What is the context?
Paul resumes the prayer introduced in verse 1. He bows his knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. His posture gives a concrete picture of reverent appeal.
He asks the Father to strengthen the believers through His Spirit in their inner being, according to the riches of His glory. The strength he seeks is God’s gift at work within them.
He also asks that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. The Greek word is κατοικέω, katoikeō (kah-toy-KEH-oh), to dwell or settle. Thayer’s lexicon explains its use here in terms of Christ’s presence pervading and directing a person’s inner life.
The prayer joins that presence with being rooted and grounded in love. Paul wants them, together with all the saints, to grasp the length, width, height and depth of Christ’s love.
The love is greater than their knowledge, yet he prays for them to know it. He seeks a life filled with God’s fullness. The prayer moves from God’s strength within them toward a deeply shared understanding of the love of Christ.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Christians commonly read these requests as a prayer for believers to be strengthened through the Spirit, established in Christ’s love and brought into a fuller life with God. Wesley’s notes on verses 15–19 and the USCCB notes on verses 14–21 both connect the prayer with growing understanding of God’s love and fullness.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
In John 14:15–23, Jesus promises the Spirit’s presence and speaks of the Father and Son making their home with those who love Him and keep His word. He connects shared life with God, love and obedience.
That explicit promise gives a wider setting for Paul’s prayer. The strength and love he asks for belong to the life Jesus promised His people through the Spirit. Paul is asking for that life with God to take deep root among them.
What is our position?
Our study What Does Prayer Look Like?, in its discussion of Ephesians 3:16–19, treats this as an example of praying for others to know God more deeply, love more fully and live in a way that honors Him. The requests focus on strength through the Spirit, Christ dwelling in their hearts, being rooted in love and knowing His love more deeply.