Should we only pray/read when we feel like it?

Question:
They say, “Pray hardest when it’s hardest to pray,” but sometimes you don’t want to pray. Which is more important, to pray/read Bible when you don’t feel like it, or to be honest with God? Should we only pray/read when we want to?

Answer:
We should pray/read our Bibles, because He wants us to. “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18). “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The Lord desires that we “meditate” (Joshua 1:8), and “study” (2 Timothy 2:15) His precious Word.

The Lord knows our thoughts (Psalm 139:1, 2), so He knows if we don’t want to pray, or if we are even praying in anger. But we should want to not hold anything back from Him, and tell Him so by saying: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23, 24).