The “Nevers”

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The Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. . . . For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and will raise him up at the last day.” —John 6:35, 40

On February 18^th of this year we posted a devotional entitled The “Nothings.” In it were stories of chaplain-led front-line prayers included in the book Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith & Courage from Iraq & Afghanistan.

If the word “nothing” would lead us in Scripture to Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You,” and Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God,” . . . .then a search for the word “never,” in this paradoxically positive context, would lead us to:

“I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have renewed my life.” — Psalm 119:92

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” —John 11:25,26

“Love never fails.” —1 Corinthians 13:8

And if we were to look for prayers with the word “never” in them—as was in “The ‘Nothings’”—the most beautiful prayer I have found is in the collection of Puritan prayers entitled Valley of Vision:

“O LORD,

May I

–never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth,

–never rest in a system of doctrine, however scriptural, that does not bring or further salvation, or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;

–never rely on my own convictions and resolutions, but be strong in thee and in thy might;

–never cease to find thy grace sufficient in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;

–never forget to repair to thee in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles, in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;

–never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace and truth, the friend that loveth at all times, who is touched with feelings of my infirmities, and can do exceeding abundantly for me;

–never confine my religion to extraordinary occasions, but acknowledge thee in all my ways;

–never limit my devotions to particular seasons but be in thy fear all the day long;

–never be godly only on the Sabbath or in thy house, but on every day abroad and at home;

–never make piety a dress but a habit, not only a habit but a nature, not only a nature but a life.

Do good to me by all thy dispensations, by all means of grace, by worship, prayers, praises,

And at last let me enter that world where is no temple, but only thy glory and the Lamb’s.” (p. 64)

Finally, during this time of deployment when it would be so easy to forget God’s presence, please never forget the truth found in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Work Cited:

Bennett, Arthur, editor, The Valley of Vision (Carlisle: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975)

Questions to Share:

1. When have you been most tempted to forget the presence, power, and provision of God in your life?

2. What do you believe is beyond God’s ability to change, heal, provide, save, or redeem? Is there a verse from “The ‘Nothings’” or “The ‘Nevers’” which would say otherwise?