George Mueller (Muller) is remembered as one of history's great men of faith. A German who came to England to do mission work among Jews, became a pastor best known for the establishment of five huge orphanages in Bristol.
I have recently finished reading George Muller, Delighted in God by Roger Steer.
The need for orphanages was profound in 19th century Britain as the child in need could not get placed without a sponsor. Street children rarely had sponsors. But Mueller saw an even greater need.
He would establish the orphanages in manner that had no alternative but to bring glory to God and to prove His power. With that in mind, he would never ask a single person for any support other than God Himself. In fact, he would not schedule any reports or speaking engagements when needs were great for concern he would have to give an honest answer about current situations and appear to be soliciting funds.
As long as he had God, he had no concerns.
I remain theologically perplexed by Mueller at times. I do not understand how our prayers move God. I do not know how he could be so certain that everything he prayed for was in the will of God to provide. Certainly, the provision of meals was an easy prayer, but the great expansions of ministry could not have been so obvious.
But there is something wonderful that in the face of great difficulties Mueller had no other strategy than prayer. Just a plan to take his needs before God and leave them there. Trusting God to do what was best. Oh, we need more of that!
A favorite Mueller story comes from a trans Atlantic voyage that was being delayed by fog. Mueller told the captain that he could not be late for his speaking engagements in America so they should pray for the fog to lift. Mueller prayed and the somewhat rattled captain was about to also pray when Mueller stopped him.
"Do not pray. First, you don't believe He will answer; and second, I believe He has and there is no need whatever for you to pray about it."
The fogged lifted moments later.
May we pray like you believe it. May we pray like we have no other resource.
Note -- My mother's first job out of school was working in the Mueller orphanages in Bristol.
I have recently finished reading George Muller, Delighted in God by Roger Steer.
The need for orphanages was profound in 19th century Britain as the child in need could not get placed without a sponsor. Street children rarely had sponsors. But Mueller saw an even greater need.
He would establish the orphanages in manner that had no alternative but to bring glory to God and to prove His power. With that in mind, he would never ask a single person for any support other than God Himself. In fact, he would not schedule any reports or speaking engagements when needs were great for concern he would have to give an honest answer about current situations and appear to be soliciting funds.
As long as he had God, he had no concerns.
I remain theologically perplexed by Mueller at times. I do not understand how our prayers move God. I do not know how he could be so certain that everything he prayed for was in the will of God to provide. Certainly, the provision of meals was an easy prayer, but the great expansions of ministry could not have been so obvious.
But there is something wonderful that in the face of great difficulties Mueller had no other strategy than prayer. Just a plan to take his needs before God and leave them there. Trusting God to do what was best. Oh, we need more of that!
A favorite Mueller story comes from a trans Atlantic voyage that was being delayed by fog. Mueller told the captain that he could not be late for his speaking engagements in America so they should pray for the fog to lift. Mueller prayed and the somewhat rattled captain was about to also pray when Mueller stopped him.
"Do not pray. First, you don't believe He will answer; and second, I believe He has and there is no need whatever for you to pray about it."
The fogged lifted moments later.
May we pray like you believe it. May we pray like we have no other resource.
Note -- My mother's first job out of school was working in the Mueller orphanages in Bristol.
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