AS THE DEER PANTETH FOR THE WATER

Marty Nystrom was born in 1956 to Christian parents. He later graduated from Oral Roberts University with a degree in music education. Here is Marty’s personal account of the inspiration for his Hymn, AS THE DEER PANTETH FOR THE WATER.

I quote him, “In 1984, I was a school teacher in Seattle, and since I had the summer off, I decided to go back to Bible College for a summer term. I headed for Dallas, Texas to attend Christ for the Nations Institute. I had a roommate who was a very vibrant Christian. He challenged me to go on a fast – a period of time when a person refrains from eating solid food in order to give time to the reading of the Bible and to prayer.”

“I took up the challenge and on the 19th day of the fast, I found myself siting at a piano trying to write a song...when I noticed a Bible on the music stand open to Psalm 42. My eyes fell on the verse that says…’As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God’. I began to sing its message right off the page. I wrote the first verse and the chorus of a song, pretty much straight through. The whole adventure was completed in a matter of minutes.”

“I had no intention of showing the song to anyone. It was for my own devotional time with the Lord! However, before leaving the school, I did share it with one person, who introduced it to the students and it became a favourite.”

We are so glad Marty shared it! His inspired song has been translated into several languages and is often sung in other countries. Orchestras have used it. Marty continued to write songs and travel to teach at worship conferences. When he walked into a stadium to attend one such conference in Korea, 100,000 Koreans were singing 'AS THE DEER...' Let's woship with Marty, shall we?