Personal Blog
Sharing my Journey of Finding Faith
Growing up in the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and 1970s, my childhood was far from ordinary. It was what people now refer to as "dysfunctional," although back then we didn't have a label for it. However, amidst the chaos, Jesus miraculously entered my life and brought about a transformation.
My life went through a significant change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the indescribable affection that Jesus possesses.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through both challenging and joyful times. I can confidently say that my life took a different course when I experienced the profound love of God for the first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason I continue to exist and pursue my passion is because of this particular factor. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can capture the essence of this incredible truth. The foundation of Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith? It could be that you experienced God's love when you were young while attending church, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It is also possible that you have been deeply affected by a significant loss. As a coach for Christian songwriters, I have encountered many individuals who have endured great pain, abuse, or divorce, and are eager to learn how to express their struggles and how God has helped them through it. According to James Finley, God does not shield us from hardships, but rather provides us with miraculous support in the midst of them.
However, the question remains: How can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
As we journey through life, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories in Christian songs, how can we effectively do so? Allow me to share three tips that can assist you in effectively capturing your testimonies in a way that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that can resonate with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that are universally understood. By incorporating elements in your story that people can relate to, you create a connection that invites them into your song. It is important for listeners to find aspects of their own experiences within your narrative, allowing them to become emotionally invested and develop a fondness for your story.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and resonates with something we have personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours who attended NCS, has gone through the difficult experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. She creates music and leads a ministry that specifically addresses the needs of grieving families, but she also includes broader themes in her songs so that everyone, regardless of their personal experiences with loss, can find something relatable and continue to connect with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or sentiment rather than getting caught up in
I remember hearing Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, share this advice, and it has stayed with me ever since. This may seem contradictory to the first point, but it's actually not. The first point emphasizes the importance of finding a central theme or emotion to base your song on. On the other hand, this second point advises against including unnecessary details in your song that don't contribute to the listener's understanding. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other particulars, you might end up losing your audience's interest.
When you identify the shared connection and emotion in your story that resonates with me, it allows me to become engaged in your narrative. If the specific details of your story do not align with my own experiences, it may discourage my interest. However, despite this challenge, it is still possible to achieve. You can acquire the skill of providing the right amount of detail that focuses on your personal emotions during a difficult period, and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a song that showcases the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own experiences that may not be relatable to others. One way to improve your songwriting is to study examples of songs that evoke specific emotions and observe how the writers engage listeners without solely focusing on specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you're still emotionally affected by a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to express it authentically in a testimonial song. Sharing your pain through lyrics can sometimes seem self-centered, unless you're creating a traditional country song that reflects on personal sorrows. If that's your intention, go ahead and pursue it, but keep in mind that it won't be a genuine testimony, rather it will be perceived as a melancholic country tune.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles and hardships to deal with. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they might not be willing to listen for very long. That's why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets for your personal issues and wounds. Take into account the impact of your lyrics on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after listening to 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 focused on your personal childhood story, it might be better to explore positive biblical themes that showcase God's healing power over any negative experiences. There are many different ways to express your testimony, so it would be beneficial to consider alternative approaches before sharing your pain with others.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that highlights how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important, and even necessary, for your emotional well-being to have a release of emotions. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to distinguish between the two types of songs. Catharsis is a way of releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the difficulties you have faced and His ultimate triumph in your soul, regardless of the path taken to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which is conducted online for a duration of eight weeks, we delve into the art of crafting testimony songs and much more. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly dedicated to advancing your songwriting skills and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, we invite you to click on the provided link to arrange a free and non-binding phone call. This call will help you determine if our program aligns with your goals and aspirations. Schedule your complimentary call today.
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