CHEWING THE CUD

Meditation is like the brother of fasting. Fasting helps us to hear God’s voice more clearly, and eat His Word instead of physical food. You need the Word of God in your soul like you need food in your stomach. Jesus references this when He was being tempted by the enemy while fasting in the wilderness saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,” (Matthew 4:4). This was a quote from Moses giving the Israelites the laws of God, “And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord,” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

There are levels to revelation as the Bible is the Living Word. Cows have 4 chambers in their stomachs, each with a different purpose, producing balls of cud. The cud comes back up for the cow to chew and re-chew before it goes to the next chamber. This is a picture of how we meditate—to fully digest the Word. We read, and re-read, and prayerfully re-read. Then over time, God reveals its deep meanings.

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the provision of Your Word. Give me a hunger for it and Your will that is greater than my physical hunger. Holy Spirit, teach me greater and deeper revelation as I meditate on Your Word. Open my spiritual eyes to understand and apply Your Word in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

APPLICATION

"Eat before you eat." Before you have a meal today, read a passage of Scripture.