Day 76: Praying for the grace to be godly (1949)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 76 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘Make promises to the Lord your God, and do what you have promised’ (Psalm 76:11, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1949

In the 26 February War Cry Brindley Boon wrote about his ‘pilgrimage’ to St David’s, Britain’s smallest city and oldest cathedral: ‘For most of two hours I roamed through the hallowed precincts of the sacred memorial, pausing at intervals to acquaint myself with features of special interest… My pilgrimage over I made my way back to the sleepy village of three streets, twisting lanes and little farms – a city that has changed little with the passing of fourteen centuries.’

St David’s was dedicated to the patron saint of Wales, whose day is nationally observed on 1 March. St David received his early education on the site of the city which now bears his name… The place was then called Menevin (ie main and narrow water) and was regarded as a ‘nursery of saints’.

The Salvation Army does not have a process of canonisation, the official conferring of sainthood, nor does it have a history of pilgrimages; nevertheless, the Army has provided a path of holiness, a nursery of saints throughout the years. It might not have named saints, but within its ranks countless ordinary men and women have lived the life of holiness.

‘Many years ago, I found myself in a small public house in Abersychan, South Wales selling the Army papers. The tough, macho miners were giving me a hard time – albeit good natured – not least because I originate from a different country, North Wales. After the initial mocking, they expressed their deep, heart-felt respect for the cornet player of the local Army band who worked with them deep underground. They never used the words “spiritual” or “holy” and I can assure you that their comments were not in any way sentimental. But those tough men made it abundantly clear that an ordinary man, who played second cornet in an Army band every Sunday, lived a godly life every day of the week, including at the coal front deep in the earth.’ 

(Melvyn Jones, That Contentious Spirituality)

Prayer

• Having read the above you may already be mindful of someone that was a ‘saint’ to you. It might even be the person who introduced you to The Salvation Army. Thank God for that person now.
• Reflect on your own godly life in work, play and home. Humbly bow before your Saviour thanking him for continuing to guide, strengthen and protect you to be the ‘saint’ that you are.

The 1940s

The story of the 1940s is one of a world at war. When the bombs fell, Salvationists responded with practical compassion. Pembroke Dock Corps ‘died’ but was ‘resurrected’ within the year. Denbigh Corps also ‘died’ but has yet to be ‘resurrected’. The story goes on.