The pursuit of truth involves the hard work of studying. Pursuing Biblical truth requires a familiar-ization with literary forms, genres, and hermeneutical reference works, such as: Bible dictionaries, Atlases, Commentaries, and perhaps a general knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Truth is not chanced upon or gotten by osmosis. Diligence, discipline, and dedication are sine qua nonto apprehending truth, for the Bible yields its deepest treasures only to the persistent seeker.
Does it sound intimidating? Is it too much? Not if your study of the Christian scriptures becomes a lifetime pursuit. Apprehending the truth--truth that liberates and stabilizes--is grasped bit by bit, as Solomon wrote:
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2, NAS).
While studying is our contribution to the process of discovering truth, we are not left unaided in our efforts; God has given His Holy Spirit, to be our guide. The Holy Spirit witnesses to the truth because He is the Spirit of truth.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come (John 16:13, NAS).
For to us God revealed [them] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the [thoughts] of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the [thoughts] of God no one knows except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11, NAS)

From the beginning the Devil's tactics are clear, as is his chosen ground of battle--the minds of men. The mind is fertile ground for both wheat and tares, truth and error, clarity and deception. Satan knows well that to infect the mind is to manipulate thinking. Leo XIII summed it up well:
"Since it is in the very nature of man to follow the guide of reason in his actions, if his intellect sins at all his will soon follows; and thus it happens that looseness of intellectual opinion influences human actions and perverts them." ⁷
A deceived mind produces distorted feelings; distorted feelings produce inappropriate behavior; and bad behavior presents a scandalous witness to the world. Certainly the Church of this present age has exhibited a scandalous witness and superficial Christianity. Is this not because we lack the mind of Christ through a knowledge of His Word?
Christ purposed His church to be a light set on a hill that would shine before all men and cause them to glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). He has purposed that His Body be intimidators of the enemy rather than be intimidated, "in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly [places] (Ephesians 3:10,11). The Church the world sees appears a mile wide and but an inch deep, while Christ intends it to be both influential (mile wide) and substantial (mile deep).
How can we be both influential and substantial?
* By making a serious lifetime commitment to studying the Christian Scriptures.
* By daily romancing the Book.
* By allowing our minds to "marinate" in the Master's Words.
* By humbly relying upon the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Our part--diligent study; His part--guidance, comfort, and advocacy. The Devil's powers can then be broken. Our thinking will become clearer, our feelings adjusted to truth, our behavior exemplary, and our witness powerful. We will have driven the enemy off of the fertile fields of battle--our minds. The field can then be made ready for the seed, not the sword. We can be free to love God with "all our minds" (Luke 10:27).

End Notes
1. See also: Revelation 20:8; 12:9; 1 Timothy 2:14; 2 John 7; 1 Tim 4:1.