First of all, I think it is a very good idea to ask the blessing of the Spirit of God that we have open hearts and the gift of discernment as we either search Scriptures for guidance or embrace the discipline of regular Bible reading. I've been a little afraid of the Bible because there are so many examples of people who presented themselves as followers of Christ who are then chastised for being liars. But a very wise man reminded me: God is bigger than evil. God loves me and wants me to welcome God's words and teaching into my life. And it is not God that wants to frighten us away from the blessings found in searching the Bible. So, yes, I believe praying and Bible study go hand in hand. That helps us balance the words in the Bible with our understanding of where God is leading us, what God is teaching us.
But it is also important to ask God for a humble heart, that we might avoid the temptation to believe our understanding is perfect while all who differ with us are in danger of falling away at any moment. I have learned to be less worried about whether other people have it "right" and be more focused on what else I can learn. I also have come to believe that no human being can ever get it "right" because we are not God; I can not expect to understand perfectly what the Creator of the Universe thinks and that it is really very arrogant to believe I can. I am at least a little hopeful that when we get to heaven we will learn a new language that can get us closer to a deeper appreciation and maybe even understanding, but I really don't expect to ever get it "perfectly right." And that keeps me on my knees and thinking and studying and watching to find people who LIVE their faith to learn from, rather than becoming too impressed with my own brilliance and superior knowledge.
There are many translations, but they are, after all, ALL translations because we don't speak God. Yet God reaches out to help us continue understanding more when we open ourselves to that. Daily devotion that includes scripture and various formats for regular Bible reading all can be a blessing, but that is less likely to happen if the reading is considered a "chore" or is used to impress others. Ask God to give you a heart for a nearer relationship and give reading the Bible a chance to pour blessings into your life.
Again, plan on including a new or more committed plan for reading the Bible over a course of time because a few days is going to less be effective than a more long-term approach. I often find I have fallen out of step and have to recommit myself, but that is usually true whenever I try to change something for the better in my life. (I often make a note of the date when I finish a day's reading or devotion so I can not kid myself about how regularly I am executing the new discipline. And please don't use this to assault your own value to God; instead, praise God for every good thing you welcome into your life at the end of each day.)
You will be amazed at the things you will read....God singing to us, angels singing to God, seriously broken people doing amazing things by God's power and grace, BIG mistakes being forgiven and horrid challenges leading to a better place through God's mercy. There are miracles and mysteries and shipwrecks and healing and tears of both contrition and joy. There are things that seem in conflict and then, one time you are studying, and you realize it really isn't in conflict after all. You memorize a verse, then it pops into your head at just the right time to show you an additional application. You think you know a verse so well and then when you are studying something else, you realize you need to tweak your earlier assumptions about that most familiar verse.
You will be amazed! And more importantly, you will be blessed an delighted!