Ephesians 1: 15-17 (NASB)
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 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.

Philippians 1:9 (NASB) 
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

Colossians 1:9-12 (NASB) 
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Paul was consistent with the petitions in his prayers for the churches.  I often forget just how desperately poor, how much physical danger, and how persecuted these people were.  Paul doesn’t mention these things in his prayers.  Rather than focusing on the things that they needed, he focused on praying for them to get more of and to know God in a more personal way.

It is humbling to realize that my prayers of help from God is not what Paul prayed for the early church.  There is nothing wrong with praying for our situations, our needs, and our desires.  But  those things pale in comparison with knowing God.

Anything great comes with great effort.  So, we shouldn’t think that prayer is easy either.  If we struggle with prayer, as I do, we are not alone.  It is an encouragement knowing that, giving me the desire to persevere.  

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would fill me with the knowledge of Your will.  I pray for wisdom, so that Your Holy Spirit can reveal more of You in me.  I pray the same for others.  May we know You better each and every day.  Praying all in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,