Blog
Expressing from a Deep and Meaningful Inner World
A prevalent misconception surrounding Christian songwriting is the belief that by simply acquiring a sufficient amount of tips, tricks, and shortcuts, one can avoid the arduous process of mastering the art of creating impactful songs that resonate with people.
In my opinion, relying solely on tips and tricks is not enough for a dedicated Christian songwriter. It is essential to have a deep and meaningful connection with God, as well as strong songwriting abilities. With these foundations in place, there is no need to search for shortcuts or quick fixes. The clarity and confidence needed to write well will always be accessible whenever you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit stirring in your heart.
The photograph is credited to Laura E. Part
The fast-paced nature of our digitally-driven society has ingrained in us a mindset that resembles the speed and convenience of microwaves. It has led us to believe that we can possess the same capabilities as CHATGPT or AI. We believe that with just a few prompts, we should be able to effortlessly generate a song within three seconds that will amaze everyone.
In my personal observation, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world are not created by writers who rely on shortcuts. Instead, they are skilled practitioners of Christian songwriting who effectively communicate through their art. These individuals do not simply attempt to write a song haphazardly and accidentally create masterpieces like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Prior to the arrival of the more prominent individuals, they were already dedicated to studying and honing their skills in their respective art forms. They continuously sought to educate themselves on the techniques of creating impactful lyrics and melodies, and assembling them into captivating compositions that could deeply resonate with listeners. These individuals strived to produce something that evoked strong emotions and possessed an indescribable "WOW" factor, which could only be truly understood and appreciated when heard.
According to professional golfer Gary Player, the more I dedicate myself to practicing, the more fortunate I become.
These individuals are not actively seeking free opportunities for Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways. These are dedicated and ambitious songwriters who are already committed to their craft, constantly learning and honing their skills in writing poetic and meaningful lyrics. These are the individuals who are investing their time and effort to create music at a much more advanced level compared to most aspiring writers who are not willing to put in the same level of dedication.
We greatly appreciate individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys for their incredible impact on Christian worship songwriting. It is hard to imagine where we would be without the powerful influence of Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." However, we tend to overlook the fact that these songwriters have dedicated many years to perfecting their skills and have faced numerous challenges in order to improve their songs and ministries.
No one becomes skilled at creating catchy song titles, or "hooks," overnight, and this applies to even the rising star of Centricity Music, Katy Nichole. She has been sharing her songs since she was just fourteen years old. While her hit "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may seem like a lucky viral success to us, it is actually the result of years of dedication and hard work. Congratulations, Katy, on your achievements!
Discovering ways to cultivate a fulfilling and enriched inner life is essential for Christian songwriters. Here are three key factors to consider while striving to nurture and portray your faith through your musical creations.
Make soul care a priority. In today's fast-paced world, we often find ourselves caught up in busy schedules and overwhelmed by the demands of life. It is crucial that we do not neglect taking care of our own souls. While it is important to show care and compassion to others, if we do not take the time to rest and rejuvenate ourselves, we risk becoming burnt out. It is essential to recognize that self-care is necessary for maintaining a healthy inner life, which is interconnected with the well-being of our outer life and physical body.
Nourish your intellect. Songwriters who follow the Christian faith often neglect their intellectual growth and mistakenly believe that Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs are the only important aspects of a holy life. However, successful songwriters understand the value of deep reading. They recognize that it is impossible to create remarkable lyrics without first being filled with incredible words. If you have stopped reading extensively since college, or even high school, it is crucial for you to pick up books again. Simply consuming fear-inducing news on television or online does not suffice. If you aspire to write something impactful that could endure beyond your lifetime, it is essential to nourish your mind with great literature, poetry, and other inspiring works.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news is solely focused on generating fear in order to increase their ratings. Even the so-called "Christian" channels thrive on provoking anger in order to keep viewers engaged and exposed to their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio hosts, shock jocks, and conservative pundits also rely on building their ratings and securing sponsorships for their shareholders. However, the constant stream of negativity they spread is detrimental to your well-being and stifles your creativity. Try refraining from consuming any form of news for a few weeks and instead use that time to sit quietly and reflect on the love and goodness of God. You will likely notice a positive shift in your attitude and a renewed sense of inspiration in your music. Negativity steals your joy and heightens feelings of fear and anxiety. Take a break and allow the Spirit of Jesus to fill your heart and mind once again.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many more, create their music from a place of abundance in their connection with God. However, their achievements can also be attributed, at least partially, to their proficiency as Christian songwriters. It reminds me of the famous quote by Australian golfer Gary Player, who stated, "The more I practice, the luckier I get."
While you work on honing your skills in Christian songwriting, it is important to also focus on nurturing a vibrant personal life. It is crucial to bring something fresh, daring, and inspiring to the world through your music, rather than simply repeating clichéd phrases and concepts that have been around for years.
Please feel free to share this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave them below. Additionally, you can save your name, email, and website in this browser for future comments.
Using the getElementById method, the value attribute of the element with the ID "ak_js_1" is being set to the current time in milliseconds.
Sections:
Categories
Tags
Browse Additional Articles
Follow us
Filed Under
Popular Podcasts:
Start Now
Features
About
YOUR COURSEs
Enroll Today for Our Complimentary Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip Sheet