Prayer

hours. His time, His heart, His soul and strength, were given to labor for the benefit of
humanity. Through weary days He toiled, and through long nights He bent in prayer
for grace and endurance that He might do a larger work. With strong crying and tears
He sent His petitions to heaven, that His human nature might be strengthened, that
He might be braced to meet the wily foe in all his deceptive workings, and fortified to
fulfill His missions of uplifting humanity. To His workers He says, “I have given you
an example, that ye should do as I have done.” John 13:15.—(Ministry of Healing,
500.)
Jesus prayed early in the morning.—The early morning often found Him
in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer.
With the voice of singing He welcomed the morning light. With songs of
thanksgiving He cheered His hours and brought heaven’s gladness to the toilworn
and disheartened.—(Counsels on Health, 162.)
Jesus had specific places for prayer.—Have a place for secret prayer. Jesus had
select places for communion with God, and so should we. We need often to retire to
some spot, however humble, where we can be alone with God.—(Thoughts from the
Mount of Blessing, 84.)
Jesus prayed on our account.—Jesus was often weary from incessant toil and
self-denial and self-sacrifice to bless the suffering and needy. He spent whole nights
in prayer upon the lonely mountains, not because of His weakness and His necessities,
but because He saw, He felt, the weakness of your natures to resist the temptations
of the enemy upon the very points where you are now overcome. He knew that you
would be indifferent in regard to your dangers and would not feel your need of prayer.
It was on our account that He poured out His prayers to His Father with strong cries
and tears.—(Testimonies for the Church 3:379.)
175