The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
- George Müller
One of the most notable and relatively recent heroes of the faith was George Müller. During his lengthy and world famous ministry in Bristol England throughout most of the 1800's, he housed and educated over 10,000 orphans. He also established over 100 schools providing Christian education for over 120,000.
One of countless accomplishments was Müller's five point outline for determining God's will in matters both great and small. An invaluable insight, well document for better part of seven decades!
Considered by many as a legendary icon of faith and miracles, George Müller was “a Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. According to many sources, some of the highlights of Müller's well documented ministry include:
- "Preaching three times a week from 1830 to 1898, at least 10,000 times. And when he turned 70 he fulfilled a life-long dream of missionary work for the next 17 years until he was 87. He traveled to 42 countries, preaching on average of once a day, and addressing some three million people.”
- “He had read his Bible from end to end almost 200 times, 100 times on his knees. He had prayed in millions of dollars (in today's currency) for the Orphans and never asked anyone directly for money. He never took a salary in the last 68 years of his ministry, but trusted God to put in people's hearts to send him what he needed. He never took out a loan or went into debt.”
Often praying in meals and resources for thousands of orphans, his journal entries reveal his unwillingness to touch a surplus of offerings targeted for missionary work. As with Finney, and other great men and women of God, Müller also attributed his success to developing sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. For example, in regards to myriads of decisions made over decades, he testified of five steps, that when followed always proved effective.
1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's Will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.
In reflection on the reliability of relinquishing his decisions to the leading of the Holy Spirit, George Müller explained, “Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.” Excerpts from answers to Prayer from George Müller's Narratives compiled by A. E. C. Brooks. Chicago.: Moody Press, ca. 1897
More information
In the Red Dropdown Icon you'll find pages and subpages of off-site links under the Resources arrow that we hope will both stimulate and facilitate your pursuit and understanding of the God of the Bible. To get started simply place your cursor on a category of interest and see where it leads. You can also join the discussion in a variety of ways including posting comments to God Blogs as well as making comments or asking questions by email or text.
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved