NOTES for Eph 1:16-17
What the apostle Paul prays about? In fact that we may know God, grow in His knowledge. But for this knowledge, we have to change beforehand spiritually, accept «the spirit of wisdom and revelation", that is agree with the fact that knowing God is not of our strength, but can be the consequence of His auto-unveiling to us. Therefore, it is a prayer for our openness and humility.
It is interesting thereupon that Paul calls God the God of our Lord Jesus-Christ, recognizing that our God isn’t Someone known by our efforts, but the One, Who Christ declared (Jn. 1:18).