When we go before God in prayer with a cold, dull heart, and in a lifeless
and listless manner pray to him for eternal blessings, and those of infinite
import to our souls, we should think of Christ’s earnest prayers that he
poured out to God, with tears and a bloody sweat. The consideration of it
may well make us ashamed of our dull, lifeless prayers to God, wherein,
indeed, we rather ask a denial than ask to be heard; for the language of
such a manner of praying to God, is, that we do not look upon the benefit
that we pray for as of any great importance, that we are indifferent whether
God answers us or not. The example of Jacob in wrestling with God for
the blessing, should teach us earnestness in our prayers, but more
especially the example of Jesus Christ, who wrestled with God in a bloody
sweat. If we were sensible as Christ was of the great importance of those
benefits that are of eternal consequence, our prayers to God for such
benefits would be after another manner than now they are. Our souls also
would with earnest labor and strife be engaged in this duty.
- Jonathan Edwards
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