Do you understand what you read? We would be stronger teachers, less tossed about by every wind of doctrine, if we truly understood God's Word. And since the Holy Spirit who authored the Scriptures is the only one who can enlighten us to understand them, we must constantly ask for his teaching, his guidance into all truth.

When the prophet Daniel needed to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer, begging God to open up the vision. When the apostle John saw that vision on Patmos, he saw a book sealed with seven seals. No one was found worthy to open it—no one could even look at it! Yes, the Lion of the tribe of Judah would prevail to open it. But notice what came first: "I wept much." John's tears were his liquid prayers. Those tears became the sacred keys that opened the folded book.

Therefore, if you desire to be "filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding"—for your own and others' profiting—remember this: prayer is your best means of study! Like Daniel, you shall understand the dream and its interpretation when you have sought God for it. Like John, you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed after you have wept much.

Stones are not broken except by earnest use of the hammer—and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees! Use the hammer of diligence. Let the knee of prayer be exercised. There is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand that will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith.

You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer! Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth. But prayer? Prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within.