I LIKE THE WORD RUMINATE. It’s just a fun sounding word. It means to meditate on, ponder, consider, “chew the cud” so to speak. To chew the cud refers to what cows do. They chew their food, swallow it and vomit it back up for another chew. I know it sounds gross, but totally normal to the cow. What are you ruminating on?
Do you chew the cud over your problems? Chew chew chew, swallow, spit up and chew again? What about ruminating on what someone did to you and how they hurt your feelings? In this case, ruminating is a bad thing. These things left unchecked will cause destruction. Where the mind goes, the man follows.
If you do not control your thought life, you will never have victory in this life. You can ruminate on your PROBLEMS or you can ruminate on God’s PROMISES. It is 100% your choice. What you focus on will be magnified. I have some OCD tendencies and therefore get intensely fixated on things that I ought not. There are days I have to battle my thoughts all day long to stay focused on His faithfulness and keep my mind and heart pure from things like jealousy, envy, greed, people who frustrate me and the like.
We are told to “take EVERY THOUGHT captive to the obedience of Christ” and to think on, ruminate on, chew the cud on things that are GOOD, RIGHT, PURE and TRUE. Here’s some promises for you today, “He forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. He satisfies your mouth with good things so your youth is renewed like the eagles” Psalm 103:1-5
Get in His Word and find out His promises. Focus on His goodness and mercy, not on other’s faults. Do not let an offense take any root. Bitterness defiles. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 Renew your mind to trust and wholly accept His Word and chew on that for a few hours. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
