Last night I heard part of a video my husband was watching. I could tell by the voice it was Steve Harvey and he was preaching! He said he gets up very early so he can see the sunrise and the birds always amaze him. As soon as the first crack of light shows, the birds begin to sing. Not at daylight but at the first crack. Shouldn't we take lessons from the birds?
You may already be thinking about Matthew 6: 26. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Yes we are and most of us do not wake up singing! It is a new day. God says, joy comes in the morning! Psalm 30: 5, "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
Wired says, "...Scientists call this the dawn chorus. It can start as early as 4:00 a.m. and last several hours. Birds can sing at any time of day, but during the dawn chorus their songs are often louder, livelier, and more frequent. It's mostly made up of male birds, attempting to attract mates and warn other males away from their territories. But why choose the hours around sunrise to sing? There are a number of theories...Another idea is that early morning singing signals to other birds about the strength and vitality of the singer. Singing is an essential part of bird life, but it's costly in terms of time and energy. Singing loud and proud first thing in the morning tells everyone within hearing distance that you were strong and healthy enough to survive the night. This is attractive to potential mates, and lets your competitors know you're still around and in charge of your territory."
If we sang praises loud and proud first thing in the morning it would tell everyone we are strong and healthy enough to survive the night. It would also tell people, including reminding ourselves, that we are spiritually healthy! It would let our tempters know that God is in charge of our lives! Psalm 105: 2, "Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts."
What does the Bible say about morning praise? Psalm 5: 3, "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." Psalm 59; 16, "But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."
God's Word tells us to sing. Colossians 3: 16, "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." The Apostle Paul tells us to let God's Word dwell in us richly and then he tells us to teach and sing! Singing helps God's Word to dwell in us. That is a promise that we should crave. Don't you remember all those Sunday school and Vacation Bible school songs?
We build up others when we sing. Does it not build you up when you hear your church family sing? Think of the unbelievers who may be hearing it. They are hearing hundreds of testimonies and confessions of faith.
Singing praises is also warfare. Satan will not stay and listen to praise and worship. What identifies you with Christ more than your whole self singing praise and worship to Heaven? It is very hard to sin when you are singing to the Lord with your heart. Ephesians 5: 19, "speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord..." Our singing heart is at war with the evil one and the power of sin.
"Come, let us sing a psalm, and drive away the devil." Martin Luther
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