Music affects and reflects what is going on within individuals and nations. It has a powerful impact on a person's mind, feelings, psyche, and emotions. Music motivates people, manipulates thinking, and moves individuals in certain directions depending on its rhythm, melody, harmony, and words. God created the human voice for singing as well as speaking because it makes beautiful sounds. Music intensifies the feeling of relationships and expresses passion in acknowledgment of what is being celebrated. It reaches a depth of feeling far beyond the spoken word, and when words of understanding and truth are mixed with music, their power to motivate is tremendously intensified. Music is akin to a drug that imparts a spirit, mood, or attitude to an occasion, and it has the most profound effect on character of all the arts. It cannot be escaped unless one gets away from it, and even then it may have a subliminal effect. Music causes body movements, stimulates memory more powerfully than anything else, and creates images in people's minds. It can elevate or bring down, fill with awe, bring sadness or pain or relief, put a lump in the throat or tears in the eyes, encourage anticipation or remembrance, and cross ethnic and language barriers. Its overall godly function is to intensify positive attitudes regarding God's creative activities, including acts of salvation and deliverance. Music sets the mood and focuses the attitude on God during worship. Singing is commanded in the Psalms as something that must be done rather than an option. God intends singing to be an act of devotion rather than merely an aesthetic experience, and it gives a sense of belonging as people join together in praises to God. A hymn is a mystical poem full of symbols that gives a hold on continuity with God. Singing hymns is a positive substitute for alcohol because it imparts a similar effect without a negative kickback. Great causes march to music because it binds people together. Music is every bit as effective at ministering to the congregation as the spoken word. It is a form of ministerial function because it instructs with power, teaches positive truths, admonishes authoritatively, and supplies the mood. When people of talent write music and put it to the words of God, individuals can sing to God what they would be unable to express on their own. God urges singing with understanding so that the flavor of the author's intent is grasped and motivation occurs. Music was used to soothe agitated states, heal mental diseases, and check riots. It was known to have these effects as far back as the time of David and even among ancient Greek philosophers.

Covering James 1:2, this lesson explores the importance of facing every trial God places before us with joy for the sake of our spiritual growth. As we examine passages throughout the Bible, we see that not all of God's instructions are easy to follow. Maintaining a joyful attitude during difficult circumstances is among the most challenging commands we are given. In other translations, trials are even described as "gifts" and "friends," offering additional perspective on how believers are called to approach hardship. Scripture also provides many examples of heroes of faith who rose up and obeyed God's instruction. The march around Jericho and Christ's night before His death both demonstrate individuals courageously stepping forward to fulfill God's will. Though not every trial we face will be on such a great scale, each one provides an opportunity to joyfully praise and trust in God.