"James, I have a ticket for tomorrow night to a concert of the famous chimes. Surely you will go with us. It is such a wonderful opportunity!" With these words was James greeted by his friend.
"Tomorrow night? Oh, but that is our weekly prayer meeting!”
"I know; but this is your last chance to hear the chimes! The musicians are leaving for Europe.”
"But I have never before missed a prayer meeting for any reason.”
"But, James, at this concert only religious pieces are on the program—nothing worldly. Prayer meeting you have every week, but this is a rare opportunity offered only once.”
James reluctantly yielded and promised to go.
That night he had a dream: An angel in white stood at his bedside, asking, "Where are you going tomorrow night?”
"I have promised to go to the concert of the famous chimes.”
His face was sad as the angel murmured, "Have you no longing to see the salvation of one precious soul?”
Thereupon he departed without explanation of his strange visit.
In the morning the dream and the angel's solemn question weighed heavily on James. Surely, that must be a word from the Lord for him. His promise given to his friend to go with him to the concert must be withdrawn. Could he possibly have his Lord's approval in missing the prayer meeting for a concert? Thus James reasoned and decided for the prayer meeting.
James' heart was filled with peace when, at prayer meeting, he and his fellow-believers stood to sing a hymn. What could be more satisfying than to join his dear brethren at the throne of grace to make their petitions known to God? After a season of prayer, he arose and said: "I had in mind to go tonight to the concert of the famous chimes.; but now I am so glad I came to prayer meeting instead. Here one finds real joy and happiness far beyond the pleasure of listening to a concert. The hymn we sang together can not be compared with even the best of concerts. My heart is full of joy in the Lord.”
At the close of the meeting an invitation was given to anyone who wished to seek the Lord, if one might be present who had not yet found peace with God. An elderly lady dressed in mourning indicated that she desired to know the Lord. The way of salvation was pointed out to her, and the company of believers prayed for her. It was not long till she knew the peace that passeth understanding—the peace that was made by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross at the cost of His own precious blood.
A few days later James was invited to call on this new believer in Jesus. He found her happy in her knowledge of the Savior as she exclaimed with bright countenance: "I thank the Lord that I found my Savior that night at prayer meeting. For ten years I had not been where the Word of God is preached, and only to please my friend did I go with her to the meeting.
"When you said you found more joy with the children of God than at the concert of the chimes, then I decided that the children of God have something real and true. This encouraged me to seek the Lord. I thank the LORD for having found me, the lost one, and I have found Him. I thank you, for you were the means in the hands of God for my salvation. I can now go on my way rejoicing.”