Personal Blog
Sharing from My Own Experience
I discovered my faith in Christ during a difficult childhood that many today would label as "dysfunctional." However, back then, it was simply the norm during the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and 1970s. Unaware that there would be a term coined for the challenges we faced, Jesus somehow intervened and made a profound impact on my life.
My life underwent a profound change when a person assisted me in establishing a connection with the inexplicable affection that Jesus possesses.
A photograph taken by Laura E. Partain.
In a single moment, my entire life was completely disrupted. This love that I experienced has been the source of my strength for more than half a century, carrying me through all the highs and lows, achievements and sorrows, as well as the positive experiences. My personal account affirms that the course of my life took a permanent shift when I first experienced the love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my presence and my chosen profession is because of this. It is the driving force behind my work as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can capture the extraordinary reality of this. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our online content and coaching programs is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth.
Do you have a personal story to share about your faith journey? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood in church, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you went through a significant loss that left you feeling broken. Many Christian songwriters who have faced great challenges, such as abuse, divorce, or loss, have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They want to learn how to articulate their pain and convey how God has supported them through it all. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously sustains us through them.
However, the question remains, how can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing these experiences through Christian songs, it can be challenging. Here are three valuable tips to assist you in effectively conveying your testimonies in a way that resonates with listeners and provides them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are universal experiences that everyone can relate to. By sharing a story that resonates with others, you can create a connection and draw them into your narrative. It is important to incorporate elements that allow people to see themselves in your story, enabling them to fill in the gaps with their own experiences and ultimately develop an emotional attachment to your message.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and resonates with our own personal experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours and former student of NCS, has gone through the difficult experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates broader themes in her songs that allow anyone who has experienced any kind of loss – which includes all of us – to connect with her music and remain engaged.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I remember hearing Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, mention this idea and it has stuck with me ever since. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The first point is to have a central theme or emotion that your song revolves around. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that don't add value for your listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other specifics, you might end up losing the listener's interest.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that I can personally connect with, you allow me to become immersed in your story. If the specifics of your experience do not align with mine, it may discourage me. However, despite seeming challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can acquire the skill of including an appropriate amount of detail to emphasize your emotions during the ordeal, and then shift the focus 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 personal life.
It is important to consider the unique aspects of your own story that may not be relatable to others. One way to do this is to look for examples of songs that capture the mood or emotion you want to convey, and observe how the songwriters engage listeners without merely listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally and physically affected by a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to write a genuine song that reflects your personal testimony about it. Expressing your pain and vulnerability through lyrics might be perceived as self-centered, unless you are specifically writing a country song meant to evoke sorrow and heartbreak. If that is your intention, then by all means pursue it, but understand that it is not a genuine testimonial but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own challenges to face. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they might not listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – to serve as an outlet for your struggles and pain. It's 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?
I believe that Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created a lively and uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that conveys a message based on Scripture. Instead of focusing on narrating a story about your childhood, it might be more effective to explore positive themes from the Bible that showcase how God's healing power can overcome any negativity. There are countless ways to express your testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore different approaches before sharing your pain with others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that highlights how God has succeeded in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be helpful to write these songs for yourself as well, but it's important to recognize the distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you have faced and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of how you reach that point.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and takes place online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and much more. While many individuals prefer to access free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to taking your songwriting skills to the next level and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call does not obligate you in any way and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs. To schedule your free call, please click here.
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