Personal Blog
Sharing from My Own Life Story
Growing up in the tumultuous era of the 1960's and 70's, my childhood was far from ideal. People nowadays refer to it as a "dysfunctional" upbringing, but back then, it was just the reality of life. Little did we know that there would be a designated term for the challenges we faced. However, amidst it all, Jesus played a transformative role in my life.
My life went through a significant change when I received assistance in establishing a connection with the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for us.
The photo credit belongs to Laura E. Partain
I experienced a sudden and drastic transformation in my life. This love I felt has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, helping me navigate through all the challenges, successes, hardships, and positive experiences. My personal experience confirms that the course of my life was permanently altered when I first felt the love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason that I continue to exist and the motivation behind my work is this. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter, as I strive to assist others in creating songs that can effectively convey this incredible truth. The primary principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced the love of God when you were a child attending church, or you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss in your life. Many Christian songwriters who have gone through difficult experiences, such as abuse, divorce, or grief, have shown interest in our coaching programs. They seek to learn how to express their pain and how God supported them through those challenging times. James Finley suggests that although God does not spare us from hardships, He miraculously helps us endure them.
However, the question remains: How can we effectively convey our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian music, it can be challenging to effectively capture our testimonies. To assist you in this process, I have three valuable tips that will guide you in creating Christian songs that resonate with listeners, providing them with solace, restoration, and optimism.
Initially, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that a significant number of individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that everyone is familiar with. To engage people and connect with them through your song, it is important to make them relate to your story. By incorporating the common thread of our experiences into your lyrics, listeners can resonate with your music and fill in the gaps with their own personal stories, ultimately forming a connection and developing a fondness for your song.
If there isn't anything in your story that captures our attention and resonates with our own experiences, we will lose interest. Our acquaintance and former student of NCS, Becky Norquist, has gone through the devastating experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates universal themes in her songs that allow anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – to connect with her music and remain engaged.
Next, focus on conveying the feeling rather than getting caught up in specific particulars
The idea was initially shared by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, and it has stuck with me ever since. Although it may appear contradictory at first, it is not. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to refrain from including irrelevant details in your song that do not contribute to the listener's understanding. If you delve too deeply into specifics such as location, time, dates, names, or other unnecessary information, there is a risk of losing the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can connect with, you make me feel included in your narrative. If the specifics of your story don't align with my own experiences, it may discourage me. Although it may seem difficult, it is possible to achieve. You can learn to find the right amount of detail that focuses on your emotions during the difficult times and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a song that demonstrates the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to consider the specific details that are unique to your own experiences, as they may not resonate with others. To better understand how to engage listeners with emotions in your songwriting, it can be helpful to study and analyze songs that align with the style and mood you want to create, observing how the songwriters draw listeners in rather than simply listing details.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and suffering from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically compose a song that reflects this pain. Expressing your agony through lyrics often appears self-centered, unless you are composing a typical country song filled with heartache. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it. However, it is important to recognize that such a song does not serve as a testimony but rather as a melancholic country tune.
When considering your audience, it is important to recognize that they likely have their own personal struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets for your dysfunction and pain. It is crucial to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely focused on your personal childhood experiences, it may be beneficial to explore positive Scriptural themes that highlight God's healing power over adversity. There are countless approaches to expressing your personal testimony, so it would be wise to consider alternative methods before sharing your painful experiences with others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that demonstrates the ways in which God has overcome obstacles in your life. It is important, and even necessary, for your emotional well-being to have a release and cleanse of emotions. You may consider writing these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to recognize the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis is a way of venting or unloading emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the difficulties you have faced and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path taken to reach that point.
In our eight-week online coaching and mentoring program called NCS Pro Song Mastery, we explore testimonial songs and many other aspects of songwriting. While many people are interested in finding free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you're truly dedicated to enhancing your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call will help determine if our program is suitable for you, with no obligations. Click here to schedule your free call.
Spread the word about this article to your friends.
Feel free to leave a comment below, but please remember to provide your name, email, and website.
Remember to save this information in your browser for future reference.
Using the getElementById method, the code is targeting an element with the id "ak_js_1". Then, it is using the setAttribute method to modify the value attribute of that element. The new value being assigned is the
Listed below
Stay connected with us
Explore additional articles
Classifications
Keywords
Trending articles:
Begin your journey
Highly recommended audio shows
Characteristics
Information about us
The courses available to you
Enroll now to receive our complimentary guide on the top 10 tips for professional songwriters.