Music has always had a powerful influence on me. I can still remember songs that I learned at camp when I was eight – the guys that led the music would create songs to help us learn the memory verses and it worked! I can still remember songs that I learned in Sunday School – the B-I-B-L-E now that’s the book for me! I can remember songs from musicians that I listened to 20 years ago – I won’t admit which songs though! 
Music definitely has the potential to influence people.
I was reminded of this truth yesterday as I led a church service at our local extended care facility. The residents that live there are in all different stages of life ranging from fairly cognizant to not cognizant at all and most of the residents can not see anymore or can see very little. All I do for the services is read a few passages of scripture and then we sing. I was amazed yesterday as I watched a “transformation” take place in the residents when we started to sing. Even though most of the residents couldn’t see the words on the song sheets they sang by memory. Even though some of the residents could not communicate verbally they attempted to sing. As we sang, I could even see a glimmer of joy in some of the residents who were not even cognizant. We even had a gentlemen join us half through the service because of the music. The staff had tried to bring him earlier but he didn’t want to come. When he heard the music he came out of his room and he joined us in singing. It was truly a wonderful time and it was a great testimony to the influence that music can have on our lives!
How have you seen music influence people? How has music influenced you?
Music has influenced me in so many ways. One example is when I was first considering becoming a Christian, the introductory investigative Bible study I was in would wind up with us talking, eating chips and listening to Christian music. In particular, I remember the song "Jonah" by Lamb – a Messianic Jewish folk band – which had a spooky electronic voice at the start calling "Jonah, Jonah where are you?" It really made an impression on me, and from time to time in my life when the relationship between me and God could be tighter that scripture comes back to me, of God searching for his prophet Jonah and of course I always hear that music in my head!
We've seen the same thing happen at our motel outreach–where they wouldn't listen to a sermon, they'd beg us to sing "Amazing Grace."
Music destroys barriers in our souls to our spirits.
Thanks for sharing Mark!
"Music destroys barriers in our souls to our spirits". That is so true! We saw an example of this at our kids camp as well. Some of the boys that definitely were not interested in the bible teaching time came alive when it came to the singing time.
My love for music brought me to Christian music. I kept it to myslef for years that I was a drummer because of my church's ultra conservative oppinion. Then one day an Elder of the church asked if him and I could start practicing together. I told him I was uncertain that other musicians would be able to play with me. He continued to encourage me. After practicing for a year with him I saw that I could play with other. It was at this time that I started playing at the senior facility in the area, and a special need home. The real reward is the smiles on thier faces for us doing something that he enjoy doing for them.
Praise God! Thanks for sharing!