Rumination—Chew That Cud!
Mark 11:22-23AMP
Doctor Billy Graham the American evangelist, once remarked: "We are to pray in times of adversity, lest we become faithless and unbelieving. We are to pray in times of prosperity, lest we become boastful and proud. We are to pray in times of danger, lest we become fearful and doubting. We are to pray in times of security, lest we become self-sufficient.”
Your devotion in faith, and prayer always run parallel. P.H
Mark 11:22-24AMP Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly]. 23 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will].
These verses given by Jesus aren’t a one time saying or thought, but Jesus speaks of a lifestyle of saying what God says, and thinking what what God thinks.
One of the things that I believe we sometimes forget is that the words that we speak mean a lot more than what we may think they do.
John 6:63KJV Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
So I ask you this question—What are you saying? What are you thinking?
What’s constant in your life?
You know what? The devil is a lier; he’s a loser too.
“The devil should never be able to get you to curse yourself by your words.” P.H
Again, verse 22, Have faith in God [constantly].
I declare unto you when the Word lives in your heart, its not something you just read, but something you live. It’s something you say, and it’s something you think. P.H
Again, Mark 11:23AMP Jesus say’s, 23 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will].
Napoleon Hill said, Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind by repetition of thought.
Hebrews 11:6TPT And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.
The question is—Does faith live within you? Has faith taken up residences.
In Joshua 1:8, and Psalm 1:2, and at least six other passages in Psalms, God tells us to meditate. Meditating is taking thought.
Listen to, Joshua 1:8NKJV This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Hear—Psalm 1:2NKJV But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
The word meditate, or rumination—ro?om?'naSH(?)n, means, a deep or considered thought about something.
Rumination also means, the action of chewing the cud.
Think about this for a minute, ”Cows slow down their rumination.”
It's kind of gross, but cows get a mouthful of grass, chew it up, swallow it, throw it back up in their mouths, chew it some more, swallow it again, throw it back up into their mouths again, chew it some more, throw it back up into their mouths again, chew it some more, and swallow it again. They do this over and over and over!
God designed cows to get the most out of every morsel; It allows them to get the maximum amount of nutrition out of the grass.
God’s word asks us to do the same. Meditation produces spiritual nutrition. Say—Rumination.
Hebrews 10:38NKJV Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
In other words, The ‘just’ ruminate; the ‘just’ shall live by faith.
Fact—If you don’t ruminate, you're probably not real just, and you obtain little to no faith. P.H
You see, faith believes, talks and acts.
Did you know when you hear something over and over again, you’re more likely to believe it?
Case in point—How many have heard it said,
“You should wait 30 to 60 mins. after you eat to go swimming.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, while it may not be the most comfortable thing to go for a swim with a full belly, the world won't end if you ignore your mom's advice you don’t need to wait 30 to 60 minutes after you eat to get back in the water.
How about this one—Vitamin C can help prevent or cure the common cold. It can’t, you’ve just heard that.
According to webmd.com, Vitamin C has been studied for many years as a possible treatment for colds, or as a way to help prevent colds. But findings have been inconsistent. Overall, experts have found little to no benefit from this.
Here’s a fact—The devil doesn’t invent new things to trip you up. He uses, guess what? Repetition.
He say’s, you can’t, you say, I can’t. He say’s, you can, go ahead and do it. You say, I can, and I will.
God’s word say’s, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Again, “what you say?
Hebrews 11:1-2KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Hebrews 11:1-2TM The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. 2 The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
According to scripture, we have the same faith that God used as He created everything.
Did you know that according to Hebrews 4, we are to enter into rest. That means exactly this, “My faith does all the work—I trust Him!”
Mark 4:35-40NKJV On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
When it comes to God and personal growth, “What you think and what you say determines everything.” P.H
Jesus had told them in verse 35, Let us go to the other side.
Say, “the other side.” If Jesus says you’re going to the other side, you’re going to the other side!
Verse 37, A great windstorm arouse…
Notice, this windstorm carried more weight than the words of Jesus. P.H
Verse 38, But He (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.
Why was Jesus sleeping? Because He was going to the other side!
Verse 38b…“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
What was speaking for the disciples? The fear of the storm.
Verse 39…He (Jesus) arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Jesus always offers a great calm! P.H
Psalm 46:10NLT “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
What does be still mean? He’s in control.
Verse 40…Jesus answered, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
So I ask you again, What you say; What you think?
A wonderful COG teacher, Kathy Sanders—“The only way to grow in God is to grow in His word.”
Again, What you say?
Benediction.
