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Sharing Your Personal Experience
I found my way to Christianity after a challenging upbringing that is now often referred to as "dysfunctional." However, back then, it was just the norm during the tumultuous years of the 1960s and 1970s. Unbeknownst to us, there would later be a label for the difficulties we faced, but Jesus somehow stepped into my life and made a difference.
I went through a significant change when someone guided me in experiencing the overwhelming love of Jesus, which is impossible to put into words, for the very first time.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely altered. This love that I experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through both the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, as well as the positive moments. The core of my story is that when I was eighteen years old, I had a life-altering encounter with God's love that forever transformed the direction of my life.
The reason that keeps me going and motivates me in my work is my faith. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can convey the incredible truth of this faith. The primary focus of Nashville Christian Songwriters is to spread the love of Jesus to all individuals across the globe, and this is reflected in all our podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood in church, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's possible that a significant loss shattered you, and you sought solace in God. Many Christian songwriters have reached out to us about our coaching programs, sharing their stories of enduring immense pain, abuse, or divorce, and their desire to learn how to express their struggles and the ways in which God provided strength throughout. James Finley suggests that God does not shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously upholds us through them all.
However, the question remains: how can we effectively express 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 these personal experiences through Christian music, it can be a challenge. To assist you with this, I have three tips that I believe will guide you in effectively conveying your testimonies in a manner that resonates with listeners and provides them with comfort, healing, and hope.
Begin by searching for a shared element in your narrative that resonates with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are familiar emotions that almost everyone has experienced at some point. To truly connect with your audience, it is important to make them feel a sense of identification with your story. By incorporating elements that resonate with their own experiences, they can relate to your song on a deeper level. Allowing them to fill in the gaps with their own personal narrative is key to capturing their hearts and making them fall in love with your music.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with something we've personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student of ours and a close friend, has gone through the difficult experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily addresses the struggles of grieving families. However, she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs that anyone who has faced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and remain engaged with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or sentiment rather than getting caught up in
I was introduced to Dave Clark, a highly productive songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, who shared a valuable insight that has stuck with me. Although it may seem contradictory at first, his advice actually complements the initial point. The first point emphasizes the importance of identifying a central theme or emotion to base your song on. On the other hand, the second point advises against including unnecessary details in your song that do not benefit the listener. If you delve too deeply into specifics such as locations, timeframes, dates, names, or other intricate details, there is a possibility of disengaging the audience.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can connect with, it allows me to become engaged in your narrative. If the specifics of your story don't align with my own experiences, it may deter my interest. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can acquire the skill to include just the right amount of detail to emphasize your emotions during the difficult experience and then shift the focus towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a song of testimony is one that demonstrates the victory of God in your personal experiences.
It is important to recognize the unique details that pertain specifically to your own experiences, as these are not visible to others. One way to enhance your songwriting is to study examples of songs that evoke certain emotions and observe how the writers skillfully engage the listeners without simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you are still emotionally affected by a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to compose a genuine song that reflects it. Expressing your pain too intensely in your lyrics may appear self-centered, unless you are creating a country song that evokes sadness. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it is not a testimony. Instead, it would be considered a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it is important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles and challenges to contend with. If you simply burden them with your own pain, they may not be willing to listen for long. That is why therapists and journals exist – to serve as outlets for your dysfunction and emotional wounds. 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 broad message rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song that solely focuses on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive biblical themes that highlight the transformative and healing power of God in overcoming adversity. There are numerous approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be wise to consider alternative methods before delving into personal pain-filled narratives.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that highlights how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. While you may also write songs for yourself as a form of catharsis, it is crucial to recognize the difference between catharsis and testimonials. Testimonials focus on celebrating God's victory over the difficult experiences you have faced and His ultimate triumph 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 delve deep into the art of writing testimony songs and much more. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are passionate about taking your songwriting to the next level and feel a strong calling to strengthen your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call will help you determine if our program is suitable for you, with no obligation to commit. Book your free call now.
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