Thoughtful Hour

THOUGHTS
ON
GETHSEMENE
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful
hour each day in contemplation of the life of
Christ. We should take it point by point, and
let the imagination grasp each scene,
especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell
upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence
in Him will be more constant, our love will be
quickened, and we shall be more deeply
imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved
at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence*
and humiliation at the foot of the cross.
{DA 83.4}
The world is our field of
missionary toil, and we are to
go forth to labor surrounded
with the atmosphere* of
Gethsemane and Calvary.

{7T 12.2}
Matthew 26:36
26:36 Then cometh Jesus with
them unto a place called
Gethsemane, and saith unto the
disciples, Sit ye here, while I go
and pray yonder. *
26:37 And he took with him
Peter and the two * sons of
Zebedee, and began to be
* sorrowful and very heavy.
26:38 Then saith he
unto them, My soul is
* exceeding sorrowful,
even unto death:
tarry ye here, *and watch
with me.
26:39 And he went a little*
farther, and fell on his face,*
and prayed, saying, O my
Father, if it be possible,* let
this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but
as thou wilt. *
26:39 And he went a little*
farther, and fell on his face,*
and prayed, saying, O my
Father, if it be possible,* let
this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but
as thou wilt. *
26:40 And he cometh unto the
disciples, and findeth them
asleep, and saith unto Peter,
What, could ye not watch with me
one hour?
26:41 * Watch and pray, that ye
enter not into temptation: the
spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak.
26:42 He went away again the second
time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if
this cup may not pass away from me,
except I drink it, thy will be done.
26:43 And he came and found them
asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
26:44 And he left them, and went away
again, and prayed the third time, saying the
same words.
Penitent
adj 1. feeling regret for one's
sins; repentant
< n 2. a person who is
penitent
> penitence n.
Humility
n the quality of being humble
and modest.
Atmosphere *
n 1. the mass of gases surrounding the
earth or any other heavenly body
2. the air in a particular place
3. a *pervasive feeling or mood;
Example: the atmosphere was tense
4. a unit of pressure equal to the
normal pressure of the air at sea level
> atmospheric adj
> atmospherically adv.
Pervade *
vb (-vading, -vaded) to
spread through or throughout
(something)
> pervasion n
> pervasive adj.
Sit ye here, while I
go and pray yonder.
Luke 22:41
And he was withdrawn from
them about a stone's cast,
and kneeled down, and
prayed,
At the thought of the grievous character
of the guilt of the world, Christ felt
that He must go apart, and be
alone
He could not bear that even His
disciples should witness His agony as
He contemplated the woe of the world.
Even His most dearly loved friends
must not be in His companionship.
{5BC 1102.8}*
Who does similar in sending their
family away before going to pray?
Genesis 32:23-24
32:23 And he took them,
and sent them over the brook,
and sent over that he had.

32:24 And Jacob was left
alone; and there wrestled a
man with him until the
breaking of the day.
Jacobs Trouble.
Sit ye here, while I
go and pray yonder.
HE TOOK THREE
*
Sons of Zebedee
Matthew 4:21
Mark 14:33
Matthew 4:21
And going on from thence, he saw other two
brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John
his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father,
mending their nets; and he called them.
Luke 14:33
And he taketh with him Peter and James and
John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be
very heavy;
Near the entrance to the garden, Jesus left all
but three of the disciples, bidding them pray
for themselves and for Him. With Peter,
James, and John, He entered its secluded
recesses. These three disciples were
Christ's closest companions. They had
beheld His glory on the mount of
transfiguration; they had seen Moses and
Elijah talking with Him; they had heard the
voice from heaven; now in His great struggle,
Christ desired their presence near Him... {DA
686.1}
Jesus had twelve disciples
when He took three of them at
various times were the others
offended?

What about Uus?
If not used for a Position, Job.
Jesus had twelve disciples how
is it that three of them were
the Closest Companions, does
Jesus have favourites?
How do we become the Closest
Companions?
The depth and fervor of John's affection for
his Master was not the cause of Christ's love
for him, but the effect of that love. John
desired to become like Jesus, and under the
transforming influence of the love of Christ,
he became meek and lowly of heart. Self was
hid in Jesus. He was closely united to the
Living Vine, and thus became a partaker of
the divine nature. Such will ever be the result
of communion with Christ. This is true
sanctification. {SL 54.2}
There may be marked defects in the
character of an individual, yet when he
becomes a true disciple of Jesus, the power
of divine grace makes him a new creature.
Christ's love transforms, sanctifies him. But
when persons profess to be Christians, and
their religion does not make them better
men and better women in all the relations of
life--living representatives of Christ in
disposition and character--they are none of
His. {SL 55.1}
The Saviour's affection for the beloved disciple was
returned with all the strength of ardent devotion. John
clung to Christ as the vine clings to the stately pillar. For
his Master's sake he braved the dangers of the judgment
hall and lingered about the cross; and at the tidings that
Christ had risen, he hastened to the sepulcher, in his zeal
outstripping even the impetuous Peter. {SL 53.2}
John's love for his Master was not a mere human
friendship, but it was the love of a repentant sinner, who
felt that he had been redeemed by the precious blood of
Christ. He esteemed it the highest honor to work and
suffer in the service of his Lord. His love for Jesus led
him to love all for whom Christ died. His religion was of
a practical character.
He seems to have enjoyed, in a pre-eminent
sense, the friendship of Christ, and he
received many tokens of the Saviour's
confidence and love. He was one of the
three permitted to witness Christ's glory
upon the mount of transfiguration and His
agony in Gethsemane; and to the care of
John our Lord confided His mother in those
last hours of anguish upon the cross.
{SL 53.1}
Wilt thou be made whole balanced and squared
144
*
When the books of Daniel and Revelation
are better understood, believers will have an
entirely different religious experience. They
will be given such glimpses of the open gates
of heaven that heart and mind will be
impressed with the character that all must
develop in order to realize the blessedness
which is to be the reward of the pure in
heart. The Lord will bless all who will seek
humbly and meekly to understand that
which is revealed in the Revelation.
{FLB 345.3}
This book contains so much that is large
with immortality and full of glory that
all who read and search it earnestly
receive the blessing to those "that hear
the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein."
One thing will certainly be understood
from the study of Revelation--that the
connection between God and His people
is close and *decided.
{FLB 345.3}
HE TOOK THREE
*
Decided
adj 1. definite or noticeable;
Example: a decided improvement
2. strong and definite; Example: he
has decided views on the matter
> decidedly adv. *
Sorrowful and very
Heavy.
*
What was the limit His sorrow
arrived at?
His sorrow was full.
As they approached the garden, the
disciples had marked the change
that came over their Master.
Never before had they seen Him so
utterly sad and silent.
As He proceeded, this strange
sadness deepened; yet they dared
not question Him as to the cause.
{DA 685.3}
His disciples had never before
heard Him utter such mournful
tones. His frame was convulsed
with anguish, and His pale
countenance expressed a
sorrow past all description.
{PrT, August 11, 1892 par. 3}
Sorrowful and very
Heavy.
*
Sorrow Full And
now Exceeding.
*
Exceed
vb 1. to be greater in degree or quantity
2. to go beyond the limit of (a restriction).

Sorrow
n 1. deep sadness or regret, associated with
death or sympathy for another's misfortune
2. a particular cause of this
< vb 3. (Literary) to feel deep sadness about
(death or another's misfortunes); mourn
sorrowful adj > sorrowfully
*
26:38 Then saith he
unto them, My soul is
exceeding sorrowful. . .
His sorrow was full, and
now going passed it.

As His sorrow was
exceeding its fullness,
where was it going to?
It was soul anguish that wrung from the lips of God's
dear Son this cry of woe: "My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death."He was overwhelmed with
horror at the fearful work that sin had wrought.
His burden of guilt, because of man's transgression of
the Father's law, was so great that human nature was
inadequate to bear it.
The sufferings of martyrs can bear no comparison with
the agony of Christ.
The divine presence was with them in their sufferings;
but the Father's face was hidden from his dear Son. It
was this that brought from the trembling lips of Christ
the words, "Now is my soul troubled."
{BEcho, August 1, 1892 par. 14}
Now He was numbered with the transgressors.
The guilt of fallen humanity He must bear.
Upon Him who knew no sin must be laid the
iniquity of us all.
So dreadful does sin appear to Him, so great is
the weight of guilt which He must bear, that
He is tempted to fear it will shut Him out
forever from His Father's love. Feeling how
terrible is the wrath of God against
transgression, He exclaims, "My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death."
{DA 685.2}
The sins of men weighed
heavily upon Christ, and the
sense of God's wrath
against sin was crushing out
His life.
{DA 687.1}
Sense of God's wrath
against sin.
(Senses are both physical and
spiritual)
I f we have benumbed senses we will
not discern how terrible sin is,
Hebrews 5:14
Thus we wouldnt have the desire to
rid our souls of its darkness
(Like Christ we should also care if
we are being separated from God)
Sorrow Full And
now Exceeding.
*
I Need The Prayers
of Those I Love.
*
SOS
505
SOS
505
Stay where you are and watch with me
He felt that by sin He was being
separated from His Father. The gulf
was so broad, so black, so deep, that
His spirit shuddered before it. This
agony He must not exert His divine
power to escape. As man He must
suffer the consequences of man's sin.
As man He must endure the wrath of
God against transgression.
{DA 686.3}
Christ was now standing in a different attitude
from that in which He had ever stood before.
His suffering can best be described in the
words of the prophet, "Awake, O sword,
against My shepherd, and against the man that
is My fellow, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech.
13:7. As the substitute and surety for sinful
man, Christ was suffering under divine justice.
He saw what justice meant. Hitherto He had
been as an intercessor for others; now He
longed to have an intercessor for Himself.
{DA 686.4}
As Christ felt His unity with
the Father broken up, He
feared that in His human
nature He would be unable to
endure the coming conflict
with the powers of darkness.
{DA 686.4}
Like Standing without an
intercessor.
When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants
of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the
sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which
has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire
control of the finally impenitent. God's long-suffering has
ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love,
and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the
boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently
resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine
grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will
then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final
trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce
winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let
loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible
than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. {GC 614.1}
But so long as Jesus remains man's intercessor in the sanctuary
above, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers
and people. It still controls to some extent the laws of the land.
Were it not for these laws, the condition of the world would be
much worse than it now is. While many of our rulers are active
agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the leading men of
the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose
measures that would greatly impede the work of God; but
statesmen who fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to
oppose such propositions with unanswerable arguments.
Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful current of evil. The
opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third
angel's message may do its work. When the final warning shall be
given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through
whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it,
and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble.
{GC 610.3}
Times to not forget how we were lead in past prepare us.

As though the Father is not there.

Abrahams time to sacrifice his son.
"These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth."
These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living,
are counted as "the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation
15:2, 3; 14:1-5. "These are they which came out of great tribulation;"
they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since
there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of
Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the
final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for
they have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb." {GC 648.3}
"In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault" before
God. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day
and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them." They have seen the earth wasted with famine and
pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and
they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But "they
shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation
7:14-17. {GC 648.3}
In all ages the Saviour's chosen have been educated and
disciplined in the school of trial. They walked in narrow
paths on earth; they were purified in the furnace of
affliction. For Jesus' sake they endured opposition, hatred,
calumny. They followed Him through conflicts sore; they
endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments.
By their own painful experience they learned the evil of sin,
its power, its guilt, its woe; and they look upon it with
abhorrence. A sense of the infinite sacrifice made for its cure
humbles them in their own sight and fills their hearts with
gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen
cannot appreciate. They love much because they have been
forgiven much. Having been partakers of Christ's sufferings,
they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory.
{GC 649.1}
Like Standing without an
intercessor.
Satan presses his temptations.
Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For
this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ's
ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here,
his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would
finally become Christ's; he himself would be overthrown and
cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would
become Satan's kingdom, and the human race would be
forever in his power.
With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ's soul was
filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that
if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation
would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan's
kingdom, and would nevermore be one with God. {DA 686.5}
And what was to be gained by this sacrifice? How hopeless
appeared the guilt and ingratitude of men! {DA 687.1}
And what was to be gained by this sacrifice? How hopeless appeared
the guilt and ingratitude of men! In its hardest features Satan pressed
the situation upon the Redeemer: The people who claim to be above all
others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected You. They
are seeking to destroy You, the foundation, the center and seal of the
promises made to them as a peculiar people. One of Your own
disciples, who has listened to Your instruction, and has been among
the foremost in church activities, will betray You. One of Your most
zealous followers will deny You. All will forsake You.
Christ's whole being abhorred the thought. That those whom He had
undertaken to save, those whom He loved so much, should unite in the
plots of Satan, this pierced His soul. The conflict was terrible. Its
measure was the guilt of His nation, of His accusers and betrayer, the
guilt of a world lying in wickedness. The sins of men weighed heavily
upon Christ, and the sense of God's wrath against sin was crushing out
His life. {DA 687.1}
Behold Him contemplating the price to be paid for the human soul.
At the thought of the grievous character of the guilt of the world,
Christ felt that He must go apart, and be alone. The hosts of
darkness were there to make sin appear as extensive, deep, and
horrible as possible. In his hatred of God, in falsifying His character,
in manifesting irreverence, contempt, and hatred toward the laws of
His government, Satan had made iniquity reach unto the heavens, and
it was his purpose to swell iniquity to such great proportions, that
atonement should seem impossible; so that the Son of God, who
sought to save a lost world, should be crushed beneath the curse of sin.
{BTS, September 1, 1915 par. 3}
The working of the vigilant foe in presenting to Christ the vast
proportions of transgression, caused such poignant pain, that He felt
that He could not remain in the immediate presence of any human
being.
He could not bear that even His disciples should witness His agony
as He contemplated the woe of the world. Even His most dearly loved
friends must not be in His companionship.
Tarry where you are and watch with
me
Jesus felt that He must be still more alone, and
He said to the favoured three, "My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye
here, and watch with Me.
{PrT, August 11, 1892 par. 3}

. . .He desired them to spend the night with
Him in prayer. Yet He could not bear that even
they should witness the agony He was to
endure. {DA 686.1}
"Tarry ye here," He said, "and watch with
Me." {DA 686.2}
Christ didnt want to destroy their
faith knowing that they have never
seen Him in such anguish, generally
they all look to Him for strength, but
they had seen enough to know that
He needed their prayers. Similar to
the scenes with J acob (Gen 32:23-24)
Sda hymnal 505
SOS
505
SOS
505
I Need The Prayers
of Those I Love.
*
He went a little
farther.
*
He went a little distance
from them--not so far but
that they could both see
and hear Him--and fell
prostrate upon the ground.
{DA 686.3}
He went a little
farther.
*
He went a little
farther,
And fell on His
face.
*
Genesis 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and
God talked with him, saying,

Joshua 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua
was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and
looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against
him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua
went unto him, and said unto him, [Art] thou for
us, or for our adversaries?
5:14 And he said, Nay; but [as] captain of the
host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell
on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said
unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in
a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who
seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him,
saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me
clean.

Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that
he was healed, turned back, and with a loud
voice glorified God,
17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet,
giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
13 (1 Kings 8:54). Kneel for Prayer in Public
Worship.--I have received letters questioning
me in regard to the proper attitude to be taken
by a person offering prayer to the Sovereign of
the universe. Where have our brethren
obtained the idea that they should stand upon
their feet when praying to God? . . . {3BC
1130.9}
[Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; Acts7:59, 60;
Acts20:36; Acts 21:5; Ezra 9:5, 6; Ps. 95:6;
Eph. 3:14 quoted.]. . . {3BC 1130.10}
Both in public and private worship it is
our duty to bow down upon our knees
before God when we offer our petitions to
Him.
This act shows our dependence upon
God. . . . {3BC 1130.11}

Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and
bow down: let us kneel before the LORD
our maker.
Teaching reverence, or irreverence by example
[2 Chron. 6:1-13 quoted.]. . . {3BC 1130.12}
Is it possible that with all the light that God has given to His
people on the subject of reverence, that ministers, principals, and
teachers in our schools, by precept and example teach young men
to stand erect in devotion as did the Pharisees? Shall we look upon
this as significant of their self-sufficiency and self-importance?
Are these traits to become conspicuous? . . . {3BC 1130.13}
We hope that our brethren will not manifest less reverence and
awe as they approach the only true and living God than the heathen
manifest for their idol deities, or these people will be our judges in
the day of final decision. I would speak to all who occupy the place
of teachers in our schools. Men and women, do not dishonor God
by your irreverence and pomposity. Do not stand up in your
Phariseeism and offer your prayers to God.
Mistrust your own strength. Depend not in it; but often bow down
on your knees before God, and worship Him. {3BC 1130.14}
The humble position of a petitioner
And when you assemble to worship God, be sure and bow your knees
before Him.
Let this act testify that the whole soul, body, and spirit are in subjection
to the Spirit of truth. Who have searched the Word closely for examples
and direction in this respect? . . . {3BC 1130.15}
Man must come on bended knee, as a subject of grace, a suppliant at the
footstool of mercy. And as he receives daily mercies at the hand of God, he
is ever to cherish gratitude in his heart, and give expression to it in the words
of thanksgiving and praise for these unmerited favors (NL 37, pp. 1-3).
{3BC 1131.1}
The prayer offered by Solomon during the dedication of the temple, was
not made while he stood upon his feet. The king knelt in the humble
position of a petitioner. {3BC 1131.2}
Herein is a lesson for God's people today. Our spiritual strength and our
influence are not increased by conformity to a worldly attitude during
prayer. . . . Let man come on bended knee, as a subject of grace, a suppliant
at the footstool of mercy. Thus he is to testify that the whole soul, body, and
spirit are in subjection to his Creator (RH Nov. 30, 1905). {3BC 1131.3}
He went a little
farther,
And fell on His
face.
*
IF POSSIBLE,
LET THIS CUP
PASS:
*
It was separation from the
Father's love that forced from
his pale, quivering lips the cry,
"Father, if it be possible, let
this cup pass from me." {ST,
November 21, 1892 par. 7}
Sin caused this separation
He was bowed to the earth with mental anguish, and
in an agony he prayed to his Heavenly Father. He felt
the iniquity of sin, and the wrath of God against the
violators of his holy law. {ST, August 14, 1879 par. 1}
Christ was amazed with the horror of darkness
which enclosed him. The temptations of Satan were
almost overpowering. These words, "O my Father, if it
be possible, let this cup pass from me," were borne
upon the sympathizing air, to his disciples, in tones of
startling agony. The sins of a lost world were upon
him, and a sense of his Father's anger in consequence
of sin was crushing him. {ST, August 14, 1879}
I saiah 59:1-2
Gods love is consuming toward sin
(Deut 4:24 & Deut 9:3, Heb 12:29)
(As like antiseptic toward germs).

To allow sin to continue would be the
opposite of love.
Removing sin is love. Freedom
from pain etc
The history of the great conflict
between good and evil, from the time
it first began in heaven to the final
overthrow of rebellion and the total
eradication of sin, is also a
demonstration of God's unchanging
love. {PP 33.3}
We need to have the same perfect
hatred toward sin, (Psalm
139:21-22), or we will face the
just requirement of our own
sins, the wrath of God - The
wrath of God is felt as the
Father turns His face from us,
how terrible!
It was not a dread of the physical suffering he was soon
to endure that brought this agony upon the Son of God.
He was enduring the
penalty of man's transgression, and shuddering
beneath the Father's frown.
He must not call his divinity to his aid, but, as a man, he
must bear the consequences of man's sin and the
Creator's displeasure toward his disobedient subjects. As
he felt his unity with the Father broken up, he feared
that his human nature would be unable to endure the
coming conflict with the prince of the power of
darkness; and in that case the human race would be
irrecoverably lost, Satan would be victor, and the earth
would be his kingdom. {3SP 95-96}
What was this cup?
The bitter cup of separation from God
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ
prayed to His Father, saying, "O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me" (Matt. 26:39).
The cup which He prayed should be
removed from Him, that looked so bitter
to His soul, was the cup of separation
from God in consequence of the sin of
the world. . . . {HP 89.4}
Martyrs or any child of God has never been
left or forsaken
The sufferings of martyrs can bear no
comparison with the agony of Christ. The
divine presence was with them in their
sufferings; but the Father's face was hidden
from his dear Son. It was this that brought
from the trembling lips of Christ the words,
"Now is my soul troubled." "O my Father, if it
be possible, let this cup pass from me; . . .
{BEcho, August 1, 1892 par. 14}
Salvation by no other way
In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered
in man's stead, and the human nature of the
Son of God staggered under the terrible horror
of the guilt of sin, until from His pale and
quivering lips was forced the agonizing cry, "O
my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me:" but if there is no other way by
which the salvation of fallen man may be
accomplished, then "not as I will, but as thou
wilt." (Matt. 26:39). {TMK 64.2} {5BC 1103.1}
Satans plan and temptations was for Christ to quit.
But as we know from the foundation of world J esus
made the decision to give all for humankind, so now
when the time came to complete that mission he was
not seeking to go back to heaven and quit, although
this could of happened, He was seeking the possibility
of saving man without the separation between Him the
Father.
IF POSSIBLE,
LET THIS CUP
PASS:
*
NEVERTHLESS NOT AS I
WILL
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"Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou
wilt" (Matt. 26:39).
The spirit of submission that Christ manifested
in offering up His prayer before God is the
spirit that is acceptable to God. Let the soul feel
its need, its helplessness, its nothingness; let all
its energies be called forth in an earnest desire
for help, and help will come. . . . Let faith pierce
the darkness. Walk with God in the dark as well
as in the light, repeating the words, "He is
faithful that promised" (Heb. 10:23). Through
the trial of our faith we shall be trained to trust
in God. {HP 89.4}
Speak words of submission
While presenting our petitions with earnestness, we should say,
"Nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done." [LUKE 22:42.]
Jesus added these words of submission to the wisdom and will of
God And if they were appropriate for Him, the Son of God, how
much more are they becoming on the lips of finite, erring mortals!
{MH 230.1} {GW 218.1}
" Then with entire submission to His Father's will, He adds:
"Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." {2T 206.1}
The sign of true conversion
Our own way must be overcome. Pride, self-
sufficiency, must be crucified and the vacuum
supplied with the Spirit and power of God. . . .
Did Jesus Christ, the Majesty of heaven, have
His way? Behold Him in travail of soul in
Gethsemane, praying to His Father.
.."Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done"
(Luke 22:42). This must be our attitude--Not my
will, but Thine, O God, be done.
This is true conversion. {HP 147.4}
{true conversion also mentioned in,> ST, November 21, 1892 par.
7}
Converted prayer to a God who knows the beginning from
the end
In prayer for the sick it should be remembered that
"we know not what we should pray for as we ought."
Romans 8:26. We do not know whether the blessing we
desire will be best or not. Therefore our prayers should
include this thought: "Lord, thou knowest every secret
of the soul. Thou art acquainted with these persons.
Jesus, their Advocate, gave His life for them. His love for
them is greater than ours can possibly be. If, therefore, it
is for Thy glory and the good of the afflicted ones, we
ask, in the name of Jesus, that they may be restored to
health. If it be not Thy will that they may be restored, we
ask that Thy grace may comfort and Thy presence
sustain them in their sufferings." {MH 229.2
God knows the end from the beginning.
He is acquainted with the hearts of all men.
He reads every secret of the soul. He knows
whether those for whom prayer is offered
would or would not be able to endure the
trials that would come upon them should
they live. He knows whether their lives would
be a blessing or a curse to themselves and to
the world. This is one reason why, while
presenting our petitions with earnestness, we
should say, "Nevertheless not my will, but
Thine, be done." {MH 230.1}
Ezekiel 37 thou knowest
Daniel 9 to us confusion of face
Watch or sleep
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