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Expressing the Depths of Your Inner World through Writing
There is a prevalent misconception surrounding Christian songwriting, suggesting that by simply acquiring a sufficient amount of tips, tricks, and shortcuts, one can effortlessly avoid the diligent 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 crucial to have a deep connection with God and a strong ability to write songs. With these two elements, there is no need to rely on shortcuts. The ability to write well with clarity and confidence is always present and can be accessed whenever one feels inspired by the Holy Spirit in their heart.
The photograph was taken by a photographer named Laura
The modern fast-paced culture of relying on digital services has influenced our thinking to believe that we can achieve the same level of efficiency and creativity as advanced AI systems like CHATGPT. We often expect that with just a few prompts, we should be able to effortlessly produce a remarkable song in less than three seconds that will impress everyone.
However, based on what I have observed, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world were not created by writers who relied on shortcuts. These writers were and continue to be skilled in the art of Christian songwriting, effectively communicating profound messages through their craft. They did not simply attempt to create a song one day and accidentally stumble upon masterpieces like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Before the major players arrived, these individuals were already dedicated to studying and improving their artistic skills. They consistently immersed themselves in learning how to skillfully combine impactful words and melodies to create captivating compositions. Their goal was to create something that could deeply resonate with listeners on an emotional level, possessing an unexplainable but undeniable "WOW" factor that could be felt upon hearing 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 searching for free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways in a deceptive manner. They are dedicated songwriters who are already committed to their craft, constantly learning and refining their skills in creating poetic and lyrical compositions. These women and men are investing their time and effort to reach a much higher level of expertise compared to the majority of aspiring writers who seem less willing to put in the necessary work.
We hold a great amount of 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 what our worship experience would be like without the powerful lyrics of Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." However, we tend to overlook the fact that these songwriters have dedicated numerous years to perfecting their skills and have faced various 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 talented 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 it gained sudden popularity online, but this is not the case. Katy has been working hard on her music for many years. (Congratulations, Katy!)
Ways to Cultivate a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are various approaches to nurturing a fulfilling and rewarding inner life. Consider these three aspects while striving to develop and convey your faith through your music.
Make taking care of your soul a priority. In today's fast-paced world, our lives are often filled with chaos and busyness, leaving us with little time to nurture our souls. While it's important to care for and serve others, neglecting our own need for rest and rejuvenation can lead to burnout. It's crucial to recognize that self-care is essential for maintaining our inner well-being, which is closely connected to the well-being of our outer life and physical body.
Nourish your intellect. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of intellectual growth and mistakenly believe that Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs are the only essential aspects of a holy life. However, the most skilled songwriters understand the necessity of delving into deep reading. They recognize that it is impossible to craft remarkable lyrics without first immersing themselves in a wealth of words. If you have not pursued reading beyond your college or high school years, it is crucial for you to pick up books again. Simply consuming fear-inducing content and reinforcing cultural biases through network or cable news does not suffice. If you aspire to create something impactful and enduring, it is essential to feed your mind with exceptional literature, poetry, and other sources of inspiration.
Disconnect from negativity. The content on cable news is solely focused on creating fear in order to attract viewership. Even channels that claim to be Christian often rely on making you angry so that you continue watching and stay engaged with their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio hosts, shocking personalities, and even conservative commentators maintain their positions by generating high ratings and securing sponsorships. However, the constant stream of negativity that they promote has detrimental effects on your soul and creativity. I suggest taking a break from consuming any form of news for a few weeks and instead spending that time in quiet contemplation, reflecting on God's love and goodness. You may find that this shift in focus allows your positivity to flourish and permeate into your creative endeavors. Negativity diminishes your joy and cultivates fear and anxiety. Therefore, it is important to take a break and replenish your heart and mind with the Spirit of Jesus.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many others are able to create their music because they have a deep connection with God. However, their success can also be attributed to their talent and abilities as Christian songwriters. It reminds me of a quote by Australian golfer Gary Player, who once said, "The more I practice, the luckier I get."
While you are working on improving your Christian songwriting abilities, it is important to also focus on nurturing your inner self. It is crucial to offer the world something fresh, courageous, and freeing in your music, rather than simply recycling old phrases and concepts that have been around for a long time.
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