Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss or rely something until it's not there.
The last time I picked up my Bible to read on my own – Sunday School not counted – was a week ago. In the last few days I noticed that I've been cranky and irritable. I chalked it up at first to pain because it has been worse lately, but then I realized that my attitude was more than that. I'm reading the Bible straight through in my spare time, so this morning I started back up in 1 Kings since that is where I had left off. Chapter 7 is about the details King Solomon put into the building of the Temple. You know, the part about how many pomegranates of bronze were made and such. Typically I read through these descriptions without getting much personal application or excitement.
Today, however, I felt as though a balm were being placed over a tender wound. I took a deep breath and actually felt soothed. Though I was impressed with a bowl that held 11,000 gallons (v. 26), I was impressed even more with how much God's Word holds. Even when the Words don't have a deep meaning or speak directly to me, the power of the Word is evident.
I'm happy to find I've become so dependent and addicted to God's Word that I go through withdrawal when I stay away too long. Please Lord God, don't let me stay away from Your Word that long again!
Have you found the same to be true for you too?