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Sharing Your Personal Experience through Writing
My journey towards Christianity began during a challenging childhood that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" by society. However, at that time, we were simply navigating through the tumultuous era of the 1960s and '70s. Unbeknownst to us, our experiences would later be labeled with a specific term, but it was through the intervention of Jesus that my life took a different path.
My life took a remarkable turn when someone assisted me in establishing a profound connection with the ineffable affection that Jesus possesses.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely disrupted. This love that I experienced has been my source of strength for more than five decades, guiding me through both the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, as well as the positive experiences. I firmly believe that the course of my life was permanently altered when I first felt the love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my presence and my actions is the same. It is the motivation behind my work as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist you in creating songs that can beautifully convey this incredible truth. The fundamental principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our content, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the love of Jesus to all individuals across the globe.
What is your personal experience with faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love in church when you were young, or you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's possible that you have faced a significant loss that left you broken. Many Christian songwriters who have gone through great suffering, abuse, or divorce have expressed interest in our coaching programs because they want to learn how to articulate their pain and how God has helped them endure it. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from difficulties, but rather supports us miraculously through 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 convey our testimonies? In this regard, I have three helpful tips to assist you in effectively capturing your own experiences in a way that resonates with listeners, bringing them 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 familiar emotions that everyone can relate to at times. By creating a story that people can connect with, you can effectively engage them in your song. It is important for our own experiences to resonate within your story, allowing us to fill in the gaps with our own narratives and ultimately form a deep connection with yours.
If your story fails to resonate with us and fail to remind us of our own experiences, we will lose interest. One of our friends and a former student of NCS, Becky Norquist, went through the difficult experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry primarily cater to grieving families, but she also includes enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can find something relatable and remain engaged with her music.
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, say something that stuck with me. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The first point is to choose a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that may confuse or distract your listeners. If you delve too much into specific locations, timings, dates, names, or other particulars, you may end up losing your audience's interest.
When you identify the common theme and emotion in your story that I can connect with, it allows me to become engaged in your song. If the specific details you provide do not align with my own experiences, it may deter my interest. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive details, focusing on how you felt during the difficult situation, and ultimately shifting the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that tells the story of how God brought success and victory into your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that portrays the ways in which God has achieved triumph in your life.
It is important to acknowledge the unique details in your story that are personal to you and may not resonate with others. One way to improve your songwriting is by studying the works of other songwriters who have successfully evoked emotions in their songs, rather than simply listing specific details.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to compose an authentic song that truly reflects your feelings. Expressing your pain in your lyrics may sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are creating a heartfelt country song that evokes sorrow. If that is your intention, then by all means, 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's important to recognize that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to face. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they may not listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they are meant to serve as a receptacle for your personal issues and hurts. It's crucial to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of atmosphere are you creating for them? 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 based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song about your personal childhood experiences, it might be more beneficial to focus on positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's healing power in overcoming negativity. There are numerous approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be wise to explore different avenues before expressing your pain to others.
In summary, a testimonial song is a song that reflects on how God has overcome challenges in your life. Expressing and releasing emotions is crucial for your emotional well-being. It may be beneficial for you to write these types of songs for yourself as well, but it's important to remember that there is a distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis is a way to release emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the difficulties you have faced, ultimately leading to a stronger connection with Him.
In our eight-week online coaching and mentoring program called NCS Pro Song Mastery, we explore testimony songs and many other aspects of songwriting. While many people seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free and non-binding phone call. This call will help you determine if our program is suitable for your needs. Schedule your free call now by clicking here.
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