Do you understand what you read? By Charles Spurgeon

Do you understand what you read? Acts chapter 8 verse 30. We would better teachers of others and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the word of God.

As the Holy Spirit, the author of the scriptures, he who alone can enlighten us to rightly understand them. We should constantly ask his teaching and his guidance into all truth.

When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, he saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

But it is written first, I wept much. The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were so far as he was concerned the sacred keys by which the sealed book was opened.

Therefore, if for your own and others' profiting you desire to be filled with the knowledge of God's will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, then remember that prayer is your best means of study.

Like Daniel, you shall understand the dream and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God. And like John, you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much.

Stones are not broken except by an earnest use of the hammer, and the stonebreaker must go down on his knees, use the hammer of diligence. and let the knee of prayer be exercised and there is not a stony doctrine in scripture which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith.

You may force your way through anything with the chisel of prayer. Prayer is the crowbar which forces upon the iron chest of sacred mystery that we may get the treasure hidden within.

So shall you grow healthy, strong, and happy in the divine life.