by David Peters - It’s been a long night for these past few years. Millions have died from Covid. Millions more have been robbed of peace, freedom, and being with family and friends. People have been divided. Others have seen their livelihoods destroyed. Churches have been shuttered and some have closed. Now war is in the air. Yes, it’s been a long night, but there is good news.
Psalm 30:5b (NLT) says, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” After every night, there’s always a morning. Dawn will come.
During December 2021, I asked the Lord for a prophetic message for 2022, and the following scripture was highlighted to me: Proverbs 4:18 (RSV): “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
Those who have faith in Christ are declared righteous in God’s sight and their sin is forgiven. And the path of the righteous – those who stay connected to Christ – is like the light of dawn. What’s that like? When I married Greta, I discovered that she was an early riser, often waking at 5am to exercise. This was a culture shock to me.
Well, Greta converted me. Now I love 5am starts. Often, night turns to dawn around that time. The thing we notice is the chorus of birdsong – thrushes, blackbirds, doves, native tuis and the odd rooster singing their hearts out. Song and dawn go together. Dawn causes song in the natural realm, but in the spiritual realm, song also causes dawn. Psalm 57:8 (NLT) says, “Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.”
In 2022, don’t let Satan steal your song through fear and bad news. Sing to the dawn. Praise and worship is the sign of an awakened heart. Pray and declare that dawn will come. Dawn has faint light. It’s twilight – between night and day. But once dawn comes the light gradually shines brighter and brighter until full day (noon).
Noon is the brightest, warmest part of the day. Noon is also when the sun is due north. If we know where north is, we can travel anywhere accurately. Many have lost sight of north during this pandemic and lost their bearings. But the Lord will restore clarity and direction.
Proverbs 4:18 hints that God’s plans unfold bit by bit, and light steadily increases on our path. I believe that 2022 will be a year of dawning for those who follow the Lord. Despite whatever darkness the world goes through this year, declare over your life, family, and work that your path will be, “like the light of dawn which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
Awaken the dawn through prayer and worship. Sing to it. Speak to it. And be a dawn carrier to others in darkness.
David Peters has spoken at PK Events and is a founder of SpiritLife Ministries. Together with his wife Greta, they have a dynamic ministry inspiring people to have unwavering hope despite life’s trials and equipping them to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit in daily life.