RUMINATION is the act or process of regurgitating and chewing again previously swallowed food. Think about a cow chewing its cud. Cud is partly digested food returned from the first stomach to the mouth for further chewing. Scientists say that dairy cows spend almost 8 hours a day chewing their cuds for a total of almost 30,000 chews daily...and they told us we only had to chew our food 32 times! This enables the cows to take in large quantities at first. Then the rumination process helps them fully digest the food and take in all of its nutrients.
Figuratively, rumination is obsessive thinking about an idea, situation, or choice especially when it interferes with normal mental functioning. Pessimistic rumination steals our sleep and disrupts our joy and peace. Specifically, harmful ruminating focuses one's attention on negative or distressing thoughts or feelings. When excessive or prolonged—this may lead to or exacerbate an episode of depression. (Webster's) Do you do a lot of ruminating? Some folks say, "I need to chew over that..." Synonyms are: to consider, mull over, muse about, or meditate.
Psalm 1 refers to positive and repetitive rumination on the Word of God as key to a life that has stability, maturity, fruitfulness and prosperity. Perhaps you've listened to a sermon or read a book of the Bible, do you then invest time and energy chewing, contemplating, or examining that Word? The psalmist writes,
1Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Self-help guru Napoleon Hill once said, "What you think most about is who you become." Bills. Inflation. Politics. Wars. Health Issues. If we tracked the last 72 hours of your life...who would your thoughts say you have you been? This question deserves deep reflection because we too often ruminate on our problems and concerns more than we do on the Word of God.
Negative RUMINATION is essentially anxiety, brooding, and worry. Unbridled rumination can lead to hopelessness. Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 6:27, "And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life?" The NKJV says, "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Paul admonished the church at Philippi to always rejoice! If you have joy and you lose it for some reason...JOY, again! He gave them these instructions about anxiety and rumination.
6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:6-9) | 
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