Personal Blog
Sharing from My Own Experience
I found my way to Christianity after growing up in a troubled and chaotic childhood, which is now commonly referred to as "dysfunctional." However, back then, we didn't realize that our experiences had a specific label. Nevertheless, Jesus somehow entered my life and made a significant impact.
My life went through a significant change when someone guided me to experience the indescribable love that Jesus offers for the very first time.
The photo credit is given to Laura E. Part
In a split second, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love is what has supported me throughout the various challenges and successes, as well as the joys. I can confidently say that the course of my life was permanently altered when I experienced the love of God for the very first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and my purpose in life is what keeps me going. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can beautifully convey this incredible truth. The fundamental belief of Nashville Christian Songwriters is to spread the love of Jesus to every person in the world, which is why we offer podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced the love of God during your childhood church experiences, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. Many Christian songwriters who have experienced great pain, abuse, or divorce have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They are eager to learn how to convey their pain through music and how God has supported them through it. According to James Finley, God does not shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously helps us endure them.
However, the question remains: how can we effectively express our personal experiences and beliefs through powerful musical compositions? How can we capture the essence of our testimonies within exceptional songs
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories in Christian songs, it can be challenging. To assist you in effectively conveying your testimonies through music, I have three helpful suggestions. These tips aim to ensure that your songs resonate with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To start, attempt to discover a shared theme in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are familiar emotions that almost everyone can relate to. To engage people in your story, it is important to create a connection with them. By incorporating elements of our shared experiences into your narrative, we allow listeners to fill in the gaps with their own personal stories, leading them to develop a strong emotional connection with yours.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with something we have personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student from NCS and a friend of ours, went through the difficult experience of dealing with five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting and comforting families who have suffered loss, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has experienced any type of loss – which includes all of us – can relate and continue to connect with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I remember hearing Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, say something that stuck with me. It might seem contradictory at first, but it's actually not. The first point he made was to choose a common theme or emotion as the foundation for your song. The second point is about avoiding unnecessary details in your song that don't serve the listener. If you start including too many specific locations, times, dates, names, or other excessive details, there's a chance that the listener might lose interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, you allow me to connect with your song. If the specific details you provide don't align with my own experiences, it can disengage me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can learn to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive detail, focusing on how you felt during the challenging situation, and then shifting towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a type of song that depicts the triumph of God in a person's life.
It is important to recognize the unique details in your story that are personal to you and may not resonate with others. To help with this, you can look for examples of songs that are similar to the one you want to write and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be difficult to authentically express your feelings through a song. Often, pouring your heart out in lyrics can be perceived as self-centered, unless you are creating a traditional country song that portrays sadness. If that is your intention, then go ahead and do it, but be aware that it is not a genuine testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be receptive for long. That's why professionals like therapists and personal journals exist – they are there to provide an outlet for your emotional baggage and wounds. Therefore, it's crucial to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a broad message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses on your personal childhood story, it may be more beneficial to explore positive Scriptural themes that showcase how God's healing power triumphs over negativity. There are countless ways to express your testimony, so it would be wise to consider other approaches before sharing your pain with others.
To sum up, a testimonial song is a song that demonstrates how God succeeded in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it's important to recognize that there is a distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the hardships you have faced and His ultimate victory in your spirit, regardless of the journey.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of testimony songs and much more. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to take your songwriting skills to the next level and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call carries no obligations and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs. You can schedule your free call by following this link.
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