Personal Blog
Sharing My Personal Experience
I embraced Christianity after experiencing a challenging childhood that is now commonly referred to as "dysfunctional." However, during the tumultuous years of the 1960s and 1970s, we were simply living our lives without realizing that there would be a specific term for our circumstances. Nevertheless, Jesus miraculously intervened in my life.
I underwent a significant change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the indescribable affection that Jesus has for me.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my life was completely transformed. Throughout the course of fifty years, this same love has supported me through all the highs and lows, the successes and heartbreaks, and even the positive experiences. I can confidently say that my life took a completely different path when I first experienced God's love at the age of eighteen.
The reason I continue to exist and the motivation behind my actions is this. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist you in creating songs that can effectively convey this incredible truth. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms such as 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 God's love during your childhood church experiences, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you were deeply affected by a significant loss, such as the end of a relationship or the death of a loved one. Many Christian songwriters have reached out to us to join our coaching programs, sharing their experiences of great suffering, abuse, or divorce, and their desire to express their pain and how God provided them with strength throughout. In the words of James Finley, "God doesn't protect us from hardships, but rather miraculously supports us through them."
However, the question remains: how can we effectively convey our personal experiences and stories through powerful musical compositions? How can we capture the essence of our testimonies in truly remarkable
Throughout our lives, we experience both the positive and negative aspects of life. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences and faith through Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in contemplating the most effective ways to capture your testimonials, ensuring that listeners will not only appreciate the music but also find solace, healing, and inspiration.
Initially, attempt to discover a shared theme or idea within your narrative that a large number of individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common emotions that everyone can relate to at some point. To engage people in your song, it is important to create a connection by allowing them to see themselves in your story. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we can better understand and connect with your narrative, which ultimately helps us appreciate and connect with your song.
If there is nothing in your story that captivates us and resonates with our own experiences, we will lose interest. A person we know, Becky Norquist, who used to attend NCS, went through the difficult experience of having five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around providing support for grieving families, but she also incorporates broader themes in her songs so that anyone who has faced any type of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and remain engaged with her music.
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 at Lillenas Music, say something that has stuck with me. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The first 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 may not be helpful to your listeners. If you delve too much into specifics like locations, dates, names, and other minutiae, you might end up losing your audience's interest.
When you identify a shared theme or emotion in your story that resonates with me, you make me feel included in your narrative. If the specific details of your experiences don't align with mine, it may disengage me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to find the right balance of providing sufficient or excessive details to focus on your emotions during the difficult times and subsequently shift the attention to the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
A testimonial song is a type of song that showcases how God has brought success or victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that may not be relatable to others. To enhance your songwriting, it can be helpful to study songs that align with the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking emotions rather than simply describing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand and differentiate between catharsis and testimonial.
When you are still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be difficult to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Sharing your pain through lyrics often seems self-centered, unless you are creating a country song that evokes sadness. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but it is important to understand that it is not a genuine testimony but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to remember that they likely have their own struggles and challenges to deal with. If you constantly burden them with your own problems, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist, as they provide a safe space for you to unload your issues and emotional pain. It's crucial to think about the impact of your lyrics on 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 done an impressive job with their uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" by conveying a message that is based on Scripture and relatable to many. Instead of writing a song that solely focuses on your childhood experiences, it might be worth considering incorporating positive and Scriptural themes that highlight the transformative power of God in overcoming adversity. There are numerous ways to express your personal 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 demonstrates how God has succeeded in your life. It is essential for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be beneficial for you to write these songs for your own personal healing, but it is important to recognize the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing your emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you have faced and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path you took 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 creating testimony songs and offer much more. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are committed to taking your songwriting skills to the next level and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is not binding and is solely intended to determine if this program aligns with your needs. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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