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Sharing Your Personal Journey
I found my faith in Christ amidst a challenging upbringing that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" in today's context. However, during the tumultuous times of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply living our lives without realizing the specific terminology that would be assigned to our experiences. Nevertheless, Jesus played a significant role in my life and brought about a positive change.
My life went through a significant change when someone assisted me in discovering the unimaginable love of Jesus for the very first time.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a split second, my entire life was completely transformed. This love that I experienced has been the source of my strength and endurance for more than five decades, guiding me through both joyous and sorrowful moments, as well as the positive aspects of life. I firmly believe that the course of my life was permanently altered when I first felt the immense love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and the motivation behind my work is the driving force behind everything I do. Being a Christian songwriter, my goal is to assist others in creating songs that can effectively convey the incredible reality of our faith. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all 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 story of faith?
It could be that you experienced the love of God when you were young in church, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you went through a devastating loss that left you broken. I have had conversations with numerous Christian songwriters who have faced immense challenges like abuse, divorce, or grief, and they have expressed a desire to learn how to convey their pain through music and how God has provided them with strength throughout their hardships. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from difficulties, but rather miraculously supports us through them.
However, the question remains of how we can effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs.
Throughout our journey in life, we experience both the highs and lows. However, as Christians, we often wonder how we can effectively express our personal stories and experiences through music. I have three suggestions that can assist you in effectively conveying your testimonies in Christian songs, ensuring that listeners not only enjoy them but also find solace, restoration, and inspiration.
Initially, attempt to discover a shared element within your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that everyone is familiar with. To connect with others through your story, it is important to provide a relatable experience that allows them to relate to your song. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we can better connect and develop an emotional attachment to your story.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with our own experiences, we will lose interest. One of our friends and a former student, Becky Norquist, went through the heartbreaking experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. She centers her songs and ministry around supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her music that anyone who has experienced any type of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and remain engaged with her songs.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I was introduced to the idea by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, who emphasized the importance of finding a central theme or emotion to base your song on. However, he also advised against including excessive and irrelevant details in your lyrics that may confuse or disengage your listeners. If you delve too much into specific locations, dates, names, or other unnecessary information, you might risk losing their interest.
When you discover the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, you allow me to connect with your song. If the specific details in your story don't align with my own experiences, it can deter me. Although it may seem difficult, it is possible. You can learn to find the right balance of providing sufficient or excessive detail to focus on your emotions during the challenging times and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a type of song that highlights the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own experiences that may make it difficult for others to relate to your story. To overcome this, it can be helpful to look for examples of songs that convey the same emotions you want to express and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking feelings rather than simply listing details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you're still feeling the emotional pain and trauma of a terrible experience, it can be difficult to write a genuine and authentic song about it. Expressing your innermost feelings through lyrics can sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you're composing a typical country song that focuses on heartbreak. If that's the direction you want to take, then by all means go for it, but it's important to understand that it won't be considered a testimonial. Instead, it will be seen as a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it is important to acknowledge that they likely have their own struggles to cope with. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they may not be willing to listen for long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets for your dysfunction and hurts. It is crucial to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
I believe that Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have done an excellent job in creating the uplifting praise song "My Testimony" that conveys a message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song about your childhood experiences, you may want to consider focusing on positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's healing power over any negative aspects of life. There are numerous ways to express your testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore different approaches before sharing your pain with others.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that depicts how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important, and even necessary, for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it's important to remember that there is a distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the difficult situations you have faced and His ultimate triumph in your soul, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which is conducted online and spans over eight weeks, we delve into the art of writing testimonial songs and much more. While many individuals seek out free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a deep desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call. During this call, we can discuss whether this program is suitable for you. Feel free to schedule your call at your convenience.
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