Everything That Has Breath

Something interesting happens in the early morning hours, just before it starts getting light and the sun comes out. At that quiet and rather dark hour of the morning, there’s a burst of bird song unlike any other time of the day. This early morning cacophony of birdsong is called the dawn chorus. Although birds can sing any time of the day, their song seems to be livelier and louder early morning.

There are different theories for this, according to the articles I read. One explanation is the fact that the light is too dim early morning for the birds to start venturing out to look for food, and therefore they use the time to sing and announce their presence to other birds.

Another theory says that singing loudly, and with gusto, signals the strength and vitality of the singer to other birds in the area, and speaks of the fact that the singer has survived the night. This is attractive to potential mates and a sign to your competitors that you are a force to be reckoned with.

This interesting behaviour pattern of the birds has a lesson in it for us: There’s something very significant about the morning, and about making our voice known to both God and to our enemy as the day starts. The book of Psalms has beautiful references to this: ‘In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice’ (Psalm 5:3); ‘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’ (Psalm 59:16); ‘But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you’ (Psalm 88:13); ‘Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land’ (Psalm 101:8).

God needs to hear our voice in the morning, but so does the enemy of our soul. Praising the Lord, proclaiming His love, His strength and His goodness, signals to our enemy that we’re in relationship with the Creator of the universe, and we’ve come through the dark night hours blessed and strong in Him. Psalm 8:2 says that ‘Through the praise of children and infants You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger’.
So, let’s be encouraged to join the dawn chorus every morning. Get hold of a song, a scripture, or a faith declaration and proclaim to the heavenlies, ‘Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom!’ (Psalm 145:3).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I join with everything that has breath and magnify Your Name. Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapours high above the clouds! Let every created thing give praise to the Lord! (Psalm 148:1-6). Amen.