The beloved 19th-century preacher and prolific tract writer J.C. Ryle once voiced his concern that many professing believers do not pray as they should. In his tract "A Call to Prayer," Ryle outlines seven compelling reasons why prayer is indispensable to the Christian faith.[1] He contends that prayer is crucial because it is essential for salvation and stands as one of the clearest marks of a genuine Christian. Although prayer is often neglected due to the intentional effort it requires, it remains one of the most uplifting practices in the Christian life. Ryle insists that persistent prayer is the secret to holiness and warns that neglecting prayer frequently results in spiritual decline. He also observes that prayer is the most effective means of finding true happiness and contentment. While Ryle’s list is substantial, I would like to propose an eighth, often-overlooked reason: pray to know God better. This profound truth is given in Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church in Ephesians 1:15-23.

Before Paul prays for the Ephesians, he first praises God for the spiritual blessings that Christians receive, as described in verses 4–14. This Trinitarian passage, often referred to as the "Ephesian hymn," consists of a single, sweeping Greek sentence divided into three stanzas, each ending with the phrase "to the praise of His glory." The first stanza (verses 4–6) expresses gratitude for the Father’s choosing of believers; the second (verses 7–12) praises God for the redemption found through the Son; and the final stanza (verses 13–14) celebrates the Holy Spirit’s work in sealing believers in Him. After exalting God for these blessings, Paul does something surprising: he prays for the Ephesians.

While it isn’t shocking that Paul prays for the Ephesians, it is striking that he prays for them to know God better. In verse 17, he asks the Father of glory to give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him. This prayer reveals the important truth that a full knowledge of God cannot be attained merely through Bible study. It must be given to them by God because it “cannot be discovered by human investigation."[2]

It is important to recognize that the knowledge Paul desires for the Ephesians goes beyond mere intellectual understanding. This is especially relevant for those of us in churches devoted to expository preaching and sound doctrine. While we may become thoroughly acquainted with God’s Word, we can still miss out on a deep, experiential knowledge of Him. Paul’s prayer is not simply for improved biblical knowledge, but for the Ephesians to know God intimately. Prayer, therefore, is the means by which we come to know Him at a deeper level.

Another notable point in Paul's intercessory prayer is that he begins with two important titles for God. In verse 17, he refers to God as "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ" and "the Father of glory." These titles highlight that God is known only through Jesus Christ and that He desires to be known. The word "glory" contains the idea of disclosure. This is why Moses asked Yahweh to show him His glory (Exodus 33:18). He wanted to know God more fully. When Paul calls God "the Father of glory," he is praying for the Ephesians to gain a deeper understanding of God, grounded in God’s own desire to be known. Christian, you can have confidence that God will answer your prayer when you ask Him to give you a fuller knowledge of Him, precisely because He desires His people to know Him more. He is the Father of glory!

But what exactly does Paul want the church to know? First, in verse 18, he prays that they would grasp "the hope of their calling." Here, “calling” refers to salvation, and “hope” means the confident assurance of the future. This “hope” is not mere wishful thinking; it is the certainty of what is to come. Losing a spouse, for example, is one of life’s deepest sorrows, but as believers, we have the unshakable promise that God is calling us home, where we will be reunited with those who have died in Christ. We do not grieve without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Second, Paul wants them, and us, to understand "the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints." This phrase reminds us that believers are Christ’s treasured inheritance. Not only is Christ our inheritance, but we, too, are given to Him by the Father, as Jesus affirms in the Gospel of John (John 17:9-10). This is truly a remarkable thought: as the church, we are Christ’s inheritance. In other words, we are a gift from the Father to the Son! Beloved, consider how astonishing it is to realize that Jesus not only is your inheritance, but you are His. He desires to be with you and treasures you as His own.

Lastly, Paul prays that the Ephesians would truly grasp "the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe." In verses 19–23, he dwells on this theme, emphasizing that the very power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work in every believer. This resurrection power is not a distant concept, but a present reality, actively at work within us to strengthen, transform, and enable the church to carry out the imperatives that Paul gives in chapters four through six.

Dear Saint, let me ask you: do you desire to know God better? Do you want to deepen your understanding of the hope of your calling? Are you thrilled that you are Christ's inheritance and destined for glory? Do you long for more spiritual power in your life? If so, you must pray. This is not to undermine the importance of studying Scripture; rather, it underscores the essential truth that God desires to make Himself known to us experientially. According to Scripture, the only path to know Him better is through prayer. Beloved, I urge you: pray to know God better. No matter how deeply you have come to know Him, He remains an endless fountain of glory; there is always more of God’s beauty and greatness to discover!

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the summer 2026 issue of Chera Fellowship magazine, www.ifca.org. Used with permission.