Personal Testimony Blog
Sharing My Journey to Finding Christ
My upbringing was far from perfect, characterized by the challenges and chaos of the 1960s and '70s. Although we didn't realize it at the time, our family's experiences were later labeled as "dysfunctional." However, amidst the difficulties, Jesus played a significant role in transforming my life.
My life went through a significant change when someone assisted me in experiencing the overwhelming and indescribable love that Jesus has for me.
The photo credit for the image is given to Laura
In a single moment, my entire life was completely disrupted. Throughout all the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the positive experiences, it is this very love that has kept me going for more than five decades. The profound impact of feeling God's love for the first time at the age of eighteen altered the course of my life indefinitely.
The reason for my presence and actions is this. This is the motivation behind my career as a Christian songwriter, as I strive to assist you in creating songs that can convey this extraordinary truth. The central principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth, which is the driving force behind all our podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs.
What is your personal story of faith? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood while attending church, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that a significant loss in your life left you feeling broken, leading you to seek solace in God. Many Christian songwriters who have gone through painful experiences such as abuse, divorce, or great loss have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They want to learn how to convey their pain through their music and how God has provided them with strength and support throughout their struggles. James Finley suggests that God does not 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 impactful music?
Throughout our journey in life, we experience both the joys and challenges it has to offer. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences in Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? Here are three suggestions that I believe will assist you in effectively capturing your own stories in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
Begin by searching for a shared theme or element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common experiences that everyone can relate to. To engage people in your story, it's important to create a connection and allow them to see themselves in your narrative. By incorporating elements of our shared experiences, we can better connect with and appreciate your story.
If there is nothing in your story that captivates us and evokes memories of our own experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours who attended NCS, has endured five miscarriages and one stillbirth. She creates songs and carries out a ministry that specifically caters to grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her music so that all of us, who have experienced any kind of loss, can relate to and remain engaged with her songs.
Next, focus on capturing the emotion rather than getting caught up in the specific
I was introduced to the idea by Dave Clark, a highly productive songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, and it has stuck with me ever since. At first glance, this may seem contradictory, but it's not. The initial point is to discover a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary 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 particulars, you run the risk of losing the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can connect with, you welcome me to be a part of your narrative. If the specifics of your story differ from mine, it may not resonate with me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can learn to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive details to focus on your emotions during the challenging experience, and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that describes or showcases the ways in which God has achieved victory in your personal life.
It is important to acknowledge the unique details in your own personal experiences that may not be relatable to others. To help with this, you can look for examples of songs similar to what you want to write and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking emotions rather than simply describing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you are still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be difficult to write a genuine song that reflects your personal testimony. Expressing your pain too intensely in your lyrics might come across as self-centered, unless you are specifically aiming to create a melancholic country song. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it will not necessarily convey a true testimony, but rather a song with a somber tone.
When considering your audience, it's important to understand that they likely have their own problems to handle. If you simply unload your own issues onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why professionals like therapists and journals exist – they are there to provide an outlet for your emotional struggles and pain. It's crucial to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you creating for them? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, I believe that Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively communicates a message based on Scripture. Instead of focusing on personal childhood experiences, it might be more beneficial to explore positive biblical themes that showcase God's ability to heal and overcome negativity. There are numerous ways to express one's testimony, so it would be worthwhile to explore alternative approaches before delving into personal pain in a way that may be overwhelming for others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that highlights how God achieved success in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis is a way to release or unload emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you faced and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path taken.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which takes place over eight weeks online, we delve into various aspects of writing testimony songs and much more. While many individuals may prefer accessing free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to enhance your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call will give you the opportunity to see if our program is suitable for you, and there is no obligation to commit. Schedule your free call by using the link provided.
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