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Reflecting on Your Personal Experience
My journey to finding faith in Christ began in a challenging childhood that is often described as "dysfunctional" by society today. However, during the tumultuous times of the 1960's and 1970's, my family and I were simply navigating through life without realizing there was a term for our struggles. Nonetheless, Jesus miraculously entered my life and brought about a significant change.
My life underwent a profound change when someone guided me to a deep understanding of the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for us.
The photo credit for this image goes to Laura E
In a split second, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support for more than half a century, guiding me through both the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, as well as the positive experiences. The significant turning point in my life occurred when I first experienced the love of God at the age of eighteen, and it has forever altered the course of my journey.
The reason I continue to exist and pursue my passion is because of this one thing. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my mission to assist you in creating songs that can capture the beauty of this incredible truth. The essence of 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?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood church experiences, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It could also be that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. I have spoken to numerous Christian songwriters who have gone through immense pain, abuse, or divorce and have expressed their desire to learn how to convey their struggles and how God supported them through it. James Finley believes that while God doesn't shield us from difficult situations, He miraculously helps us endure them.
However, the question remains: how can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our journey in life, we experience both the joys and challenges it has to offer. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences as Christians through music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? In this regard, I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in contemplating how to artistically encapsulate your testimonials, ensuring that listeners will appreciate and derive solace, restoration, and optimism from them.
Initially, attempt to discover a shared theme or concept in your narrative that resonates with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common experiences that people can relate to. By allowing others to connect with your story, you can effectively engage them in your song. It is important to incorporate elements of our shared experiences so that listeners can insert their own personal narratives and develop a deeper connection with your music.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and evoke familiar emotions, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours who attended NCS, has personally experienced the pain of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily addresses the struggles of grieving families. However, she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has suffered any kind of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and stay engaged with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood 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. At first glance, it may seem contradictory, but it's not. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that don't serve any purpose for the listener. If you delve too much into specifics like locations, dates, names, or other irrelevant information, there's a chance that you might lose the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared element and shared feeling in your story that I can understand, it encourages me to engage with your song. If the specifics of your story don't align with mine, it can deter me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can learn to find the right balance of providing sufficient but not excessive details to focus on your emotions during the difficult experience 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 demonstrates the ways in which God has achieved victory in your personal life.
It's important to remember that there may be certain details in your story that are unique to you and may not resonate with others. To overcome this, it can be helpful to look for examples of songs that capture the emotions you want to convey and analyze how the songwriters engage listeners in those emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you are still emotionally affected and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Pouring your heart out in the lyrics may sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are specifically aiming to create a sorrowful country song. If that is your intention, then go ahead and express yourself in that way, but keep in mind that it won't be considered a genuine testimony, rather just a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to cope with. If you simply unload your own issues onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – to provide an outlet for your personal problems and pain. It's crucial to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of emotional state are you inviting them into? How will they feel once they've heard 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 solely on your childhood story, it might be more beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that showcase how God's healing power can overcome any negativity. There are numerous approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be worth considering different methods before sharing your personal pain with others.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that portrays how God has succeeded in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to have a cathartic release. It might be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to distinguish 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 soul, regardless of the path you take.
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. While many individuals may seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to establish your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is completely without any obligations and aims to determine if our program is suitable for your needs. Please schedule your free call by clicking here.
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