“MOTHER," said Johnnie A―, "would you be willing to let a few of us have the use of the big room on Wednesday evening for a prayer meeting? A number of the boys who have been recently converted bade me ask you.”
"I'll be very glad, Johnnie, to give you the use of the room; but you don't mean to stay away from the usual prayer meeting on Tuesday night, do you?”
"O, dear no, mother; we'll go there too. But we've been thinking it would be nice to have a little prayer meeting, just among ourselves, you know, with none of the big folks at it; because we do not like to open our mouths aloud and pray before so many in the big prayer meeting.”
"All right, my boy, you shall have the room with all my heart, and I hope you will have a time of real prayer and blessing together before the Lord.”
Wednesday evening came, and about a dozen of the boys came together, and had a quiet hour by themselves in the big room, with the door locked. Some of them opened their mouths in prayer for the first time that night. It continued every Wednesday during the winter, and God blessed the little prayer meeting abundantly, and the power of it was felt all over the village. The young believers were kept fresh and green in soul by waiting there together before the Lord, and drawn close to one another in the bonds of true companionship in the Spirit. Some, whose first lispings as babes in Christ, were tremblingly uttered in that little prayer meeting, are now proclaiming the Gospel fearlessly to the crowd, and mingling their petitions with fellow-saints in the big prayer meeting.
Many of the Lord's little ones are ashamed to open their mouths for the first time before a large company, and so they remain dumb for life. They are there regularly, but not a word of audible prayer escapes their lips from one year's end to the other. The "fathers" in Christ do all the praying, and the "babes" sit in silence. But this ought not to be. Surely nothing can be more grateful to the ear of God, than to hear His youngest children lisp His name in prayer, and call Him, "Abba, Father." If an earthly parent loves to hear his infant child for the first time say "father," can it be less pleasing to our Father in heaven? And if it be joy to Him, it is blessing to the young believer, aye, and to all the saints of God. What would become of the prayer meeting if all the young believers were dumb? Where will the men of prayer of the next generation come from, if those who are now babes don't get their mouths opened.
But you must make a start, and the example of Johnnie and his companions is well worth imitating, in the fear of the Lord. At any rate, don't be afraid to open your mouth in prayer. Don't mind if some throw cold water on you, and discourage you; and don't be put out if others criticize your prayer; and never mind if you can only pray short, perhaps only half the time of brother So-and-so. Long prayers
are not always a sign of spirituality in the offerer, or a source of blessing to others. Ask what you feel the need of, and stop when you're done. Shun formality and unreality in your petitions. It is not to be "heard of men,” but to the ear of your Father in heaven that your prayer should be made. God bless the young believer, and make him a man of prayer, both in secret and in public. Thus shall he grow up in spiritual stature, and be able to share the burdens and toil of active service for the Lord.