Blog
Expressing the Depths of Your Inner World
There is a prevalent misconception surrounding Christian songwriting that suggests if you acquire a sufficient number of tips, tricks, and shortcuts, you can effortlessly skip the laborious process of mastering the art of creating captivating songs that resonate with people.
In my opinion, relying solely on tips and tricks is not enough for a dedicated Christian songwriter. It is essential to have a deep connection with God and a rich inner life that serves as a source of inspiration. With a strong foundation in faith and the necessary songwriting skills, 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 influence of the Holy Spirit in their heart.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Part
The prevalent culture of instant gratification through technology has influenced us to adopt a mindset that resembles a quick and effortless approach, making us believe that we can possess the same capabilities as advanced AI systems like CHATGPT. We tend to believe that by providing a few prompts, we should be able to generate a remarkable 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 quick fixes. These songwriters are skilled practitioners of the craft of Christian songwriting, effectively conveying their message through their artistic abilities. They did not simply attempt to write a song on a whim and accidentally create masterpieces like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Even before the arrival of prominent figures, these individuals were already dedicating themselves to studying and improving their artistic skills. They were consistently learning how to skillfully combine impactful words and melodies to create captivating compositions that could deeply touch the emotions and captivate the attention of listeners. These compositions possessed a certain indescribable "WOW" factor that was instantly recognizable when heard.
According to professional golfer Gary Player, the more effort and time I dedicate to practicing, the more fortunate I become in my performance.
These are the individuals who are not seeking out free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways in a negative way. These are the dedicated songwriters who are already fully committed to their craft, constantly seeking to improve and refine their skills in the art of writing lyrics. These are the men and women who are investing their time and effort to reach a level of creativity and proficiency that surpasses the dedication I observe in most aspiring writers.
We have great admiration for individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys due to their incredible impact on Christian worship songwriting. It is hard to imagine where we would be without the powerful composition of Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." However, we tend to overlook the fact that these songwriters have dedicated years of their lives to perfecting their skills and have faced numerous challenges along the way to improve their songs and ministries.
No one becomes skilled at creating catchy song titles or hooks overnight, including the rising star Katy Nichole from Centricity Music. Katy has been posting songs since she was fourteen years old, and her hit "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may seem like a lucky viral break, but it is actually the result of years of hard work. Well done, Katy!
Tips for Cultivating a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are several approaches you can take to nurture and enhance your inner life. Here are three essential factors to consider while striving to deepen your faith and convey it through your music.
Make soul care a top priority. In our fast-paced and busy lives, it can be easy to neglect taking care of our souls. Although it is important to care for and serve others, if we don't also take the time to rest and recharge ourselves, we will eventually become exhausted. Taking care of ourselves is crucial for maintaining our inner well-being, which is closely connected to our overall health and physical body.
Nourish your intellect. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of intellectual growth and believe that Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs are the only essential aspects of a holy life. However, the most accomplished songwriters understand the significance of deep reading. They recognize that it is impossible to write exceptional lyrics without first immersing themselves in profound literature. If you have not pursued further reading since completing college or even high school, it is crucial for you to pick up books again. Merely consuming fear-inducing news or reinforcing your cultural biases through network or cable news does not suffice. If you aspire to create something impactful that can surpass your own existence, it is imperative to enrich your mind with exceptional literature, poetry, and other inspiring works.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news is solely focused on increasing ratings by instilling fear. Even the "Christian" stations aim to provoke anger in order to retain viewership and promote their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio, shock jocks, and conservative pundits maintain their positions by generating high ratings and attracting sponsors. However, the constant stream of negativity they emit is detrimental to your soul and stifles your creativity. Try abstaining from any form of news for a few weeks and use that time to sit quietly and reflect on the love and goodness of God. You will likely notice an increase in positivity that will resonate in your music. Negativity steals your joy and heightens fear and anxiety. Take a break and replenish your heart and mind with the spirit of Jesus once again.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, and Maher have the ability to create music that comes from their deep connection with God. However, their achievements can also be attributed to their talent and expertise in the field of Christian songwriting. It reminds me of a quote by Australian golfer Gary Player, who once said, "The harder I work, the more fortunate I become."
While you are growing as a Christian songwriter, it is important to also focus on nurturing your inner life. It is essential to strive for creativity, courage, and freedom in your songs, rather than simply rehashing old phrases and ideas that have been heard for years. The world needs something fresh and impactful from you.
Feel free to share this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave a reply. Don't forget to save your name, email, and website in this browser for future commenting.
In this line of code, the element with the ID "ak_js_1" is being accessed using the document.getElementById method. The setAttribute method is then used to set the value attribute of this element to the current time in
Categorized as
Stay connected with us
Explore additional articles
Grouped by topics
Keywords
Trending articles:
Begin your journey
Well-liked audio shows
Special characteristics
Information about us
The courses you have enrolled in
Enroll now and receive our complimentary Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip Sheet