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Expressing from a Deep Internal World
There is a prevalent misconception regarding Christian songwriting that suggests acquiring a sufficient amount of tips, tricks, and shortcuts can eliminate the necessity of putting in the effort to learn how to create compelling songs that resonate with people.
In my opinion, relying solely on tips and tricks is not enough for a dedicated Christian songwriter. It is crucial to have a deep connection with God and a rich inner life to draw inspiration from. By having a strong bond with God and honing your songwriting skills, you won't need to resort to shortcuts. The ability to write effectively with clarity and confidence will always be accessible to you, especially when you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit stirring your heart.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Part
The prevailing culture of instant gratification in the digital age has conditioned us to expect quick and effortless results, leading us to believe that we can emulate the capabilities of advanced AI systems like CHATGPT. We believe that we should be capable of inputting a few prompts and generating a song in less than three seconds, which would impress and amaze everyone.
However, based on 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 solutions. Instead, these songs are crafted by skilled Christian songwriters who are able to communicate at a profound level through their art. They do not simply attempt to write a song one day and accidentally create something as powerful as "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Even before the arrival of the more experienced individuals, they were already dedicated to their craft and striving for greatness. They were continuously learning how to create impactful lyrics and melodies that could captivate listeners and evoke strong emotions. They aimed to create something that had an indescribable "WOW" factor, which could be recognized instantly when heard.
According to professional golfer Gary Player, the greater amount of practice I put in, the more fortunate I become.
These individuals are not searching for free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways. They are committed and dedicated songwriters who are already actively engaged in their craft, constantly striving to enhance their poetic and lyrical skills. They are the ones who are investing their time and effort to produce works at a much higher standard than what I commonly observe among aspiring writers who are not as committed.
We greatly appreciate individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys for their incredible impact on Christian worship songwriting. It's hard to imagine where we would be without Chris Tomlin's powerful rendition of "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." 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 powerful song titles or hooks overnight, and this holds true for the rising star Katy Nichole from Centricity Music. Katy has been sharing her songs since she was just fourteen years old. While her hit "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may seem like it gained sudden popularity, it is actually the result of years of dedication and hard work. Congratulations to Katy for her success!
Ways to Cultivate a Deep and Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are numerous approaches you can take to nurture and enhance your inner life. Here are three essential factors to consider as you aim to expand your spiritual journey and convey your faith through your music.
Make soul care a priority. In the midst of our busy lives, it can be easy to neglect taking care of our own souls. However, it is important to remember that while we should continue to care for and serve others, we also need to make sure we take the time to rest and rejuvenate ourselves. Whatever self-care looks like to you, it is essential for maintaining your inner well-being, which is closely connected to the care of your external life and physical health.
Nourish your intellect. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of engaging their minds and assume that focusing solely on studying the Bible, praying, and singing worship songs is enough for a holy life. However, the most skilled songwriters understand the significance of immersing themselves in deep reading. They recognize that it is impossible to craft exceptional lyrics if they haven't first enriched their minds with profound words. If you stopped reading extensively after college, or even high school, rediscovering the value of books is indispensable for you. Merely consuming news from network or cable channels, which often fuel your fears and reinforce your cultural biases, doesn't suffice. If you aspire to write something that can make a lasting impact, surpassing your own lifetime, it is essential to nourish your mind with exceptional literature, poetry, and other sources of inspiration.
Disconnect from negativity. Cable news is solely focused on generating fear to boost ratings. Even the so-called "Christian" stations thrive on provoking anger in order to keep viewers engaged and expose them to sponsored advertisements. Talk radio hosts, shock jocks, and even conservative commentators maintain their positions by attracting high ratings and securing sponsorships for their stakeholders. However, the constant stream of negativity they emit is detrimental to your spiritual well-being and creative energy. Consider abstaining from consuming any news for a few weeks and dedicate that time to peaceful contemplation about God's love and goodness. You may find that your positive outlook starts to overflow into your artistic expressions. Negativity steals your happiness and amplifies fear and anxiety. Take a break and replenish your heart and mind with the Spirit of Jesus once again.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many others are able to produce meaningful and impactful music because they draw from their deep connection with God. However, their success can also be attributed to their expertise in the craft of songwriting. Australian golfer Gary Player once stated that his success was not solely due to luck, but rather the result of continuous practice and improvement.
While you are working on improving your skills in Christian songwriting, it is important to also focus on nurturing your inner life. It is essential to offer something fresh, daring, courageous, and freeing through your music, rather than simply repeating the same old phrases and ideas that have been heard for years.
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