The misconception about Christian songwriting is that by acquiring enough tips, tricks, and shortcuts, one can avoid the effort of learning how to create impactful songs that resonate with people. It is often believed that simply acquiring knowledge can replace the hard work required to master the art of crafting songs that people will truly appreciate.
In my opinion, relying solely on tips and tricks cannot replace the importance of having a deep spiritual connection with God as a dedicated Christian songwriter. If you possess a strong connection with God and possess proficient songwriting skills, there is no need to resort to shortcuts or hacks. The ability to write well with clarity and confidence will always be readily available to you when you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit inspiring you.
The picture was taken by Laura E. Part
The quick and convenient nature of our digital culture has deeply influenced our thinking, making us believe that we can easily emulate the abilities of advanced AI models like CHATGPT. We have this notion that we should be able to input a few prompts and instantly generate a mind-blowing song in less than three seconds, which will impress everyone.
However, based on what I have observed, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world are not created by writers who rely on shortcuts or easy solutions. Instead, these songs are crafted by skilled Christian songwriters who communicate their message at a profound level through their art. They did not simply attempt to write a song one day and accidentally create something as powerful as "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Even before the major opportunities arose, they were already dedicated to studying and improving their skills in their chosen field. They consistently focused on learning how to create impactful lyrics and melodies, and putting them together in a way that would deeply resonate with listeners. Their goal was to create something that would evoke strong emotions and leave a lasting impression, that indescribable "WOW" factor that is instantly recognizable when you experience it.
Professional golfer Gary Player once said, "The harder I work and dedicate myself to practice, the more fortunate opportunities seem to come my way."
These individuals are not seeking out free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways in a deceptive manner. They are dedicated songwriters who are already actively pursuing their craft, constantly improving their skills in poetic and lyrical techniques. These are the individuals who are willing to invest their time and effort to create at a much more advanced level compared to most aspiring writers I come across.
We greatly respect individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys for their incredible impact on Christian worship songwriting. It is difficult to imagine where we would be without Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." However, we frequently overlook the fact that these songwriters have dedicated significant time and effort to perfecting their skills and have faced numerous challenges in refining their songs and ministries.
No one becomes skilled at creating catchy song titles, or "hooks," overnight. This applies to everyone, including up-and-coming artist Katy Nichole, who has been sharing her songs since she was just fourteen years old. While her hit song "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may seem like it gained viral success by luck, that is not the case. Katy has been working on her music for many years. Congratulations to her on her achievements!
Tips for Cultivating a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are various approaches to nurturing and enhancing your inner life. Consider these three essential aspects while striving to expand and convey your faith through your musical creations.
Make taking care of your soul a top priority. In our fast-paced and busy lives, it can be easy to overlook the importance of caring for our own well-being. However, if we neglect our own need for rest and rejuvenation, we will eventually become burned out. While it is important to continue caring for and serving others, we must also make time to replenish ourselves. Whatever self-care looks like to you, it is essential for maintaining your inner life, which is interconnected with the well-being of your outer life and physical body.
Nourish your intellectual capabilities. Many Christian songwriters tend to disregard the importance of intellectual development and believe that Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs are the only crucial aspects of a holy life. However, the most skilled songwriters understand the significance of delving into deep reading. They acknowledge that it is impossible to create profound and exceptional lyrics without first immersing themselves in a wealth of knowledge. If you ceased reading extensively after college or even high school, it is invaluable for you to pick up books again. Merely consuming fear-inducing content and reinforcing cultural biases through watching network or cable news does not suffice. If you aspire to write something impactful that transcends your own existence, it is imperative to enrich your mind by engaging with exceptional literature, poetry, and other inspiring works.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news solely focuses on fear-inducing content to boost their ratings. Even channels that claim to be Christian often rely on provoking anger in order to keep viewers engaged and sit through their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio hosts, shock jocks, and conservative pundits maintain their positions by attracting high ratings and securing sponsorships for their stakeholders. However, the constant stream of negativity they propagate is detrimental to your well-being and creative spirit. Consider abstaining from consuming any news for a few weeks and instead spend that time in quiet reflection, contemplating the love and goodness of God. Observe whether this break from negativity leads to an overflow of positivity in your creative endeavors. Negativity steals away your happiness and contributes to increased fear and anxiety. Take a pause and allow Jesus' Spirit to fill your heart and mind once again.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many more express their creativity through their deep connection with God. However, their accomplishments can also be attributed, at least to some extent, to their expertise in songwriting within the Christian genre. 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 are honing your skills in Christian songwriting, it is important to also focus on nurturing your inner life. It is crucial to offer the world something fresh, daring, courageous, and transformative, rather than simply rehashing the same phrases and ideas that have been heard for many years.
Feel free to share this article with your friends and spread the information. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave them below. Also, don't forget to save your name, email, and website in this browser for future
In this code, the getElementById method from the document object is used to select an element with the id "ak_js_1". The setAttribute method is then called on this selected element to modify its value attribute. The value
Categorized under
Stay connected with us
Explore more articles
Sections
Keywords
Trending articles:
Begin your journey
Well-received audio shows
Special characteristics
Information about
Courses that belong to you
Enroll now for our complimentary guide on the top 10 tips for professional songwriters