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Tapping into your Inner World for Writing
There is a popular misconception surrounding Christian songwriting that suggests if you gather sufficient tips, tricks, and shortcuts, you can evade the challenging 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 Christian songwriter. It is important to have a deep spiritual connection with God and draw inspiration from it. When you possess this connection and also have strong songwriting abilities, you don't need to resort to shortcuts. The ability to write well with clarity and confidence is always accessible to you, especially when you feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your heart.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Part
The fast-paced nature of our digital society has influenced us to adopt a mindset that seeks instant gratification, making us believe that we can emulate the abilities of advanced AI models like CHATGPT. We expect to effortlessly generate a captivating song within a few seconds by simply inputting a few prompts, and anticipate that it will impress everyone.
From what I have observed, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world are not created by writers who rely on shortcuts or easy methods. Instead, these songs are the result of skilled Christian songwriters who communicate profound messages through their art. They don't simply attempt to write a song on a whim and accidentally produce a masterpiece like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Even before the arrival of the more successful individuals, they were already dedicated to their craft and striving to be the best. They consistently worked on improving their skills in creating impactful lyrics and melodies, forming captivating compositions that could deeply touch and resonate with listeners. They aimed to create something that evoked strong emotions and had a certain indescribable quality that instantly grabbed the attention of anyone who heard it.
Gary Player, a professional golfer, believes that the more he dedicates himself to practicing, the more fortunate he becomes. He acknowledges that his consistent practice leads to better outcomes and opportunities.
These individuals are not seeking out free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways as a means of advancing their skills. They are highly motivated and dedicated songwriters who are already immersed in the process of learning and practicing the most sophisticated poetic and lyrical techniques. These are the individuals who are committed to honing their craft through hard work and perseverance, surpassing the level of dedication that most aspiring writers are willing to invest in their own artistic pursuits.
We greatly appreciate individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys for the incredible impact they have made in Christian worship songwriting. It is difficult to imagine where we would be without the powerful song "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone" by Chris Tomlin. However, we tend to overlook the fact that these songwriters have dedicated 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 is especially true for Katy Nichole, the rising star signed to Centricity Music. Katy has been sharing her songs since she was only fourteen years old. Although her hit song "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" might seem like it gained viral success by chance, this is not the case. Katy has been working hard at her music for many years. (Congratulations to Katy for her dedication and success!)
Ways to Cultivate a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are numerous approaches to nurturing and enriching your inner life. Here are three essential aspects to consider while aiming to expand and convey your faith through your music.
Make soul care a priority. In today's fast-paced world, our lives are often filled with chaos and a constant lack of time. Despite our dedication to others, it is crucial that we do not neglect our own need for rest and rejuvenation. Taking care of ourselves is essential for maintaining our inner well-being, which is closely interconnected with the care we provide to others and our physical health.
Nourish your intellectual growth. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of intellectual growth and believe that Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs are the only essential aspects of a holy life. However, the most skilled songwriters understand the significance of immersing themselves in deep reading. They acknowledge that it is impossible to create exceptional lyrics without first filling their minds with extraordinary words. Simply relying on your education up until college or high school is insufficient; it is crucial to pick up books again. Merely consuming fear-driven and culturally biased content through network or cable news is not enough. If you aspire to write something impactful and timeless, it is essential to feed your intellect with exceptional literature, poetry, and other inspiring works.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news solely focuses on fear-inducing content to attract viewership. Even the so-called "Christian" stations thrive on provoking anger in order to keep you engaged and watching their sponsored advertisements. Talk radio hosts, shock jocks, and conservative pundits maintain their positions by generating high ratings and securing sponsorships for their investors. However, the constant stream of negativity they promote is detrimental to your spiritual well-being and creative abilities. Try abstaining from consuming any form of news for a few weeks and instead, spend that time in quiet contemplation, reflecting on God's love and goodness. You may find that your newfound positivity begins to overflow into your artistic expressions. Negativity steals your joy and amplifies fear and anxiety. Take a break and allow Jesus' Spirit to reignite your heart and mind.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many more, create their music from a place of abundant connection with God. However, their accomplishments can also be attributed, at least partially, to their proficiency as Christian songwriters. I am particularly fond of the famous quote by Australian golfer Gary Player, who stated that the more he practiced, the more fortunate he became.
When you are working on your Christian songwriting ministry, it is important to remember to not only focus on improving your songwriting skills, but also to constantly nurture your inner life. It is important to bring something new, daring, courageous, and freeing to the world through your songs, instead of simply repeating old phrases and ideas that have been heard for many years.
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