omutima ogukugonza bukya bukya kuzoora omulingo gwokutwara obwire na Ruhanga.
ESAARA: Isenyowe Owengonzi, Ninkusiima habw’ekigambo kinu. Baibuli egamba ngu abantu baseme’ra okusaba obutosa kandi obutajwaha. Egamba ngu nyina kusaba obutalekera. Egamba ngu ompaire Omwoyo wokusaba nokwesengereza kandi ngu omulimo gwange omu kusaba tiguli gw’obusobozi rundi amaani baitu habw’Omwoyo Wawe. Ondetereza kusaba kandi n’okuikara obutahinduka hinduka omul’Iwe. Tinyina eky’okwekwasa habwokuba ntungire okwetegereza kunu. Tinsobora kwomeerra obwomezi obutarumu kusaba. Mwiibara lya Yesu, Amiina.
MOYO WA HIARI
Mtume Grace Lubega
Yeremia 29:13 (KJV); Nanyi mtanitafuta na kuniona, mtakaponitafuta kwa moyo wenu wote.
Mara nyingi, watu hutetea kutoweza kwao kutumia muda katika uwepo wa Mungu kwa kudai kwamba hawawezi kutenga muda wa kutosha kwa ajili yake. Wana shughuli nyingi sana, kwa hiyo wanadai, kwa hivyo, kupata saa katika ratiba zao za kuzungumza na Mungu itakuwa ni kuuliza mengi sana.
Kwa wengine, kazi zao zinadai sana, wanadai. Wanatakiwa kuamka mapema sana ili kufika ofisini kwa wakati na wakirudi wanakuwa wamechoka sana na usingizi ndio lengo lao pekee. Je, wanapaswa kutarajiwa kusali jinsi gani wakati lazima watoke nje ya nyumba zao asubuhi ili kuwashinda msongamano wa magari au warudi nyumbani wakiwa wamechoka sana kutokana na shughuli za siku hiyo? Je, wanapaswa kulaumiwa ikiwa siku zao zina shughuli nyingi sana hata kufikiria kusali ndani ya siku yenyewe?
Leo, ninamwandikia huyo mwanamume au mwanamke anayefikiri kwamba sababu ya wao kutoomba ni kwa sababu hawana muda wa kuomba.
Ukweli ni kwamba uthabiti katika maombi si suala la muda, mtu anaweza kuwa nao au asiwe nao, ni suala la moyo. Katika andiko letu la mada, Mungu anasema kwamba unapomtafuta, lazima ufanye hivyo kwa moyo wako wote. Moyo wa hiari daima utapata njia ya kutumia wakati na Mungu.
Martin Luther, mhusika mkuu katika Matengenezo ya Kiprotestanti alisema wakati fulani, “Nina mengi sana ya kufanya hivi kwamba nitatumia saa tatu za kwanza [za siku yangu] katika maombi.” Huo ulikuwa moyo wa kujitolea. Moyo wa hiari utaomba kupitia vifuniko vya uchovu mwishoni mwa siku ndefu, hadi nguvu ya kuomba inapanda zaidi moyoni mwake. Muhimu zaidi, moyo wa hiari hutolewa kwa Roho wa Mungu ili kumwongoza katika maombi mahali popote na wakati wowote.
Ukiona unatatizika kupata muda wa kuomba, elewa kwamba si kwa sababu una shughuli nyingi. Kuna uwezekano mkubwa kwamba moyo wako hautamani uwepo Wake. Badala ya kumwomba Mungu akupe muda wa kuomba, mwombe aushughulikie moyo wako.
MASOMO YA ZIADA: Luka 18:1, 1 Wathesalonike 5:17
UJUMBE MKUU: Uthabiti katika maombi sio suala la muda, mtu anaweza kuwa nao au hawezi kuwa nao, ni swali la moyo. Moyo wa hiari daima utapata njia ya kutumia wakati na Mungu.
SALA: Baba Mwenye Upendo, Nakushukuru kwa neno hili. Biblia inasema inawapasa watu kusali siku zote wala wasikate tamaa. Inasema kwamba lazima niombe bila kukoma. Inasema kwamba umenipa Roho ya maombi na dua na kwamba kazi yangu katika maombi si kwa nguvu wala uwezo bali ni kwa Roho wako. Unanifanya niombe na kukaa ndani Yako mfululizo. Sina udhuru kwa sababu nimepata ufahamu huu. Siwezi kamwe kuishi maisha yasiyo na maombi. Katika jina la Yesu, Amina.