Personal Blog Post
Sharing My Testimony
My journey to finding faith in Christ started during a challenging childhood that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" by society. However, back then, it was just the norm for me and my family during the tumultuous times of the 1960s and 1970s. Unaware that this term would later be used to describe our experiences, I experienced a divine intervention from Jesus that ultimately changed my life.
My life underwent a significant change when a person assisted me in establishing a profound connection with the incomprehensible love that Jesus possesses.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support throughout the past five decades, accompanying me through both joyous occasions and heart-wrenching misfortunes. What I can affirm is that the course of my existence was forever altered when I first experienced the overwhelming love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason I continue to exist and pursue my passion is because of this specific factor. It motivates me to be a Christian songwriter and assist others in creating songs that can articulate this incredible truth. The fundamental principle behind Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal experience or story of faith? It could be that you felt God's love during your childhood church experiences, or that you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you have been deeply hurt by a significant loss. Many Christian songwriters who have faced great pain, abuse, or divorce have approached us about our coaching programs. They are interested in learning how to express their pain through music and how God has helped them endure. As James Finley puts it, "God doesn't shield us from life's challenges, but rather miraculously supports us through them."
However, is there a way for us to effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our journey in life, we experience both the joys and the challenges. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe can assist you in reflecting on how to capture your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with love, solace, and renewed hope.
Initially, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that a large number of individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common experiences that everyone can relate to. By sharing a story that resonates with people, you can engage them in your music. It's important to include elements of our own experiences in your story so that listeners can connect and become emotionally invested in your song.
If the elements of your story fail to capture our attention and resonate with our own experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours and a former student of NCS, went through a difficult journey of facing five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she concentrates on supporting grieving families. However, she also includes enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can connect with her music and remain engaged.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or sentiment rather than getting caught up in
The statement was originally made by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, and it has stuck with me ever since. Although it may initially seem contradictory, it is not. The first point emphasizes the importance of finding a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point advises against including irrelevant details in your song that do not serve a purpose for the listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, dates, names, or other unnecessary specifics, you may risk losing the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can connect with, you welcome me into your narrative. If the specific details don't align with my own experiences, it might discourage me. It may seem difficult, but it is achievable. You can learn how to find the right amount of detail that focuses on conveying your emotions during the challenging times and then shift the narrative towards how God's intervention brought redemption for you.
…a testimonial song is a type of song that depicts the triumph of God in your personal experiences and life journey. It serves as a musical testimony of the power and presence of God in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that others may not be able to relate to. One way to improve your songwriting is to study examples of songs that evoke emotions in listeners rather than simply listing specific details.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally and physically affected by a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Sharing your pain in your lyrics can sometimes be seen as self-centered, unless you are aiming to create a traditional country song that expresses sorrow. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but it is important to recognize that it is not a genuine testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
Taking into consideration the needs of your audience, it becomes apparent that they likely have their own personal struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why professionals such as therapists and the act of journaling exist – to provide an outlet for expressing one's dysfunction and emotional pain. It is essential to consider the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional atmosphere are you creating for them? 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 message rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song about your personal childhood experiences, it might be more impactful to focus on Scriptural themes that highlight God's healing power and triumph over negativity. There are numerous approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore different avenues before delving into the depths of your pain.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that highlights how God has overcome and achieved victory in your life. It is important, and even necessary, for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to remember that there is a distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions and letting go, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the hardships you have faced and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and much more. While many individuals seek out free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to take your songwriting to the next level and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is not obligatory and will help determine if our program aligns with your goals. Book your free call today.
Feel free to share this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave a reply. Don't forget to save your name, email, and website in this browser for future comments.
In this code, we are using the "getElementById" method to select an element with the id "ak_js_1". We then use the "setAttribute" method to set the value of this element to the current time,
Sectioned Under:
Track us
Explore Additional Articles
Classifications
Keywords
Trending Articles:
Commence
Trending Sound Broadcasts
Characteristics
Regarding
YOUR LESSONS
Enroll Now for Our Complimentary Expert Songwriters Top 10 Suggestion Handbook