"In the parable the petitioner was again and again repulsed, but he did not relinquish his purpose. So our prayers do not always seem to receive an immediate answer; but Christ teaches that we should not cease to pray. Prayer is not to work any change in God; it is to bring us into harmony with God. When we make request of Him, He may see that it is necessary for us to search our hearts and repent of sin. Therefore He takes us through test and trial, He brings us through humiliation, that we may see what hinders the working of His Holy Spirit through us. COL 143.1"
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
The EGW passage explicitly refers to a parable about persistent prayer and connects it to the idea that we should always pray and not give up, which is the central theme of Luke 18:1.
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"
Both passages address the idea that unconfessed sin can hinder prayer. The EGW passage speaks of the need to search our hearts and repent of sin, while Psalm 66:18 states that God will not hear if we regard iniquity in our hearts.
"There are conditions to the fulfillment of God's promises, and prayer can never take the place of duty. “If ye love Me,” Christ says, “keep My commandments.” “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” John 14:15, 21 . Those who bring their petitions to God, claiming His promise while they do not comply with the conditions, insult Jehovah. They bring the name of Christ as their authority for the fulfillment of the promise, but they do not those things that would show faith in Christ and love for Him. COL 143.2"
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
EGW directly quotes John 14:15.
"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
Both passages connect obedience to commandments with receiving from God. EGW expands on the principle found in 1 John 3:22.
"Many are forfeiting the condition of acceptance with the Father. We need to examine closely the deed of trust wherewith we approach God. If we are disobedient, we bring to the Lord a note to be cashed when we have not fulfilled the conditions that would make it payable to us. We present to God His promises, and ask Him to fulfill them, when by so doing He would dishonor His own name. COL 143.3"
"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
Both passages connect obedience to receiving answers to prayer. EGW's passage expands on the principle that obedience is a condition for answered prayer, as stated in 1 John 3:22.
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"
Both passages connect a right relationship with God to answered prayer. EGW's passage expands on the principle that unconfessed sin hinders prayer, as stated in Psalm 66:18.