I always look forward to the coming of Spring; its arrival is heralded with the song of yellow finch as they eat from the thistle filled feeder hanging from a tree. They are often joined by their redheaded cousins, and cardinals eat from another feeder close by.

These brightly colored birds do something that we generally associate with human activity. I’m speaking of praise and worship. In Psalm 148:1-4, it is clear that God’s creation is to actively praise Him. When you skip down to verse 7, it suggests that the song of the bird is an act of praise to God.

The Psalm closes with these words: “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the Lord.”

I want to encourage you to give some consideration to what you say today. When you make a choice of words, make sure they are choice words.

Your choice of words will define you. Are you known more for your tongue lashings or for your words of grace and encouragement?

This was the centerpiece of James thoughts when he said: “For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water (3:7-12)”

Birds sing because they have a song, and you should praise God because he has put a new song in your heart.

Psalm 40:2-4: “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”