The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.
The only way to understand these difficult parts of the Bible, or even to approach them with safety, is first to read and obey the easy ones.
In order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer, is, to continue praying; for the less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.
We shall not benefit from reading the Old Testament unless we look for and meditate on the glory of Christ in its pages.
Today one can read the Gospel also on so many technological instruments. You can carry the whole Bible on your mobile phone, on your tablet. It is important to read the Word of God, by any means, but by reading the Word of God: Jesus speaks to us there! And welcome it with an open heart. Then the good seed will bear fruit!
God has condescended to become an author, and yet people will not read his writings. There are very few that ever gave this Book of God, the grand charter of salvation, one fair reading through.
I would never discredit reading the Scriptures, but it is important to meditate on it.
It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer.