First, he prays, “That their hearts might be comforted,” This is an interesting word. In the Greek it is παρακαλέω parakaleō; a compound word from para (alongside) and kaleo (to call). The same two words that give us parakletos, the personal name of God the Holy Spirit, the comforter, one called alongside to help. Here the word comforted means, to call out and bring near in order to give, strength by exhortation or by consolation. Paul is praying for them knowing that the Holy Spirit will comfort, console and exhort them.

Second, he prayers that when those hearts are comforted, then they will “be knit together in love,” Once the error is overcome by the truth, then this conflict will be over and those strengthened hearts, those united members of the church will be knit together in the agape love they found in Christ and …

Thirdly, or perhaps 2.5 since it is part of their hearts being knit together, He prays that in that unity they move “unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;” Unity is the combination of the Christ’s love and  the truth. The full understanding, the full acknowledgment of God and of Christ, Paul is praying for them to come to.

Unity in the church is always through these two evenly balanced elements, Christian truth and Christian love. If have love without truth, then you have unhinged emotionalism which can only hurt for the sinner but not heal the soul. If you have truth without love, then you have uncaring legalism. Which can only condemn the sinner and never comfort the soul.

In the Ephesian prison epistle, Paul expresses it this way,  4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The Twin Pillars of the Temple and the Church

Outside the Temple of Herod, the Temple that stood until 70 AD there were two giant pillars. One was named Boaz and the other Jachin. Boaz means “In him is strength” and Jachin means, “It will stand.” In a sense Love and Truth are the twin pillars that uphold the Lord’s church. In Him is the strength of love and He will establish in truth.
Final Request In Paul’s Prayer

Paul’s prayer continues and now brings us once again to the central theme of the epistle, the Lordship of Christ and specifically the all sufficiency of the Lord, Jesus Christ

Colossians 2:2-3 …and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

that they would come to the riches of the full assurance of understanding (compete spiritual apprehension) to the acknowledgment (the realization) of the mystery of God and of the Father and Christ. The mystery, in the Father and in the Son are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.

The words he uses here, mystery, knowledge, wisdom and even hidden were words taken from the Gnostics toolbox. Words they used to try beguile the believers. These words the false teachers were using to try and seduce the churches away from the Lord by appealing to that part of human nature that is always looking for something more, wanting something else, something better. A deeper wisdom, a greater knowledge, a revealed mystery, but Paul says in God and in Christ is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. There is no knowledge about spirituality, no wisdom that fulfills soul, no revelation of mysterious things that is not fully and completely in them. They are all that is needed.   

Paul confronts these pretentious intellectuals (Gnostics) with the bold claim that Christ sums up all wisdom and knowledge. These treasures are hidden whether the Gnostics have discovered them or not. They are there (in Christ) as every believer knows by fresh and repeated discovery. - A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament

In Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. -- I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “I can do all the things I need to do for Christ because Christ is all I need.”

“The message of this letter is greatly needed today. I hear too many voices telling me that I need something more than Jesus Christ—some exciting experience, some new doctrine, some addition to my Christian experience. But Paul affirms that what I need is appropriation of what I already have in Christ.” – Warren Wiersbe

Believers’ Bastion – Christ

The believer’s bastion, his stronghold, his treasure house is the riches of Jesus Christ. There is nothing this world or its myriad, alternative philosophies can offer us, that are richer than what we have in Jesus Christ. Nothing in the world has can make us richer than Jesus. Nothing the world has can make us wiser, can give us greater knowledge or offer a more sure hope than our Lord.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, in Philippians 4:18-19 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The world tells us that what we have is insufficient, there is something more. But God’s Word tells us that in Christ we are all-sufficient. The world tells us we always need more but in Christ we know we are full to the point of abounding in the riches of Christ Jesus.