After watching the martyrdom of 21 Egyptian Christian men on the shores of the Mediterranean by the Muslim extremist group ISIS, Audrey Assad wrote this song, Even Unto Death. These 21 men, dressed in orange, were led to the beach where they were beheaded simply because they believed in Jesus. To live, all these Coptic Christians had to do to was renounce their faith in Christ.
Audrey wrote:
“You must remember that night, months ago, when I saw the video of those 21 precious Egyptian men kneeling on a Mediterranean beach. I stared at the procession … I knew that I was looking into the sickening, quaking black hole that is death.
The captives prayed, their lips moving silently, their eyes closed or raised to the heavens.
What were they whispering, in those last, fast-fading moments of their lives? Were they afraid?
What would I pray, if it were me kneeling on that beach?”
Thus as you journey through Lent, be far from revenge; far from the demandingness of justice, or the call for retaliation; instead – enter this prayer to the “lover of our soul.” Pray bravely; pray lovingly…
Jesus
The very thought of You
It fills my heart with love
Jesus
You burn like wildfire
And I am overcomeLover 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 YouJesus
You are my only hope
And You, my prize shall be
Jesus
You are my glory now
And in eternityLover 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 YouIn 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 beautyYou 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
YeahYou’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 YouI 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” is part of her new album, Inheritance, scheduled for release on February 12
For more on the her story, go to:
Audrey Assad and the story behind the song
An interview with Audrey Assad
With thanks to Dean Smith of OpentheWord.org, from whose post I was inspired to present this.
Curriculum of the Spiritual Life 
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