Christian recording artist Jonny Diaz hopes the songs on his latest album, “Let It Fly,” will inspire audiences to reach new and unexpected heights in their relationship with God and others.
Although he earned a baseball scholarship to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, Diaz felt God calling him to step out of his comfort zone and embark on a musical journey.
Desiring to help audiences grow in their faith journey, Diaz tries to stay focused on key goals when writing songs.
“Every time I sit down to write a song I kind of have three goals: to entertain, to encourage and to challenge the body of Christ,” Diaz said.
“I write songs for the Church. During my concerts and on the radio, most listeners have already been introduced to Jesus. My goal is to help people take that next step in their faith journey by challenging them, encouraging them in their walk with Christ and helping them realize where they already are.”
With well-known radio hits such as “More Beautiful You,” “Beauty of the Cross” and “Scars,” Diaz’s powerful lyrics and heartfelt songs deeply resonate with listeners.
The power of a song
“One of the most inspiring emails I’ve received came from a girl in Florida who was struggling with an eating disorder,” Diaz said. “On three separate occasions, she tried to drive herself to rehab. But each time, she got too scared and pulled off the road and went home. On the fourth time, she was about to do the same thing. She sat there in tears, and then the song ‘More Beautiful You’ came on the radio.
“She said that hearing the song gave her the encouragement and strength that she needed to keep on going. She actually wrote me that email from the rehab place, which was really neat. She said that hearing this song literally saved her life. I don’t take any credit for that. … It’s definitely a God thing.”
Encouraged to do more
He said that email made him think about ways the song could urge people to go deeper in their faith journey.
“I saw the impact the song ‘More Beautiful You’ was having, which was bigger than I ever dreamed it would be,” Diaz said. “I actually didn’t plan on recording the song, but my wife kept encouraging me. She saw the need and the potential of what the song could do. … I realized that if a song is going to bring about life change, it needs to encourage people to dig into Scripture and truth.
“My mom is a very talented author and amazing woman of God, so we came up with the idea of writing a Bible study for young girls. It goes through all the lyrics of the song and walks them deeper into that journey of self-perception and viewing themselves through Christ’s eyes.”
The opportunity to share his songs has been humbling, Diaz said.
“Sometimes I question the platform that God has given me,” he said. “During those times I turn to Scripture and I’m reminded that God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. If you are willing, God can use you in big ways.
“My prayer is that these songs will inspire people and bring hope into their lives,” he said. “I realize that as God lifts my career forward and higher that I really can’t take credit for it at all. It’s all His doing. The minute He wants it to go away, it will go away. I’m just following wherever He leads.”
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