"Jesus, when preparing for some great trial or some important work, would resort to the solitude of the mountains and spend the night in prayer to His Father. A night of prayer preceded the ordination of the apostles and the Sermon on the Mount, the transfiguration, the agony of the judgment hall and the cross, and the resurrection glory. MH 509.1"
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
EGW refers to Jesus praying all night before important events, which is exemplified by Luke 6:12. The passage amplifies the importance of prayer before significant events.
"Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for His voice. On the night of the agony in Gethsemane, the sleeping disciples heard not the voice of Jesus. They had a dim sense of the angels’ presence, but lost the power and glory of the scene. Because of their drowsiness and stupor they failed of receiving the evidence that would have strengthened their souls for the terrible scenes before them. Thus today the very men who most need divine instruction often fail of receiving it, because they do not place themselves in communion with heaven. MH 509.3"
"And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"
The EGW passage directly references the event in Gethsemane where the disciples were found sleeping, as described in Matthew 26:40. It expands on the consequences of their failure to watch and pray.
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
The EGW passage directly references the event in Gethsemane and the disciples' failure to watch and pray. Matthew 26:41 contains Jesus's direct instruction to 'watch and pray,' which is the core principle EGW is elaborating on.
"The temptations to which we are daily exposed make prayer a necessity. Dangers beset every path. Those who are seeking to rescue others from vice and ruin are especially exposed to temptation. In constant contact with evil, they need a strong hold upon God lest they themselves be corrupted. Short and decisive are the steps that lead men down from high and holy ground to a low level. In a moment decisions may be made that fix one's condition forever. One failure to overcome leaves the soul unguarded. One evil habit, if not firmly resisted, will strengthen into chains of steel, binding the whole man. MH 509.4"
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Both passages emphasize the importance of protection against temptation and evil. Ephesians 6:11 advises putting on the armor of God, while EGW stresses the need for a strong hold on God and resisting evil habits.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
Both passages warn about the dangers of temptation and the need for vigilance against evil. 1 Peter 5:8 uses the metaphor of a roaring lion, while EGW describes the dangers of constant contact with evil and the need for a strong hold on God.