Ephesians 1:15-23  Here we find one of Paul's prayers, one of the last he wrote down... one that we can pray ourselves for those we love... "making mention of you in my prayers..." 

 I pray "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe . "

Paul's first request focuses on the gift of the Holy Spirit. For He is the spirit of wisdom and revelation.  BKC - " Wisdom gives insight into the true nature of the things, and revelation is the unveiling of the object discussed, namely, God Himself".  Our vital need is to know God, intimately and personally, not just facts or ideas about Him.  In order to know God, we must receive His Spirit.  The eyes of our hearts must be enlightened.  This is God's desire for us and He alone can do it. 

There are 3 things that we can "know" when are hearts are enlightened by the Spirit of God:

1. We can know the "hope of His calling".  It is our Gracious Father who has called us to salvation and has given us hope.  BKC - " Hope in Scripture is the absolute certainty of a believer's victory in God."   Peter calls this a "living hope" ( 1 Peter 1:3) the anticipated expectation of Life for all eternity. 

2. We can know "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints".  BKC - " At the time of the resurrection of believers (saints).. God will inherit those whom He has purchased at a great price according to the riches of His grace."  We are God's inheritance!  And He is ours! 

3. We can know "what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. "  This "power" means " a spiritually dynamic and living force" ( BKC) and is directed toward believers.  It is power that works, that overcomes resistance, that reveals His strength, that same power that "raised Him ( Christ) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand...."  Again the Bible Knowledge Commentary helps clarify - " What an amazing source of spiritual vitality, power and strength for living the Christian life!"   God's power is made known as He places  Jesus  over every "rule and authority and power and dominion...."  He put "all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all." 

Father of all glory, God of our Lord Jesus Christ,  we pray that You would give us Your Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we would know You intimately.  We want to know the past call of salvation which produces a living hope;  we want to know the future inheritance that You have in us; and we want to know the present power of God available to us who believe.  Every spiritual blessing is in Christ Jesus.  Every future hope is in Him.  Christ is all in all, according to Your perfect will. We ask that You would grant these requests for our families, for our brothers and sisters, for all of Your church.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.