While staying for a time in a hotel in B., a prayer meeting for girls was held once a week.
On the stairs one evening I met one whom I asked to come to it.
“It would be of, no use in my case,” said she; “God may hear you, but He would not hear me, for I am an unbeliever.”
She gave me to understand that her father was an infidel, and that she had imbibed his views. I told her that “in God we lived, and moved, and had our being,” and how impious it was of us to reject Him, who had created us, and loved us, proving His love by giving “His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
She became anxious, and as things were explained to her daily by the Word of God, her mind opened, and at last the light shone into her soul. She accepted Christ, and was filled with joy and peace.
Then she came to the prayer meeting, and after a time I asked her why she never took part in prayer. Her reply was, “You know I am only a babe, and scarcely know how to pray yet.”
“Mothers like to hear the infants try to speak, and do not expect them to say much at first,” I said.
At the next meeting she opened her lips, saying, “Lord, I thank Thee for saving me,” and that was all. The others prayed, and when the meeting was over she came to me and said, “Now, you know I said I could not pray yet; they will all think I am setting myself up to be somebody.” I cheered her, and said I was sure the Lord was pleased, as it had cost her something, and He would bless her.
A few days after another girl came to see me, and almost the first thing she said was, “What a sweet meeting that last one was! and what helped me most was Miss H—’s prayer! I know she was only just saved, and I was saved for years, and was still hesitating and fearful of making my requests known to God. Her prayer did me good.”
“O, make but trial of His love,
Experience will decide
How blest are they, and only they,
Who in His love confide.”