Jesus, the very thought of You
It fills my heart with love
Jesus, you burn like wildfire
And I am overcome
Lover of my soul
Even unto death
With my every breath I will love You
Lover of my soul
Even unto death
With my every breath I will love You
Jesus
You are my only hope
And You, my prize shall be
Jesus
You are my glory now
And in eternity
Lover of my soul
Even unto death
With my every breath I will love You
Yeah, Lover of my soul
Even unto death
With my every breath I will love You
In my darkest hour
In humiliation
I will wait for You
I am not forsaken
Oh, I lose my life
Oh, my breath be taken
I will wait for You
I am not forsaken
One thing I desire
To see You in Your beauty
You are my delight
Yeah, You are my only
You have sacrificed
Oh, Your love is all consuming
You are my delight
Yeah, You are my glory
Oh, You are my glory
Oh, You are my glory
Yeah
You're the lover of my soul
Even unto death
With my every breath I will love You
You're the lover of my soul
Even unto death
With my every breath I will love You
I will love You
Even unto death, I will love You
With my every breath I will love You
Jesus
The very thought of You
Jesus
The very thought of You
Even Unto Death
Even Unto Death Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Audrey Assad's song "Even Unto Death," released with a video on January 26, 2016, is a deeply devotional piece that explores the theme of unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ. The lyrics express an intense personal connection, beginning with the powerful effect the mere thought of Jesus has on the singer, described as filling the heart with love and burning like wildfire, leading to being "overcome." This establishes an immediate sense of passionate devotion and surrender.
The central theme is solidified in the recurring declaration, "Lover of my soul / Even unto death / With my every breath I will love You." This chorus is a profound vow, signifying a love for God that transcends all circumstances, even mortality. It positions Jesus not just as a distant figure but as the intimate "Lover of my soul," a common biblical metaphor representing God's covenant relationship and passionate pursuit of humanity. The phrase "Even unto death" signifies the ultimate sacrifice of commitment, a love that endures through any trial, including the end of earthly life.
The lyrics further elaborate on the nature of this relationship, identifying Jesus as the "only hope" and the ultimate "prize." He is declared the present "glory" and the glory to be experienced in eternity, aligning with the Christian hope of eternal life and the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. The song acknowledges potential difficulties and suffering, mentioning being in the "darkest hour" and experiencing "humiliation," but counters this with steadfast faith, stating, "I will wait for You / I am not forsaken." This highlights resilience and trust in God's presence and faithfulness through trials, even facing the possibility of losing one's life. The earnest desire articulated, "One thing I desire / To see You in Your beauty," echoes the psalmist's longing to dwell in God's presence and behold His glory.
The song culminates in a reaffirmation of Jesus as the "delight" and the one and only, emphasizing His sacrifice and the "all consuming" nature of His love. The repetition of "You are my glory" reinforces the idea that the singer's highest honor and focus is Christ. This echoes biblical concepts found in scriptures like Psalm 27:4, which expresses a singular desire to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, or Philippians 3:8-14, where Paul considers everything loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, pressing on toward the prize. The unwavering commitment "even unto death" reflects the call to take up one's cross and follow Christ (Mark 8:34-35) and the steadfastness described in Revelation 12:11, where believers overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, not loving their lives unto death in the context of persecution. The theme of God as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) resonates with the imagery of Jesus burning "like wildfire," symbolizing the powerful and transformative nature of His presence and love. The overall message is one of total devotion, enduring hope, and an intimate, all-consuming love for Jesus that perseveres regardless of circumstance, finding its ultimate expression "with every breath" and "even unto death."