--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give yourself to prayer, to reading and…" description: "\"Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e0/david-brainerd-8963_bottom_give-yourself-to-prayer-to-reading-and-m_1182094.jpg" --- # Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on… ![“Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge.” quote by David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e0/david-brainerd-8963_bottom_give-yourself-to-prayer-to-reading-and-m_1182094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e0/david-brainerd-8963_bottom_give-yourself-to-prayer-to-reading-and-m_1182094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e0/david-brainerd-8963_bottom_give-yourself-to-prayer-to-reading-and-m_1182094.jpg) > “Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge.” [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deep engagement with spiritual texts requires diligent study and meditation, avoiding shallow understanding. **In simple terms:** Study deeply, not superficially. Key Takeaway Pursue thorough comprehension. Themes spirituality learning humility Mood reflective serious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal devotion - Bible study - spiritual formation - academic research Key Concepts theology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you move beyond surface reading? - What practices deepen your understanding? A Different Perspective Superficial knowledge can feel safe but hinders growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Superficial knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superficial-knowledge/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Our thoughts are not roadblocks to our meditation, they are the divine expression of the universe and the building blocks of infinite possibilities available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davidji/our-thoughts-are-not-roadblocks-to-our-meditation-they-are-the-divine/) [davidji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davidji/) > [“Like prayer, reading is also a way of changing course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-berends/like-prayer-reading-is-also-a-way-of-changing-course/) Polly Berends > [We gather for prayer, and reading the Bible, and singing the songs of David.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-brewster/we-gather-for-prayer-and-reading-the-bible-and-singing-the-songs-of/) [William Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-brewster/) > [“As it is the sister of reading, so it is the mother of prayer. Though a man's heart be much indisposed to prayer, yet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bridge/as-it-is-the-sister-of-reading-so-it-is-the-mother-of-prayer-though-a/) William Bridge > [The constant habit of perusing devout books is so indispensable, that it has been termed the oil of the lamp of prayer. Too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/the-constant-habit-of-perusing-devout-books-is-so-indispensable-that/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A mere index hunter, who held the eel of science by the tail. Index-hunter is a term used mockingly, meaning one who acquires superficial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-smollett/a-mere-index-hunter-who-held-the-eel-of-science-by-the-tail-index/) [Tobias Smollett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-smollett/) > [Index-learning turns no student pale, Yet holds the eel of Science by the tail. Index-learning is a term used to mock pretenders who acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/index-learning-turns-no-student-pale-yet-holds-the-eel-of-science-by/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“To read with diligence; not to rest satisfied with a light and superficial knowledge, nor quickly to assent to things commonly spoken of:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/to-read-with-diligence-not-to-rest-satisfied-with-a-light-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I have a true aversion to teaching. The perennial business of a professor of mathematics is only to teach the ABC of his science;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-friedrich-gauss/i-have-a-true-aversion-to-teaching-the-perennial-business-of-a/) [Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-friedrich-gauss/) > [Superficial knowledge breeds arrogance; true knowledge induces humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-ammaar-yasir-qadhi/superficial-knowledge-breeds-arrogance-true-knowledge-induces-humility/) [Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-ammaar-yasir-qadhi/) > [Ignorance is not lack of intelligence, nor knowledge a proof of genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/ignorance-is-not-lack-of-intelligence-nor-knowledge-a-proof-of-genius/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Fortunately or otherwise we live at a time when the average individual has to know several times as much in order to keep informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/fortunately-or-otherwise-we-live-at-a-time-when-the-average/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Superficial knowledge ... is hurtful to those who possess true genius; for it necessarily draws them away from their main object, wastes their industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/superficial-knowledge-is-hurtful-to-those-who-possess-true-genius-for/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [I do not approve the maxim which desires a man to know a little of everything. Superficial knowledge, knowledge without principles, is almost always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/i-do-not-approve-the-maxim-which-desires-a-man-to-know-a-little-of/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [He who speaks a bit of a foreign language has more delight in it than he who speaks it well; pleasure goes along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/he-who-speaks-a-bit-of-a-foreign-language-has-more-delight-in-it-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by David Brainerd > [If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/if-you-hope-for-happiness-in-the-world-hope-for-it-from-god-and-not/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Again, Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/again-be-careful-to-make-a-good-improvement-of-precious-time/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the necessity I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-bless-god-for-this-retirement-i-never-was-more-thankful-for-any/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I hardly ever so longed to live to God and to be altigether devoted to Him. i want to wear out my life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-hardly-ever-so-longed-to-live-to-god-and-to-be-altigether-devoted/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“Friday, April 2. In the afternoon I felt, in secret prayer, much resigned, calm, and serene. What are all the storms of this lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/friday-april-2-in-the-afternoon-i-felt-in-secret-prayer-much-resigned/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I board with a poor Scotchman: his wife can talk scarce any English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-board-with-a-poor-scotchman-his-wife-can-talk-scarce-any-english/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/oh-how-precious-is-time-and-how-it-pains-me-to-see-it-slide-away/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [A few of the sublimest geniuses of Rome and Athens had some faint discoveries of the spiritual nature of the human soul, and formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/a-few-of-the-sublimest-geniuses-of-rome-and-athens-had-some-faint/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/in-prayer-i-was-exceedingly-enlarged-and-my-soul-was-as-much-drawn/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [As the most extravagant errors were received among the established articles of their faith, so the most infamous vices obtained in their practice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/as-the-most-extravagant-errors-were-received-among-the-established/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [God designs that those whom He sanctifies...shall tarry awhile in this present evil world, that their own experience of temptations may teach them how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/god-designs-that-those-whom-he-sanctifies-shall-tarry-awhile-in-this/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Further, Take heed that you faithfully perform the business you have to do in the world, from a regard to the commands of God;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/further-take-heed-that-you-faithfully-perform-the-business-you-have/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I have withstood the power of convictions a long time; and therefore I fear I shall be finally left of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-have-withstood-the-power-of-convictions-a-long-time-and-therefore-i/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“There is a God in heaven who overrules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul. . .How blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/there-is-a-god-in-heaven-who-overrules-all-things-for-the-best-and/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [First, Resolve upon, and daily endeavour to practise, a life of seriousness and strict sobriety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/first-resolve-upon-and-daily-endeavour-to-practise-a-life-of/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) [Explore all 76 David Brainerd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) ## More Bottom quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. 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I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. 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