Chapter 35—Pray Wholeheartedly

BIBLE GEM

“Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will harken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”—Jeremiah 29:12, 13CWG 85.1

QUESTION

What is meant by agonizing in prayer, or praying wholeheartedly?CWG 85.2

ANSWER

The spirit of wrestling prayer: “There is need of prayer,—most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer,—such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: ‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.’ ‘I have longed after Thy precepts.’ ‘I have longed for Thy salvation.’ ‘My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.’ ‘My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments.’ [Psalm 42:1; 119:40, 174; 84:2; 119:20.] This is the spirit of wrestling prayer, such as was possessed by the royal psalmist.”—Testimonies For The Church 4:534CWG 85.3

We must learn to pray with great earnestness: “When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in the very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.’ ”—Christ's Object Lessons, 147CWG 85.4

Learn the trade: “God will be to us everything we will let Him be. Our languid, halfhearted prayers will not bring us returns from heaven. Oh, we need to press our petitions! Ask in faith, wait in faith, receive in faith, rejoice in hope, for everyone that seeketh findeth. Be in earnest in the matter. Seek God with all the heart.... With intense earnestness learn the trade of seeking the rich blessings that God has promised, and with persevering, determined effort you shall have His light and His truth and His rich grace.”—Our High Calling, 131CWG 85.5

How to face temptation and trial: “When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy.”—Early Writings, 46CWG 86.1

How greatest victories are gained: “The greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favor of men. They are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 203CWG 86.2

A “shaking time” reveals the faithful: “I was shown the people of God, and saw them mightily shaken.... Firmness and great earnestness were expressed in their countenances, while large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads.”—Testimonies For The Church 1:179, 180CWG 86.3

“The time of trouble”: “The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger—a faith that will not faint though severely tried.... Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His blessing, will not obtain it.”—The Great Controversy, 621CWG 86.4

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

Do we really know what it means to pray wholeheartedly? As we pray, after a while do our thoughts wander? Or do we discipline ourselves by God's help to concentrate on prayer as if our very lives were at stake?CWG 86.5

Because much more than our mortal life is in the balance, we need a wholehearted commitment to heaven.CWG 86.6

Salvation is freely given and after we are saved Satan's attacks intensify. He sends additional evil angels to harass and tempt us and they put multitudes of opportunities in our way and they will do all they can to entice us and lead us into sin. Temptation is allowed by heaven to test us and to teach us how to overcome the enemy. Casual short prayers will not give us the victory. We need to learn now how to resist temptation and win the battles by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But His help only comes when we are determined, persevering, and we ask in faith. Sometimes our earnestness will be manifested by perspiration and tears in our eyes. The battles that we win now will prepare us for the times ahead when the ultimate tests will come.CWG 86.7

Thank you dear Lord, for we are able by your instant help to win our battles against sin, self and pride, the lust of the flesh and the world and the temptations of Satan.CWG 87.1

Praise God for the victory!CWG 87.2