Article
Expressing Thoughts from a Deeply Personal Perspective
A prevalent misconception surrounding Christian songwriting is the belief that by acquiring a sufficient amount of advice, shortcuts, and techniques, one can avoid the challenging process of mastering the art of creating impactful songs that resonate with people.
In my opinion, relying solely on tips and tricks is not enough for a Christian songwriter. It is important to have a deep connection with God and a rich inner life, as this serves as a valuable source of inspiration. With a strong foundation in faith and honed songwriting abilities, there is no need to resort to shortcuts. The ability to write well with clarity and confidence is always accessible, especially when one feels the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their heart.
The image was captured by photographer Laura E.
The way our society heavily relies on quick and convenient digital services has influenced our thinking patterns, making us believe that we can achieve the same level of productivity and creativity as advanced AI systems like CHATGPT. We have this expectation that we should be able to input a few prompts and instantly generate a mind-blowing song within seconds.
However, based on what I have observed, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world are not created by mediocre writers. These influential songs come from skilled Christian songwriters who have honed their craft and are able to communicate deep messages through their art. They did not simply attempt to write a song one day and accidentally create masterpieces like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Before the prominent individuals arrived, these individuals were already dedicating themselves to learning and improving their artistic skills. They were constantly educating themselves on how to skillfully combine impactful words and melodies to create captivating compositions that could deeply resonate with listeners on an emotional level. Their aim was to create something truly remarkable and indescribable, but undeniably captivating when experienced.
According to professional golfer Gary Player, the more effort and time I put into practicing, the more fortunate I become in my performances.
These individuals are not actively searching for free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways. They are dedicated and motivated songwriters who are already actively engaged in their craft. They are committed to learning and practicing advanced poetics and lyric techniques. These individuals are investing their time and effort to create at a much higher level compared to most aspiring writers who are not willing to put in the same amount of dedication.
Many of us have great respect for individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys due to their incredible impact on Christian worship songwriting. It is difficult to imagine where we would be without Chris Tomlin's powerful rendition of "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." However, we tend to overlook the fact that these songwriters have dedicated countless years to perfecting their skills and have faced numerous challenges in order to improve their songs and ministries.
No one becomes skilled at creating catchy song titles or "hooks" overnight, and this applies to even the rising star Katy Nichole from Centricity Music. Katy has been sharing her songs since she was fourteen years old, and her popular track "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may seem like a sudden viral success, but it's not. She has been working hard at her music for years. Congratulations to Katy on her journey!
Ways to Cultivate a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are numerous approaches to nurturing and enriching your inner life. Here are three key aspects to consider while striving to deepen your faith and convey it through your music.
Make soul care a priority. In today's fast-paced world, we often find ourselves leading busy lives with little time to take care of our own well-being. It is important to remember that while we should never neglect our responsibilities towards others, it is equally important to take time for ourselves to rest and recharge. Whatever self-care means to you, it is crucial for maintaining a healthy inner life, which is intertwined with taking care of our outer life and physical health.
Nourish your intellect. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of intellectual growth and assume that only Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs are necessary for a holy life. However, the most exceptional songwriters understand the significance of deep reading. They recognize that it is impossible to write remarkable lyrics if their minds are not enriched with knowledge and insights. If you have not engaged in reading since college or high school, it is crucial for you to pick up a book again. Simply watching network or cable news, which only fuels your fears and reinforces your cultural biases, does not suffice. If you aspire to create something impactful that will endure beyond your lifetime, it is essential to feed your mind with exceptional literature, poetry, and other inspiring works.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news is only focused on increasing their ratings by spreading fear. Even the "Christian" stations rely on making you angry so that you continue watching and enduring their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio, shock jocks, and even the conservative commentators maintain their positions by attracting high ratings and securing sponsorships for their shareholders. However, the constant stream of negativity they emit is detrimental to your spirit and creativity. Consider abstaining from any kind of news for a few weeks and use that time to sit quietly and reflect on the love and goodness of God. You may find that your positivity begins to overflow into your creative endeavors. Negativity steals your joy and intensifies fear and anxiety. Take a break and allow Jesus' Spirit to fill your heart and mind once more.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many more, draw inspiration from their deep connection with God when they write their music. However, their achievements can also be attributed, at least to some extent, to their talent and expertise in Christian songwriting. I am reminded of the wise words of Australian golfer Gary Player, who famously stated, "The more I dedicate myself to practice, the more fortunate I become."
While you work on honing your skills in Christian songwriting, it is important to also focus on nurturing a deep and fulfilling inner life. It is crucial to offer something fresh, daring, courageous, and freeing to the world through your music, rather than relying on recycled phrases and concepts that have been around for years.
Spread the word about this article to your friends.
Feel free to leave a comment below.
Remember to save your name, email, and website for future comments.
In this line of code, the JavaScript function "getElementById" is used to select an element with the id "ak_js_1". The "setAttribute" method is then called to set the value attribute of this element to the
Categories: This section contains various categories for different topics or subjects.
Tags: These are keywords or labels that are used to categorize or identify specific posts or content.
Popular Posts: These are the most well-liked or frequently viewed articles or content on the website.
Get Started: This section provides information or resources to help individuals begin or initiate a particular activity or task.
Popular Podcasts: These are the