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Sharing Your Personal Experience
I found my way to Christianity despite the hardships of my challenging upbringing, which is often referred to as "dysfunctional" nowadays. However, during the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply navigating through life without realizing that our experiences would later be labeled as such. Nonetheless, Jesus managed to play a pivotal role in transforming my life.
My life went through a significant change when someone guided me to experience the unimaginable love that Jesus has for us.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. The love that I experienced during that time has been my source of strength and support for more than half a century, guiding me through both the challenges and successes, as well as the joyful moments. I can confidently say that the course of my life was forever altered when I first experienced God's love at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and my motivation in being a Christian songwriter is to convey the incredible reality of God's love. This principle is at the heart of Nashville Christian Songwriters, and all our platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, aim to spread the message of Jesus' love to people all over the world.
Do you have a personal story to share?
Perhaps you experienced the love of God during your childhood church days, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you have faced a significant loss that shattered you. Many Christian songwriters who have endured tremendous pain, abuse, or divorce have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They are eager to learn how to express their pain through their music and how God has provided them with strength and support during those difficult times. James Finley once said, "God doesn't shield us from life's challenges, but He miraculously sustains us through them all."
However, the question remains: how can we effectively convey our personal experiences and stories through music?
As we journey through life, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian songs, how can we effectively capture our testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in reflecting on how to convey your experiences in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with solace, healing, and inspiration.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared theme or element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are familiar emotions that everyone can relate to at some point. To engage people with your story, it's important to create a connection and enable them to see themselves in it. By incorporating elements of our shared experiences, we can establish a bond and allow others to fill in the gaps with their own narratives, thus captivating their interest and making them emotionally invested in your story.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with something we've personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student of NCS and a close friend of ours, has gone through the pain of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily addresses the struggles faced by grieving families. However, she also incorporates broader themes in her songs that allow anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – to connect with her music and remain engaged.
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, mention this idea and it has stuck with me ever since. Although it may seem contradictory at first, it actually makes sense. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. This second point advises against including irrelevant details in your song that do not benefit the listener. If you delve too much into specifics like location, time, dates, names, or other unnecessary information, you may end up losing your audience's interest.
By identifying the shared connection and shared feeling in your story that I can personally understand, you encourage me to engage with your song. If the specifics of your experience don't align with my own, it can discourage me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can learn to find the right amount of detail, neither too little nor too much, to focus on the emotions you experienced during the difficult situation and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a musical expression that showcases the ways in which God has brought about victory and success in your personal journey.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that may not resonate with others. To assist in the songwriting process, it can be helpful to study and analyze songs that convey the emotions you want to evoke, observing how the songwriters engage listeners without simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still feeling the emotional pain and trauma from a terrible experience in your life, it can be challenging to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Sharing your deepest emotions in your lyrics may be perceived as self-centered, unless you are creating a country song that revolves around heartbreak and sorrow. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it is not a genuine testimony, rather it is simply a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to acknowledge that they likely have their own struggles to deal with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for long. This is why professionals like therapists and journals exist – to provide a safe outlet for your personal issues and pain. It's crucial to consider how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of emotional space 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 broad message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely about your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to focus on positive Scriptural themes that highlight God's healing power in overcoming any negative aspects. There are numerous approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be worthwhile to explore alternative methods before delving into sharing your pain with others.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that reflects how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important for your emotional well-being to have a cathartic release. It may also be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself, but it is crucial to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis is a way to release emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over difficult experiences and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path you took to reach that point.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve deep into the art of writing testimony songs and cover various other topics. Many individuals seek free courses and webinars on Christian songwriting, but if you are eager to enhance your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to schedule a free phone call with us. This call is not binding and aims to determine if our program is suitable for you. Book your free call now.
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