Talking at a local church, I said, “Prayer is a form of rumination.” Rumination is what cows do. They chew on food, burp it back up, then chew on it more to extract maximum nutritional benefit. When we pray, we chew on feelings and thoughts, burp them back up, then chew on them some more to extract maximum nutritional benefit.
I love collaborative learning, so we engaged in a soulful dialogue. One woman said she has always viewed the word rumination negatively. In psychology rumination means to get stuck in a negative thought cycle as the natural process of self-reflection goes awry. After an upsetting situation, the ruminating mind plays the same distressing scene over and over again, causing increased sadden, anger, or agitation each time around the cycle. People can get stuck in a painful, inner monologue.
“If we take our anxious inner monologue,” I responded, “and we invite the God into an ongoing dialogue, then the Holy Spirit will transform our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer.”
The curious woman asked, “How do we do that? How do we shift from monologue to dialogue?”
I said simply, “We begin a dialogue: ‘God, how do I do that? Right now, how do I start sharing my burdens with You? How do I stop spinning my own wheels and allow You to move with me forward into healing and wholeness?’ Praying and waiting. Praying more and waiting more. Over time, carrying on a conversational relationship with God feels as effortless as breathing.”
She said, “Oh yeah, that’s my next question, “How do I wait? I am not good at waiting.” I suspect God will teach her as He teaches all of us the value of waiting, as our divine daily dialogue continues to transform us.
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord (Psalm 27:14, AMP).
