Sometimes I wake up early in the morning.

If my window is open, in the black of night I can hear a vibrant chorus of birds. Unhindered by the dark and the cold, warblers, orioles, wrens, and robins sing. Their songs lure me back to sleep.

Research has shown that music benefits people’s bodies and minds. Studies indicate that music acts as a pain inhibitor: for women giving birth, for severely ill children, for patients recovering from spinal surgery, for those suffering from fibromyalgia.

When vocals are added to the music, the benefits increase even more. Parents singing to their premature babies, elderly residents singing at a nursing home, and people suffering from depression all show boosts in their immune system, reductions in anxiety, and improvement in their overall health.

Paul wouldn’t have had any scientific research on which to base his instruction to sing to one another.

If it wasn’t the whisper of the Holy Spirit, then it was his own life experience that led him to this great advice.

Hum! Sing! Make music together. Thank God with song.

Our praise to God, our songs, and our music provide therapy for our own souls. So, if you’re up before the crack of dawn, consider joining in with the birds. Singing may be just what you need.