Blog Post
Expressing from an Abundant Inner World
A prevalent misconception surrounding Christian songwriting is the belief that by acquiring a sufficient amount of advice, techniques, and shortcuts, one can somehow evade the diligent effort required to master the art of creating impactful songs that resonate with people.
In my opinion, relying on tips and tricks alone is not enough for being a successful Christian songwriter. It is essential to have a deep connection with God and a rich inner life to draw inspiration from. When you possess a strong bond with God and possess good songwriting skills, there is no need to depend on shortcuts. The ability to write well with clarity and confidence is always within reach, especially when you feel the movement of the Holy Spirit in your heart.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Part
The current fast-paced and convenience-focused culture surrounding technology has heavily influenced our thinking patterns. It has led us to believe that we can easily replicate the capabilities of advanced AI systems like CHATGPT. We assume that with just a few simple prompts, we should be able to instantly generate a song that will amaze and impress everyone in a matter of seconds.
However, based on my personal observations, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world are not created by writers who rely on shortcuts or unoriginal ideas. Instead, these songs are crafted by skilled Christian songwriters who effectively communicate profound messages through their art. They do not simply attempt to write a song on a whim and accidentally produce a masterpiece like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Even before the influential figures arrived, these individuals were already dedicated to honing their skills and achieving greatness in their craft. They made it a priority to continuously learn and improve their ability to create impactful songs and lyrics that could deeply touch and resonate with their audience. Their aim was to create something that had an indescribable yet undeniable "WOW" factor, which could evoke strong emotions and leave a lasting impression on anyone who listened to their music.
According to professional golfer Gary Player, the level of luck I experience increases proportionately with the amount of practice I engage in.
These individuals are not searching for free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways in a deceptive manner. They are dedicated songwriters who are already actively engaged in their craft, continuously improving their poetic and lyrical skills. Unlike many aspiring writers, they are committed to investing time and effort to create at a much higher level.
We greatly appreciate and look up to individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys for their incredible impact in creating Christian worship songs. It's hard 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 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. This is true for everyone, including up-and-coming artist Katy Nichole, who has been sharing her songs since she was just fourteen years old. Although her hit song "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may give the impression that she had a sudden lucky break, this is not the case. Katy has been working hard at her music for many years. (Congratulations, Katy!)
Tips for Cultivating a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are several approaches to nurturing and enriching your inner life. Here, we will outline three essential factors to consider when aiming to enhance and articulate your faith through your music.
Make soul care a priority. In today's fast-paced world, our lives are often filled with chaos and little time for taking care of our souls. Although it is important to serve and care for others, if we neglect our own need for rest and rejuvenation, we will eventually burn out. It is crucial to recognize the significance of self-care in maintaining a healthy inner life, as this is closely connected to our overall well-being and physical health.
Nourish your intellect. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of intellectual growth and assume that the key elements of a holy life are limited to Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs. However, the most skilled songwriters understand the significance of reading extensively. They acknowledge that it is impossible to craft exceptional lyrics without first immersing themselves in a plethora of words. If you have ceased reading after completing college or even high school, it is crucial for you to resume this habit. Merely indulging in fear-inducing news from network or cable sources does not suffice. If you aspire to produce impactful work that surpasses your own lifetime, it is imperative to nourish your mind with exceptional literature, poetry, and other sources of inspiration.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news is focused on gaining ratings by spreading fear. Even the so-called "Christian" stations aim to make you angry so that you will continue watching and endure their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio, shock jocks, and even the conservative commentators maintain their jobs by attracting viewership and securing sponsorships for their shareholders. However, the constant stream of negativity they emit is detrimental to your well-being and creative abilities. Consider abstaining from all forms of news for a few weeks and utilize that time to sit quietly and contemplate the love and goodness of God. You may find that your positivity begins to overflow into your artistic expressions. Negativity deprives you of joy and heightens feelings of fear and anxiety. Take a break and replenish your heart and mind with the Spirit of Jesus once more.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many more, create their music from a place of abundance in their connection with God. However, their achievements can also be attributed, at least partially, to their talent as Christian songwriters. I am reminded of the quote by Australian golfer Gary Player, who famously stated, "The more I practice, the luckier I get."
While you are working on your ministry in Christian songwriting, it is important to also focus on nurturing and growing your inner self. It is not enough to simply improve your songwriting abilities; the world is in need of fresh, courageous, and revolutionary ideas from you, rather than recycled phrases and concepts that have been heard for years.
Spread the word about this article to your friends.
Do not forget to comment on this post.
Remember to save my name, email, and website on this browser for future comments.
In this code snippet, the getElementById method is used to access an HTML element with the id "ak_js_1". The setAttribute method is then used to set the value of this element to the current time using the getTime
Under a specific category, you can find a variety of posts to browse through. We have organized our content into different categories and tags to make it easier for you to navigate. Some of our most popular posts include getting started guides, popular podcasts, and informative features. Our website is dedicated to providing valuable resources for songwriters and you can sign up today to receive our free Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip