Lyrics
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heart s desire
And I long to worship You (You alone)
You alone are my strengh, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
You re my friend, you are my brother even though You are a King
You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more then any other
So much more then anything
You alone are my strength
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
Still the first verse and the chorus again
As the deer pants for the water
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heat s desire
And I long to worship You
You alone are my strengh, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heat s desire
And I long to worship You (You alone)
You alone are my strengh, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
O Lord You re the desire of our hearts this day
Lord, You're the desire of the Nations
And so Father, we gather here from many Nations
And many people
And we join our hearts together
To say Lord, that in everything we do this day
And every time we spend and every thought we think, Lord
And every meditation that we re involved with, Lord
May it all be an act of worship
To Your great and glorious name
Blessed be Your name, O God
Amen
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“As the Deer” gives voice to longing for God through the image of a thirsty deer seeking water. The opening closely echoes Psalm 42 and turns physical thirst into a picture of spiritual desire. Its refrain narrows that desire to God alone, describing him as strength and shield while presenting worship as the fitting response. The repeated language reinforces dependence rather than self-sufficiency.
The song also holds together intimacy and majesty. God is addressed as friend and brother through Christ, yet he is still honored as King. The later spoken prayer extends the refrain beyond singing, asking that time, thought, meditation, and action become worship offered to God’s name. This emphasis is consistent with the New Testament call to present the whole life to God. Across both the sung and spoken sections, devotion is portrayed as an undivided longing for God above every competing desire.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 42:1-2 The psalm compares longing for God to a deer thirsting for water.
- Psalm 28:7 The psalm names the Lord as strength and shield.
- Romans 12:1 Paul describes offering the whole life to God as spiritual worship.