Personal Blog Post
Sharing My Journey of Finding Faith
My upbringing was far from ideal, filled with challenges and difficulties that are now categorized as a "dysfunctional" childhood. However, during the tumultuous period of the 1960's and 70's, my family and I were simply navigating through life without realizing the extent of our struggles. It was during this time that Jesus unexpectedly entered my life and made a significant impact.
My life underwent a significant change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the overwhelming, indescribable love that Jesus possesses.
The photo was taken by a photographer named Laura E
In a single moment, 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 the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the moments of joy. I can confidently say that the course of my life was forever altered when I experienced the overwhelming love of God for the first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason I continue to exist and pursue my passion is because of this. It motivates me to be a songwriter who focuses on Christian themes and aims to assist others in composing songs that can capture this incredible truth. This principle is at the heart of Nashville Christian Songwriters, and all our various platforms – podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs – are dedicated to spreading the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood in church, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It could also be that you went through a significant loss that shattered you. I have had conversations with many Christian songwriters who have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They have experienced great pain, abuse, or divorce, and they want to learn how to convey their struggles and how God has carried them through it all. James Finley suggests that although God does not shield us from difficulties, He miraculously supports us through them.
However, the question remains: How can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences in Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe can assist you in considering how to accurately capture your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
It is a common experience for everyone to feel lonely or lost at times. When you share your story in a way that resonates with others, it allows them to connect with your song. It is important for us to find elements of our own experiences within yours. By doing so, we can relate to your story and develop a strong emotional connection with it.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and resonates with our own experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours who attended NCS, went through the heartbreaking experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her songs and ministry primarily address the struggles of grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her music so that anyone who has experienced loss in any form – which includes all of us – can connect with her songs 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, mention this idea, and it has stuck with me ever since. At first glance, it may seem contradictory, but it's not. The initial point is to discover a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that won't benefit the listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other particulars, you may end up losing the listener's interest.
When you are able to identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, it allows me to connect with your song. If the specific details you provide do not align with my own experiences, it may deter me from fully engaging. Despite this challenge, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive details, focusing on conveying your emotions during the difficult time and then shifting towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that exemplifies the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that portrays the instances where God has overcome obstacles and achieved success in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that may not be relatable to others. To improve your songwriting, it can be helpful to study songs that resonate with you and observe how the writers effectively engage listeners with emotions rather than simply listing details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally affected and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to create an authentic song that reflects your feelings. Expressing your emotions through lyrics can sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are writing a country song that captures the essence of heartbreak. If that's your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but it's important to recognize that it won't serve as a genuine testimony, but rather as a sorrowful country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles to handle. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they may not be inclined to listen for very long. That's why therapists and journals exist – to provide an outlet for your personal difficulties and emotional baggage. It's crucial to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional state are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have done an excellent job in creating the energetic praise song "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a broad message grounded in Scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses solely on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive biblical themes that highlight God's healing power in overcoming negativity. There are numerous avenues through which you can express your testimony, so it would be wise to explore different approaches before delving into personal pain.
To sum up, a testimonial song is a song that reflects how God has been victorious 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 remember that there is a distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you have faced and His ultimate victory in your inner being, regardless of the path taken to reach it.
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 offer much more. While many individuals may only be interested in free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and feel a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can click on the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call is not binding in any way and is simply meant to determine if our program is suitable for you. Take the opportunity to schedule your free call now.
Please feel free to share this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave a reply. Also, remember to save my name, email, and website in this browser for future reference.
This code snippet retrieves the HTML element with the ID "ak_js_1" and sets its attribute "value" to the current timestamp obtained from the Date object.
Listed under
Stay connected with us
Explore additional articles
Groupings
Keywords
Trending articles:
Begin your journey
Highly recommended audio shows
Notable characteristics
Information regarding
Enroll now and receive our complimentary guide on the best strategies for aspiring songwriters