Sin has marred the divine image in man. Through Christ this may be restored, but it is only through earnest prayer and the conquest of “self” that we can become partakers of the divine nature (GW 80.1) MC VC

The true toilers in the Lord’s vineyard will be men of prayer, of faith, of self-denial.—men who hold in restraint the natural appetites and passions. These will in their own lives give evidence of the power of the truth which they present to others; and their labors will not be without effect. (GW 80.2) MC VC

The worker for God should be prepared to put forth the highest mental and moral energies with which nature, cultivation, and the grace of God have endowed him; but his success will be proportionate to the degree of consecration and self-sacrifice in which the work is done, rather than to either natural or acquired endowments. The most earnest and continued efforts to acquire qualifications for usefulness are necessary; but unless God works with the human effort, nothing can be accomplished. Christ says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5. Divine grace is the great element of saving power; without it all human efforts are unavailing.—Testimonies for the Church 5:583. (GW 80.3) MC VC