Note 1 at Eph. 3:14: In the previous verse, Paul desired that the Ephesians would not be discouraged because of the things that were happening to him (i.e. his imprisonment). He now follows that desire with a prayer to God for their strength and fullness.

Note 2 at Eph. 3:14: Verses 14-19 form one complete sentence. This sentence is Paul's second prayer in this epistle (see note 3 at Eph. 1:16, p. 1099). He prays that (1) the Ephesians would be granted spiritual strength by God's Spirit (v. 16); (2) Christ might make His home in the Ephesians' hearts by faith (v. 17); (3) through the Ephesians' being rooted and grounded in love they would comprehend or get revelation knowledge (vv. 17-18); and (4) by experiencing Christ's love they would be filled with all the fullness of God (v. 19).

The remaining two verses of this chapter (vv. 20-21) are praise to God in anticipation for answering this prayer.

Note 3 at Eph. 3:14: Kneeling is an indication of an attitude of worship, reverence, adoration and praise. This posture is mentioned in scripture numerous times: Solomon knelt before the altar of the Lord to pray (1 Ki. 8:54; 2 Chr. 6:13); Ezra fell upon his knees to pray (Ezra 9:5); Daniel prayed upon his knees three times daily (Dan. 6:10); Jesus knelt down to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:41); Stephen knelt as he forgave his enemies (Acts 7:60); Peter kneeled down to pray before raising Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:40-42); at Paul's farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus, Paul and those he was addressing knelt down and prayed together (Acts 20:36); Paul did this again with other disciples in Acts 21:5.

Psalm 95:6 instructs us to come and bow down as we worship. The scriptures prophesy that God will make every knee bow to him (Isa. 45:23; Phil. 2:10).

Other postures of prayer include standing (Mk. 11:25), lying prostrate (2 Sam. 12:16), lifting up of holy hands (1 Tim. 2:8).

Other things that accompany prayer include fasting (Mt. 17:21; Acts 13:3; 14:23), forgiveness of others (Mk. 11:25), agreement (Mt. 18:19), faith (Jas. 5:14-15), treating your mate with respect (1 Pet. 3:7), the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:18), the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6; 13:3).

We are encouraged to pray always (Lk. 18:1), in the day of trouble (Ps. 50:15), constantly (1 Th. 5:17), in everything (Phil. 4:6), at all times in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18), when suffering (Jas. 5:13), in tongues (1 Cor. 14:2; 14:14), for our enemies (Mt. 5:44), for those who harm us (Lk. 6:28), for those who persecute us (Mt. 5:44), for a brother who sins (1 Jn. 5:16), for friends (Job 42:8-9), for others to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15), for healing (Acts 28:8), for laborers to be sent into the harvest (Mt. 9:38; Lk. 10:2), and for the saints (Rom. 1:9-10; Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 1:3).