For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:15-19
Before anything else, what a beautiful prayer Paul offers here!
Paul is writing to the believers in Ephesus and is incredibly grateful for them.
So what does he ask God to give them? The Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they 1) would know God better, 2) understand the hope to which they have been called, 3) grasp the riches of their glorious inheritance, and 4) experience His incomparably great power.
What an amazing list! May it be true of us. It is definitely a prayer worth praying for ourselves and others today.
But notice one small phrase in verse 16: Paul writes that he “keeps asking.”
I suppose this could be read two ways. It could be read negatively—like he has to keep praying because it’s not happening. But I don’t think that’s the case. He has already expressed how thankful he is for their faith.
So there is a second reason why Paul would keep asking. And it’s important.
Paul keeps praying because there is always more of God for us to receive!
We “keep asking” so that we can receive more and more of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, as if there is no limit to how deeply we can know God.
The more we pray and seek Him, the more wisdom and understanding we receive.
The more we pray and seek Him, the more we can grasp the hope to which we have been called, the riches of His glorious inheritance, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.
That is the purpose of Paul’s prayer. That we would fall more and more in love with God by knowing Him better and better—deeper and deeper, without end.
And that should inspire us today. May we, as well, keep asking God to give us more of Himself. Forever and ever.
For there is always more of Him to discover.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know You better. I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in Your holy people, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe. Amen.