If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psa 66:18
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​The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Pro 15:29
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​He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer
shall be abomination. 
Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things
​in possession. Pro 28:9-10

Throughout my years of walking with the Lord, I've heard people say "God never answers my prayers", or "Why pray to a God who does not exist." In both cases they have sealed their state with God. We will receive exactly what He says we will, by our own words.

Satanists and witches turn to Satan to get their supernatural power, and answers to their "prayers", and incantations-the devil is delighted to give them money, power, and the respect of the world, as long as they are of some use to him. But, at some point the time comes when they are marked off-and the devil sees to it that they are eliminated, one way or another.

He treats people of the world the same way. He's very generous to those who worship idols, false gods, and demons, and will lavish them with riches and fame, to keep them blind and stupid. But, the results are the same, the day comes when they face their death, and they find they've been worshipping the wrong "god", and end up in hell. I almost came to this fate, but, God had other plans.

The day I was saved on a cold day in March of 1978, the Lord Jesus Christ manifested Himself to me alone in my house right after I finished reading a paperback book that went into detail of why Jesus had to go to the cross to save mankind. It described it clearly, and in such detail that I had no excuse for not understanding; and knew I was at a place, that I had to finally make up my mind whether I would surrender to Him as Lord, or reject Him totally. I knew in my soul, that I was at this place. Then, while I was pondering this in my heart, a Presence filled my house, and remained-I knew it was Jesus Himself. I heard this deep in my spirit "Lorna, will you now come home, and turn to Me." My answer was simple "Lord, I've done so many things in my life, that I know are wrong. But, if You will forgive me, and come into my heart, please help me to live for You. " He answered that prayer, and came in. From that moment, I've seen one prayer after another answered over the years-He's proven He is real, and He is God, over and over again to me. No one can ever convince me of anything else.

When I was living in sin, there were a few times I prayed a prayer, but did not expect God to answer me, because I knew I was living wrong, and knew God was holy. When hardships and problems overwhelmed me, I didn't accuse God, I knew my situation was the result of my own choices. Even in sin, I recognized I was to blame for my own hardships. 

But, it's impossible to force anyone to believe in Christ, it is an individual choice; and He will not change His word for anyone. Those who mock, and refuse to believe, He lets them have what they choose. If they remain the same to the end of their life-they reap what they have sown, and join the devil and the demons in hell. God doesn't send them there, they've chosen it themselves.

Sadly, another aspect of this is, that many churches preach and teach on the power of prayer, but avoid these verses, because they don't believe they pertain to believer's also. They live under the illusion of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes as "cheap grace", that people can keep going on in a secret sin, or what they term a "small, insignificant" sin, and still be under the blessings of God, and expect their prayers to be answered-I believe these are also some who do get answers, but from the devil, not God.

I've known of many who called themselves Christians, who were living in open sin, and still expecting the Lord to hear them, and excuse them.

My experiences have been, when I kept going in a known sin, the Holy Spirit will keep convicting me, and letting me know I'm in disobedience, and need to repent, and turn around and change my course, or He would begin to shut down His blessings to me. I've learned these lessons from experience. He doesn't abandon us, or reject us, He keeps convicting and warning us, to stop the sin we're involved in, and get back in right standing with Him, so our prayers are answered. Jesus teaches this in the gospels consistently. 
​
​Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 
Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 
Joh 14:21  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. 
​Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

When these conditions are met, Jesus tells us:
Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

But, when rebellion, and disobedience rules a person, they are met with the unyielding truth of the word of God-and silence from Him.

​Below are some commentary devotionals that bring more clarity to this subject:

There is a great deal of praying that is merely a form, and of the lips only. And a great deal that is “abomination to the Lord,” because the heart is not right. God will not hear prayer that does not fulfil the conditions of prayer. They are--
I. Obedience. So long as I knowingly refuse obedience, no amount or vehemence of prayer will avail. I must lift up “clean” hands, or He will turn away in righteous anger.
II. Wholeheartedness. They that seek Him with “the whole heart “ will find Him. None other. God is a jealous God. Therefore half-heartedness will find no favor with Him. How often does God find it necessary to try His people and keep them waiting, till their hearts wax warm and in dead earnest, and their whole being goes out to Him in prayer.
III. A cleansed heart. See the text. An evil heart—of unbelief, of cherished sin, of impure desire, of malice, envy, worldliness—may spoil all our prayers and make them a very snare and a cursing. Oh, it is a fearful thing to come before God in prayer. By our very prayers we shall be judged, both now and at the day of judgment. What wonder, then, that so many prayers are unanswered? (J. M. Sherwood, D. D.)

Charles Haddon Spurgeon-Treasury of David
If I Regard Iniquity in My Heart

If, having seen it to be there, I continue to gaze upon it without aversion; if I cherish it, have a side glance of love towards it, excuse it, and palliate it; “The Lord will not hear me.” How can he? Can I desire him to connive at my sin, and accept me while I wilfully, cling to any evil way? Nothing hinders prayer like iniquity harbored in the breast; as with Cain, so with us, sin lieth at the door, and blocks the passage. If thou listen to the devil, God will not listen to thee. If thou refusest to hear God's commands, he will surely refuse to hear thy prayers. An imperfect petition God will hear for Christ's sake, but not one which is wilfully mis-written by a traitor's hand. For God to accept our devotions, while we are delighting in sin, would be to make himself the God of hypocrites, which is a fitter name for Satan than for the Holy One of Israel.

​Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psa 55:22
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​​Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 
​Mat 6:25-26

"We have a strong tendency to strive to bear our own burden “even when we are almost sinking beneath it. In itself this tendency is good. It is the principle of self-reliance leading us to attempt self-help. But this tendency has become corrupted by association with pride and a false independence. Hence, when man is being crushed by it, in imagined self-sufficiency, he refuses to take his burden to the Lord. Spiritual weakness is ever boastful, while spiritual strength is ever humble. We mistake weakness for strength when we refuse to cast our burden upon the Lord. There are some who do not take their burden to the Lord because their ideas of Him are false, arising from a heart alienated from Him. They say—“God does not care for man; we may suffer, we may perish; but He does not care. He is indifferent, even if He be not cruel to us.” Estrangement from God explains this. David exhorts his soul to cast its burden upon the Lord. “The strong part of the soul speaks to the weak.” Or he speaks as one of the suffering righteous, and in their name. So let the troubled children of God do now. But how can we cast our burden upon the Lord? By believing prayer. Lay all at the foot of God’s throne: tell Him all your troubles. You know how the heart is relieved by unfolding its burdens to a dear friend. We can tell all to God—nothing is too secret, nothing too sacred."
(Excerpt from Preacher's Homiletical)
​​Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 
​
"The friendship of Christ is one which never neglects this essential duty. Many of the deepest and most sorrowful mysteries of your life may some day be explained by a single word—the faithfulness of Christ.

​His friendship is marked by its constancy. Few friendships have sufficient vitality in them to extend from youth to old age. Many friendships are but summer friendships. The friendship of Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. He does not break off from us because we are not all we should be to Him. There is a limit to all our earthly friendships, a limit to their power, a limit to their help. If we need friendship on this side of the grave, how much more shall we need it on the other side. So we say, “Seek not friends that die, or whom you must leave, but seek for One who never dies, and whom you can never leave.” (Enoch Mellor, D. D.)

In Mat_6:25-26 we have an argument against giving place to the cares of this world, on the ground that they are unworthy of an immortal being like man; and also an illustration pointedly leading to the exercise of faith.
​
I. The question before the Lord was not whether we should be as idle as the birds, but only whether we should, like them, cast off care and trust our heavenly Father. Toil is man’s lot. He must sow and reap. We cannot expect the daily manna unless we go and gather it. The argument is not against labor, but against worldly care; and this is the purport of it: God cares for the little birds; He provides their food in due season; and they, instead of burdensome anxiety, in their unconscious gratitude are ever hymning His praise. Now this God is your Father; you are the children of the Highest; and if He provides for the very birds, how much more will a Father’s love and watchfulness care for each of you. Only trust Him, therefore, and all shall be well.

II. The Lord exhorts us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is the pith and kernel of the whole matter. What He means is, that they are not to set their hearts on the kingdom, the possessions, of this world—its riches and honors, and pampering indulgences and vain displays; neither are they to vex their hearts with cares concerning these, as the Gentiles do, sinking thereby into a like degradation with them, but they are to make it their foremost object to obtain spiritual treasures—meekness, temperance, patience, faith, love, and all things just and true and honest and pure and lovely, which are the true riches and real honors of man, the only dignities acknowledged in the kingdom of God. Now the way to obtain these is through faith in God and His Christ. Their great effort, therefore, should be to believe that God reigns, and to trust Him with a most loyal and unswerving devotion. This is obviously what is here meant by seeking the kingdom of God. The righteousness of God here meant is the righteousness of His government—His all-holy and wise administration, which we are to cherish with a steadfast faith.  (W. C. Smith, The Sermon on the Mount, p. 239)

​The Bible teaches us, and the instinct of self-preservation binds us, and self-respect constrains us to the wisdom of foresight. We are made to look forward. We are naturally anticipative. But Jesus Christ speaks of a very common evil—an undue anxiety and care.

To be careful is good, but to be full of care is ruinous. “Take no excessive or harassing thought for the morrow,” because:
1. It is injurious to yourselves.—It makes you unhappy; it confuses your mind; it clouds your perceptions; it ages you; it breaks you down; it is inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity.
2. It incapacitates you for life’s success.—Success in life depends upon the wholesome restfulness of the mind.
3. It is a sin against God.—It is a sign of distrust; it ignores His fatherly care; and it gives the lie to His precious promises.

The divine command enforced.—“But seek ye first the kingdom of God”. This is the positive side of duty. We are taught--
1. That “seeking the kingdom” must be our chief concern.
2. That this search shall be rewarded.—“All these things shall be added unto you.” “Providence will be your mighty partner and helper in the business.” “Other things being equal,” says Livermore, “the good man prospers better in worldly affairs than the bad man.
​3. All vices are expensive and losing, as all the virtues are gainful and thrifty.” “Godliness is profitable unto all things”. (J. Harries)

Corresponding verses:
​Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Reflecting on Our Lives-and Allowing The Lord to Correct Us:
Learning and applying these verses to our daily lives is very important, because ongoing anxiety and care over life's problems is one of the most used tools of the devil to keep people from finding a meaningful relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Many times, God is blamed for our problems, when the truth is, the reason we don't see answers to our prayers is our own conduct:

1. Unconfessed sin in our own lives. This is the greatest reason people do not see answers to their prayers. Going to the Lord and asking Him to reveal anything we may need to repent of and confess before Him first, is the first thing I do, before praying for anything or anyone else.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive them, and forget them. This is important to learn, because there's times when people won't. We learn as time goes on, to realize that the forgiveness and righteousness we now walk in, won't be accepted by other's sometimes. It's not easy to deal with, but, we have to learn to accept this, and keep walking with the Lord, and leave them to themselves.
2. Intentionally mistreating someone else, and allowing unconfessed sin to rule over us. Everyone sins, and daily. But, God's word doesn't change. If we intentionally mistreat and abuse someone else, it is sin and hinders our prayer life. Yes, exposing the sins and wrongs in other's may have to be done, but only if these people have proven to be unrepentant, and continuing in wickedness. This takes wisdom, and seeking the Lord's guidance in every particular situation.
3. Ongoing patterns of wickedness, and being a troublemaker, and gossip. People who live consistently like this, will not see any answers to prayer, and even if they receive an answer-it can well be given by Satan. Yes, Satan can give you what you want, for a season, until he is finished using you, then whatever he's given you, won't be worth the troubles he will bring on you. He never gives away anything for free.
​4. The bible never teaches that just because we are walking correctly with the Lord, we won't have persecution, and battles to face in life. The lives of the disciples and the apostles proves this point. But, throughout the storms we may face-like Paul, Jesus came several times to him, and gave a word of encouragement. He will do the same for those of us who keep going on in faith, and won't give up. We know who we believe in, and we know where our eternal home is, where Jesus told us. He's gone to prepare for us a home in heaven, that where He is, we will be also. We can be assured of His words-He is not a God that lies.

Along with this, we will know a solid, enduring peace in our hearts, and lives, in spite of anything Satan may come at us with. We will be given the strength, and ability to weather the assaults, and will know His consistent presence in our lives. When we need to have an answer to a prayer, and know the importance of it, we can depend on the Lord, to provide in the time of need. 

Jesus has proven this to me in the years I've walked with Him, over and over again. You can depend on Him also, if your serious and want to know Him. Allow Him to make changes in your life, correct you when you take a wrong turn, and need to confess that wrong and stay walking right with Him. Jesus is worth it, He's never failed me, and His presence is more precious than anything this life has to offer.
​
If your reading this, and haven't come to Him yet, and asked for His salvation, forgiveness of your sins, and let Him in your heart, I hope you will do so, and come to know how precious He is. It doesn't matter what you may have done. When He went to the cross and suffered and died, it was to cover your sins, and wash you clean, and give you the assurance of heaven when you die. May you come to know this, personally for yourself.
Lorna Couillard

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given
​by many on our behalf. 2Cor 1:8-11

The circumstances of this situation was in regards to the trial at Ephesus caused by Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen. This was a Roman province of Asia, embracing the western part of Asia Minor. Ephesus was its capital. The record in Acts does not give all the dangers that threatened Paul in Ephesus. His precipitate departure from Ephesus immediately after the riot shows that he was in danger. See Act_20:1. He was not the man to exaggerate his danger. The allusions here, and in 1Co_15:31-32, show that he met with extreme peril.

In this account Paul felt that he was condemned to die; that he felt as if he were under sentence of death and with no hope of acquittal; he was called to contemplate the hour of death as just before him. The words “in ourselves,” mean, against ourselves; or, we expected certainly to die. This seems as if he had been condemned to die, and may either refer to some instance when the popular fury was so great that he felt it was determined he should die; or more probably to a judicial sentence that he should be cast to the wild beasts, with the certain expectation that he would be destroyed, as was always the case with those who were subjected to the execution of such a sentence.

That we should not trust in ourselves - This is an exceedingly beautiful and important sentiment. It teaches that in the time to which Paul refers, he was in so great danger, and had so certain a prospect of death, that he could put no reliance on himself. He felt that he must die; and that human aid was vain. According to every probability he would die; and all that he could do was to cast himself on the protection of that God who had power to save him even then, if he chose, and who, if he did it, would exert power similar to that which is put forth when the dead are raised. The effect, therefore, of the near prospect of death was to lead him to put increased confidence in God. He felt that God only could save him; or that God only could sustain him if he should die. Perhaps also he means to say that the effect of this was to lead him to put increased confidence in God after his deliverance; not to trust in his own plans, or to confide in his own strength; but to feel that all that he had was entirely in the hands of God. This is a common, and a happy effect of the near prospect of death to a Christian; and it is well to contemplate the effect on such a mind as that of Paul in the near prospect of dying, and to see how instinctively then it clings to God. A true Christian in such circumstances will rush to His arms and feel that there he is safe.

But in God which raiseth the dead - Intimating that a rescue in such circumstances would be like raising the dead. It is probable that on this occasion Paul was near dying; that he had given up all hope of life - perhaps, as at Lystra Act_14:19, he was supposed to be dead. He felt, therefore, that he was raised up by the immediate power of God, and regarded it as an exertion of the same power by which the dead are raised. Paul means to intimate that so far as depended on any power of his own, he was dead. He had no power to recover himself, and but for the gracious interposition of God he would have died. (Albert Barnes)

To be noted: ​He recognizes the aid he had received from the prayers of the Corinthian church raised on his behalf. The prayers of many persons secured the gift of his deliverance.
See: ​2Co_9:14; Isa_37:4, Isa_62:6-7; Act_12:5; Rom_15:30-32; Eph_6:18-19; Php_1:19; Col_4:3; 1Th_5:25; 2Th_3:1; Phm_1:22; Heb_13:18; Jas_5:16-18

Pressed Beyond Measure
​"Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

"Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured."
Anonymous

The pressure of hard places makes us value life. Every time our life is given back to us from such a trial, it is like a new beginning, and we learn better how much it is worth, and make more of it for God and man. The pressure helps us to understand the trials of others, and fits us to help and sympathize with them.
​
There is a shallow, superficial nature, that gets hold of a theory or a promise lightly, and talks very glibly about the distrust of those who shrink from every trial; but the man or woman who has suffered much never does this, but is very tender and gentle, and knows what suffering really means. This is what Paul meant when he said, "Death worketh in you."

Trials and hard places are needed to press us forward, even as the furnace fires in the hold of that mighty ship give force that moves the piston, drives the engine, and propels that great vessel across the sea in the face of the winds and waves. (A. B. Simpson)--(Streams in the Desert)

​Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:11
The Power of Unceasing Intercession

Praying always - At all times, and on every occasion, in midst of all employments, inwardly praying without ceasing. By the Spirit - Through the influence of the Holy Spirit. With all prayer - With all sort of prayer, public, private, mental, vocal. Some are careful in respect of one kind of prayer, and negligent in others. If we would have the petitions we ask, let us use all. Some there are who use only mental prayer or ejaculations, and think they are in a state of grace, and use a way of worship, far superior to any other: but such only fancy themselves to be above what is really above them; it requiring far more grace to be enabled to pour out a fervent and continued prayer, than to offer up mental aspirations. And supplication - Repeating and urging our prayer, as Christ did in the garden. And watching - Inwardly attending on God, to know his will, to gain power to do it, and to attain to the blessings we desire. With all perseverance - Continuing to the end in this holy exercise. And supplication for all the saints - Wrestling in fervent, continued intercession for others, especially for the faithful, that they may do all the will of God, and be steadfast to the end.
​Perhaps we receive few answers to prayer, because we do not intercede enough for others. (John Wesley)

​"Out of the presses of pain,
Cometh the soul’s best wine;
And the eyes that have shed no rain,
Can shed but little shine."
​(Anonymous)

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:
​for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:
that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them,
and I in them. Joh 17:24-26

The truth that people are judged by their desires finds its highest illustration in Jesus. The perfection of His nature is shown in the perfectness of His wishes. When His desires shall be all fulfilled, then there will be nothing more in the universe to be desired. The wish of the text is a prayer; but a prayer is merely a wish turned Godward. It was the instinct of Christ’s nature that He looked for the fulfilment of His wishes, not to Himself, and not to the things about Him, but to His Father. He was desiring in His heart that his people should be with Him.

The meaning of this is the Savior’s affection for His disciples. When friend is going away from friend, the wish springs up into words: “Oh, if I could only take you with me!”  And so it is a part of the greatness of Jesus that He so simply feels and utters this human affection, and says, “I will miss you. I wish you could go with Me.” We want not merely to admire this in Jesus; not merely to feel its charm. We want to catch it from Him.

But, within this prayer, knowing it would be His last expression of love and speaking a blessing down through time, that would reach you and I- His words extend through time and eternity, to reach everyone of us, who would choose Him, and follow Him. It was His intercession of love, and an embrace to all of us, directed to the Father, all He could ask for us. In His words, He was wanting to draw us as close to Himself as He could, and  we hear His heartbeat of love for His people. The power of that prayer is as real today, as the night he spoke it, and the Father has registered it as intercession presented for you and I before the throne of God.

His desire is for us to share in all He has prepared for us, to know Him in His glory, His great love for us. To share in all of the wonders of the heavens He has created. That we would be presented faultless to the Father, redeemed and glorified with Him in glory.

Within these verses we hear His hearts desire for our companionship, a relationship with Him as a Friend, a Savior, and our eternal Father.

Jesus' prayer rises as it proceeds. He asks for His people to be preserved from the world, that they would be sanctified and be made one. Then that they would be with Him and behold Him where He is, and behold His glory. It's a prayer of a divine pattern winding up as a ladder to heaven and continues into the realms of glory, out of sight.
​Lorna Couillard

This last step of our Lord’s prayer is not only above all the rest, but it is a longer step than any of the others. He here ascends, not from one blessing which may be enjoyed on earth, to higher, but mounts right away from all that is to that which is reserved for the eternal future.

Not only does it rise as to its subject, but it even ascends as to the place which the Intercessor appears to occupy. Has it not been so with yourselves in prayer, that you might have cried with Paul, “Whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell.”

Still the prayer rises, not only as to its matter and place, but in a higher style. Before, our Lord had asked and pleaded; but now He says, “Father, I will.” It is well not only to groan out of the dust as suppliant sinners, but to seek unto our Father in the spirit of adoption with the confidence of children, and then, with the promise of God in our hand, lay hold upon the covenant angel, and cry, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Importunity is a humble approach to this Divine “I will.”

Let us begin as our text begins with THE HOME-WORD—“Father.” Is it not the centre of living unity? If there is to be a family gathering and reunion, where should it be but in the father’s house?

What can be more right than that children should go home to their Father? From Him they came, to Him they owe their life, and should not this be the goal of their being, that they should at last dwell in His presence?

“Father!” why, it is a bell that rings us home. He who hath the Spirit of adoption feels that the Father draws him home, and he would fain run after Him. How intensely did Jesus turn to the Father.

Our Lord looked upon those whom the Father gave Him as one—one body, one Church, one bride: He willed that as a whole the Church should be with Him where He is.

Then He looked again and saw each of the many individuals of whom the one Church is composed, and He prayed that each, that all of these, might be with Him and behold His glory. Jesus never so prays for the whole Church as to forget a single member; neither does He so pray for the members individually as to overlook the corporate capacity of the whole.

Observe the fellowship which exists in the glory land. “That they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me.” So when the Lord brings His people home, we shall be one with Him, and He one with the Father, and we also in Him one with the Father, so that we shall then find boundless glory in beholding the glory of our Lord and God. (Biblical Illustrator)

THE HOME ATMOSPHERE. Love: “Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.” Can you follow me in a great flight? There was a day before all days, when there was no day but the Ancient of Days. Oh the intensity of the Divine love of the Father to the Son! There was no universe, but God alone; and the whole of God’s omnipotence flowed forth in a stream of love to the Son, while the Son’s whole being remained eternally one with the Father by a mysterious essential union. Love is both the source and the channel, and the end of the Divine acting. Because the Father loved the Son He gave us to Him, and ordained that we should be with Him. Let our saintly ones go home if that is the design of their going. Since all comes of Divine love, and all sets forth Divine love, let them go to Him who loves them. Hold your friends lovingly, but be ready to yield them to Jesus."
(C. H. Spurgeon.)

Thus, then, we understand Christ’s longing for the companionship of His disciples. He wanted them to be with Him. That wish of His must have run through all the scale of companionship which we have traced, but it must have completed itself in the desire that they should be like Him, that they should have His character, that in the obedience of God, where He abode, they should abide with Him.

​He wants His disciples to be with Him, "that they may behold My glory." Before these words can be cut entirely free from low associations and soar into the high pure meaning which belongs to them, we must remember what Christ’s glory is which He desires us to see. Its essence, the heart and soul of it, must be His goodness. It is Christ’s goodness then that He would have His people see. Think for a moment what prospects that wish of our Lord opens. Only by growth in goodness can His goodness open itself to us. What is He praying for then? Is it not that which we traced before in the first part of His prayer, the same exactly, that we might be like Him? So only can we see Him. It is His glory that He wants us to see; but back of that, He wants us to be such men and women that we can see His glory. The only true danger is sin, and so the only true safety is holiness. What a sublime ambition. How it takes our vague, half-felt wishes and fills them with reality and strength, when the moral growth, which makes a man complete, is put before us, not abstractly, but in this picture of the dearest and noblest being that our souls can dream of, standing before us and saying to us: "Come unto Me," standing over us and praying for us,
​"Father, bring them where I am."  (Phillips Brooks, Sermons, p. 299)