Christ reveals to angels His coming agony: “He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man.... [He told them] that He would suffer dreadful hours of agony, which even angels could not look upon, but would veil their faces from the sight. Not merely agony of body would He suffer, but mental agony, that with which bodily suffering could in no wise be compared. The weight of the sins of the whole world would be upon Him.”—Early Writings, 149, 150CWG 83.5

Christ's earthly suffering in the wilderness: “When Jesus entered the wilderness, He was shut in by the Father's glory.... But the glory departed, and He was left to battle with temptation. It was pressing upon Him every moment. His human nature shrank from the conflict that awaited Him. For forty days He fasted and prayed. Weak and emaciated from hunger, worn and haggard with mental agony, ‘His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’ ”—The Desire of Ages, 118CWG 83.6

His suffering in Gethsemane: “Behold Him contemplating the price to be paid for the human soul. In His agony He clings to the cold ground, as if to prevent Himself from being drawn farther from God.”—The Desire of Ages, 687CWG 83.7

“Now had come the hour of the power of darkness. Now His voice was heard on the still evening air, not in tones of triumph, but full of human anguish.CWG 84.1

“The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour.... The awful moment had come—that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world.”—The Desire of Ages, 690CWG 84.2

The ultimate of agony at the cross: “But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see the Father's reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt.”—The Desire of Ages, 753CWG 84.3

The Christian is to pray with great earnestness and sincerity: “Be in earnest, be sincere. Fervent prayer availeth much. Jacob-like, wrestle in prayer. Agonize. Jesus, in the garden, sweat great drops of blood; you must make an effort.”—Testimonies For The Church 1:158CWG 84.4

Agonizing without the surrender of self is useless: “There are many souls who wrestle for special victories and special blessings that they may do some great thing. To this end they are always feeling that they must make an agonizing struggle in prayer and tears.... All the agonizing, all the tears and struggles, will not bring them the blessing they long for. Self must be entirely surrendered.”—Testimonies For The Church 9:165CWG 84.5

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

Loving Father, help us to seek to experience heartfelt, intense, to the point, sincere, earnest prayer. Help us to enter into a deep and meaningful ongoing prayer relationship with you for lengthy periods of time in our private prayers at our secret and quiet place of worship. Please give us an inner longing and yearning, a heartfelt sincere desire to want to spend more and more time in the presence of God.CWG 84.6

Thank you for your loving loyal angels who keep away the influences and the presence of evil angels when we pray, we deeply appreciate the battles they fight on our behalf.CWG 84.7

Only as we are willing to surrender all that we are and all that we have and by God's help search our souls to see if there is any wicked way in us, when every obstacle and sin is confessed and forsaken and removed by God, then our prayers will be heard.CWG 84.8

Help us Lord to meditate on the prayer life of Jesus and may He be our example.CWG 84.9

Chapter 33—The Importance of Prayer Meeting

Chapter 35—Pray Wholeheartedly