Personal Blog
Expressing Your Personal Experience
My journey towards finding faith in Christ began amidst a difficult and challenging childhood that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" today. However, during the tumultuous years of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply living through what we knew as life. Little did we know that our experiences would later be labeled with a specific term. Nevertheless, it was during this time that Jesus intervened in my life and brought about a significant change.
I went through a significant change when someone assisted me in discovering the unimaginable love of Jesus for the very first time.
The photograph was taken by a person named Laura E
In a single moment, my entire life was completely changed. This love that I experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than half a century, helping me navigate through all the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and the positive moments as well. I can confidently say that the course of my life took a permanent shift when I first felt the love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and my purpose in life is tied to this. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter, as I aim to assist others in creating songs that can effectively convey the incredible truth of this concept. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is the desire to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith? Perhaps you experienced God's love when you were young in church, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It could be that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. Many Christian songwriters who have gone through great suffering, abuse, or divorce have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They want to learn how to channel their pain into their music and recognize how God has supported them throughout their hardships. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from life's challenges, but rather provides us with miraculous strength to endure them.
However, the question remains: how can we effectively convey our experiences and beliefs through powerful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the joys and the hardships that come with it. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories and experiences through Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? In order to assist you in this process, I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in effectively capturing your testimonials in a way that resonates with listeners and provides them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin, attempt to discover a unifying element in your narrative that resonates with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that are familiar to everyone. When you share your story in a way that allows people to connect with it, it becomes easier for them to relate to your song. It is important for us to find elements of our own experiences in your story, as it helps us to become emotionally invested in it.
If there is nothing in your story that captivates us and reminds us of our own experiences, we will lose interest. A friend of ours, Becky Norquist, who is a former student of NCS, went through five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry specifically target grieving families, but she also incorporates broader themes in her songs, allowing anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – to relate and remain engaged with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I was introduced to Dave Clark, a highly productive songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, who shared a memorable piece of advice. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to refrain from including irrelevant details in your song that won't benefit the listener. Going into excessive specifics about locations, times, dates, names, or other unnecessary information can potentially disengage the audience.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that resonates with me, you allow me to connect with your song. If the specifics of your story do not align with mine, it can deter my interest. Though it may seem challenging, it is achievable. You can acquire the skill of including the right amount of detail, avoiding excess, in order to focus on the emotions you experienced during the challenging period. Subsequently, you can shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a type of song that showcases the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to understand that there may be certain details in your story that are unique to you and may not resonate with others. To help with this, it can be useful to look for examples of songs that capture the emotion you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners in that emotion rather than simply listing specific details.
Additionally, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally affected and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be difficult to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Sharing your raw emotions in your lyrics may be perceived as self-centered, unless you are writing a traditional country song that focuses on heartbreak and sorrow. If that is your intention, then go ahead and express yourself, but keep in mind that it is not a genuine testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it is important to recognize that they likely have their own personal struggles to cope with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why professionals such as therapists and personal journals exist – they serve as outlets for expressing and processing your own emotional issues. It is crucial to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What emotional atmosphere are you creating for them? How will they feel once they have heard 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 derived from Scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses solely on your personal childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore Scriptural themes that highlight the transformative and healing power of God amidst difficult circumstances. There are numerous approaches to capturing your own testimony, so it would be helpful to consider alternative methods before sharing your pain with others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that highlights how God has overcome challenges in your life. Emotional release is crucial for your well-being, and it may be beneficial to write such songs for yourself as well. However, it is important to distinguish between catharsis, which involves releasing emotions, and testimonials, which celebrate God's triumph over difficult experiences and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path taken to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and explore various other aspects as well. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills 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 come with any obligations and serves as an opportunity to determine whether this program is a suitable fit for you. Secure your free phone call appointment by scheduling it here.
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