Karla R. Shumate has always loved Psalm 42:1 (ESV), which says, “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you,” which is the version I use throughout the rest of this book. It says, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
Karla has always thought it was a beautiful verse, but it was not until she deepened her spiritual walk that she began to understand what it really means.
In this verse, the deer pants, or longs, for the water because it is life to the deer; it cannot live without the sweet, pure water. Likewise, God’s Word gives us life. In fact, we cannot have life (in heaven) without it. The more Karla began to study God’s Word, really study it, the more she wanted to study it. She panted for Him. She could not wait to spend time with her Lord. He sustains her. He rejuvenates her. He is addictive. This verse developed a new meaning for Karla. She still loves this verse for its poetic beauty, but now she sees what the psalmist really meant. He created a beautiful picture for her of how she should feel about God’s Word and His words to her. Karla’s Bible study has never been the same.
