Acts 8:30

We should be more capable teachers of others, and less likely to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. Since the Holy Spirit, the Author of the Scriptures, is the One who alone can enlighten us to understand them rightly, we should constantly ask for His teaching and His guidance into all truth.

When the prophet Daniel was to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what did he do? He devoted himself to earnest prayer that God would reveal the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals, which no one was found worthy to open, or even to look upon.

The book was afterward opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed to open it; but it is first written, I wept much. The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were, as far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened.

Therefore, if for your own and others’ benefit, you desire to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, remember that prayer is your best means of study. Like Daniel, you will understand the dream and its interpretation when you have sought God; and like John, you will see the seven seals of precious truth opened after you have wept much.

Stones are not broken except by an earnest use of the hammer, and the stone-breaker must get on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation, useful for you to understand, that will not shatter under the exercise of prayer and faith.

You can force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges that give a grip on truth; but prayer is the lever, the pry that forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, so that we may obtain the treasure hidden within.