An Orphan's Story

In 1939 my mother died; I was eight at the time. There were four children in our family, and we lived in Highley Nr Bridgenorth in Shropshire . It was war time and my father was in his sixties. He was too old to look after us and needed to find somewhere for us to go together to be looked after. My Aunty went to church at a little Mission Hall in Birmingham where they supported an orphanage called George Müller's Homes. My Aunty felt this would be the right place for us to go and persuaded my father to send us there. My brother and one sister went in 1939 and I followed a year later in 1940. My other sister stayed home with them.

I arrived at Müller's very excited and wondering what life would be like, but missing my mum and my other sister, as we had been very close. I had been fostered for a year, which had been a very unhappy experience when I often went hungry. George Müller's Homes seemed like heaven to me, with regular meals, plain and simple, clean clothes, baths (I hadn't had many of them) good shoes, discipline and education. We read the Bible and sang children's songs. We had our own hymn book, a copy of which I still have today. I did not know anything at all about Jesus. I was so hungry for love and in such need of reassurance that as I heard the stories of Jesus, who loved me, a little orphan, my heart just opened up to him. I was nine then, and Jesus and those truths are still with me at the age of 74.

What was life really like there? Fun and hard. It was wartime, and we had to share everything. We slept 60 to a dormitory, made our own beds, scrubbed and polished floors, worked in the laundry (for about a thousand children and the staff). Imagine the washing for all of us! We were taught to clean our own shoes, brush our hair, knit our own stockings and socks darn them too. We used scrubbing boards in the laundry, learned how to lay tables, wait at tables, clean silver and polish furniture. We learned how to make our own clothes, stitch samplers, write letters, to sing and recite poetry, march to music, skip to music, sing the alphabet and other songs. My favourite was reciting poetry, and I write it and love it to this day thanks to Mullers dedicated teaching staff. People came from far and wide to see us perform. We were taught to write properly with nib pens and ink Although the teaching staff could not really show affection because they mustn't be seen favouring one more than another they were very kind. We did miss out on cuddles which made me miss my mum more, but I was fortunate I had a big sister and a brother in the boy's department who we saw once a month. When we left Müller's it was hard to get close to him as we'd missed out on the growing up and together times.

The highlight for me was Sunday afternoons when the book cupboard was opened. I was an avid reader then and still am. We were encouraged to read all good books and it taught me to choose carefully what things I read and I vetted all my children's books and comics as they were growing up. I read 'Pilgrim's Progress', and 'The Holy City' by John Bunyan, and was fascinated in later life to see the cage on Bedford bridge where he was imprisoned. I now have my own copy of 'The Holy War'. I always had a copy of 'Pilgrims Progress' as we were given a Bible and a copy of Pilgrims Progress when we left the home.

There is so much more I could tell! Such is my love for Müller's and the happy times I had there that I go up there every year to our reunion and am on the committee which runs it. Old boys and girls come from all over the world. George Müller and his Faithful God live on in his family, of which I am proud to belong. We sing the song 'We Love This Family of God' and one line in it says 'We are family, we are one' - and that's how we feel!

Muller Miscellany

Without ever asking anyone other than God, he received over $7,200,000 dollars (in 1800's money) through prayer alone.

Born in Prussia in 1805, by age 10 George was inventing plans to embezzle the government monies his father had charge of. His school years were years of drunkenness and immorality. At age sixteen he was jailed for failing to pay his bills.

The University he attended had 900 Divinity students. George said that there were only about nine who truly feared God. He continued in sin until at age 20 he received Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour.

George married and became a Pastor, but refused his salary when he found out it was collected from "pew-rents." He decided to live on faith from that time forward.

Müller established Orphanages in Bristol, England, and founded the "Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad." His life was characterized by prayer, faith, and self-denial in the cause of Christ.

During his lifetime, he established 117 schools which educated more than 120,000 young persons, including orphans.

In 1875, at the age of 70, and until age 87, he had a 17-year ministry of world-wide Evangelistic tours, which also raised money for his orphanages and the thousands of children in them.

He would live for another six years. At the time of his death at age 93 in 1898, the Church that he pastored in Bristol had about 2,000 members.

An Hour With George Muller

Here's a link to a very interesting interview with George Muller entitled An Hour With George Muller. Check it out. You'll be encouraged to trust God more! This interview was conducted by a Mr. Charles Parsons.

Here are some of his reflections concerning his time with Muller:

"From another room Mr. Muller fetched a copy of his life, in which he inscribed my name. His absence afforded me an opportunity of looking around the apartment. The furniture was of the plainest description, useful and in harmony with the man of God who had been talking to me. It is a great principle with George Muller that it does not become the children of God to be ostentatious in style, appointments, dress, or manner of living. He believes that expensiveness and luxury are not seemly in those who are the professed disciples of the meek and lowly One who had not where to lay His head. On a desk lay an open Bible, of clear type, without notes or references.

This, I thought, is the abode of the mightiest man, spiritually considered, of modern times—a man specially raised up to show to a cold, calculating, selfish age the realities of the things, of God, and to teach the Church how much she might gain if only she were wise enough to take hold the Omnipotent Arm."

Check out the link for more!

The Scriptural Knowledge Institution

There are several reasons why the life and ministry of George Muller have been such an inspiration to me.

One of these was his establishment of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Here's what the Muller Foundation web site has to say about this worthwhile ministry:

"The Scriptural Knowledge Institution, or SKI, as it is known was founded on March 5th, 1834. George Müller laid down four main objectives, which are shown here. In addition, he felt that since this was of God, there would be no patronage, appeals or requests for subscription and that the Institution should never contract any debts. He was convinced that God would provide all resources and meet every need.

Within the first seven months £167 had been received and by May 1894 the figure had risen to half a million pounds. The institution still flourishes today with the same principles, although there are some changes to meet today's needs. Just over one hundred years later, in 1997, over three hundred thousand pounds was sent to missionaries working both at home and overseas for their support. Most of that money resulted from donations being channelled through SKI by individuals, Trusts, and churches.

The objects of SKI are expressed as follows:-

1 To assist Day-schools, Sunday-schools and Adult-schools, in which instruction is given upon Scriptural principles, and, as far as the Lord may graciously give the means and supply us with suitable teachers, to establish Schools of this kind.

2 To put the children of poor persons to such Day-schools, in order that they may be truly instructed in the ways of God, besides learning those things which are necessary for this life.

3 To circulate the Holy Scriptures.

4 To aid in supplying the wants of Missionaries and Missionary Schools.

Note: These objectives are as printed in a document entitled 'First Report of the Operations of the Scriptural Knowledge Society for Home and Abroad' and was signed by both George Müller and Henry Craik on the 7th October, 1834.

The Bethesda Chapel was the next pastoral ministry for George Müller. The large Chapel was run down and the congregation of six looked extremely small, but with a year's guarantee of rent George Müller committed the future needs of the church to God. The membership grew, financial support came and the Bethesda Chapel prospered both materially and spiritually.

Mary Müller had now given birth to daughter Lydia and it was at the time when Bristol was stricken with cholera. The effects of the cholera resulted in a death rate of high proportions, especially among the adults, and countless children became orphaned.

George Müller, as always, committed the whole problem to God and sought guidance as to what should be done."

New Features

A new friend and partner Douglas Case from Risingline, a web design and marketing company, has added some features to this George Muller blog that some of our faithful readers have requested.

Now you can subscribe by e-mail or by an RSS feed. Check out the new features on the right margin of this blog. By subscribing you'll automatically be informed of any new posts. And, with these new features, I'll attempt by God's enabling to be more diligent about adding new stories and reflections about this man who simply trusted God.

Those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true.

Check out Doug's web site here. Thanks, Doug!

God bless you all richly!

Not Sent...Yet

The following quote, taken from The Autobiography of George Muller was posted here on the web site for the Abba Fund.

"My gracious Lord has not sent me help yet. Yesterday and today I have been pleading with God, giving reasons why He would be pleased to send help. The arguments I used are:

1. I began the work for the glory of God that there might be visible proof of God supplying, in answer to prayer only, the necessities of the orphans. He is the living God and eager to answer prayer.
2. God is the “Father of the fatherless,” and as their Father, He should be pleased to provide (see Psalm 68:5).
3. I have received the children in the name of Jesus. Therefore, He, in these children, has been received, fed, and clothed (see Mark 9:36-37).
4. The faith of many of the children of God has been strengthened by this work. If God withheld the means for the future, those who are weak in faith would be discouraged. If the ministry was continued, their faith might still further be strengthened.
5. Many enemies would laugh if the Lord withheld supplies and say, “We knew that this enthusiasm would come to nothing.”
6. Many of the children of God, who are uninstructed or in a carnal state, would feel justified to continue their alliance with the world in their ministries. They would continue in their unscriptural proceedings to raise money if He did not help me.
7. God knows that I cannot provide for these children in my own strength. Therefore, He would not allow this burden to lie on me long without sending help.
8. My fellow-laborers in the ministry also trust in Him.
9. I would have to dismiss the children from under our scriptural instruction to their former companions if He does not help me.
10. He could prove wrong those who said, “In the beginning supplies might be expected while the ministry is new, but after a while, people will lose interest and stop supporting it.”
11. If He did not provide, how could I explain the many remarkable answers to prayer which He had given to me previously which have shown me that this work is of God?

In some small measure I now understand the meaning of that word, “how long,” which frequently occurs in the prayers of the Psalms. But even now, by the grace of God, my eyes are on Him only, and I believe that He will send help.”

Muller's Continued Global Impact

It's amazing to note the global impact that George Muller's life and ministry still has on people all over the world. When I check the visits to this blog and see the countries where they originate, it excites me. Christians around the world are still fascinated by this godly man who "simply trusted God".

Just in the last several days there have been visitors to this blog from:

Nigeria
France
Belgium
United Kingdom
Germany
Australia
USA
China
India
Singapore
Hong Kong
United Arab Emirates
Philippines
New Zealand

What God wrought through the life of this "ordinary man" back in the 1800's is still challenging and encouraging believers today.

PRAISE GOD!

Thanks for your visit today, friend! You can trust Him too!

R. A. Torrey on Muller

"One of the mightiest men of prayer of the last generation was George Mueller of Bristol, England, who in the last sixty years of his life (he lived to be ninety-two or ninety-three) obtained the English equivalent of $7,200,000.00 by prayer.

But George Mueller never prayed for a thing just because he wanted it, or even just because he felt it was greatly needed for God's work. When it was laid upon George Mueller's heart to pray for anything, he would search the Scriptures to find if there was some promise that covered the case.

Sometimes he would search the scriptures for days before he presented his petition to God. And then when he found the promise, with his open Bible before him, and his finger upon that promise, he would plead that promise, and so he received what he asked. He always prayed with an open Bible before him."

- R. A. Torrey on George Müller; "The Power of Prayer," 1924 (P. 81)

FAITH...In the Eyes of a Child

While doing a GOOGLE search for more interesting information on George Muller I came across the following picture.

As a project the children in this family made lap-books (as opposed to scrap books). This one was on the life and ministry of George Muller. Check out this web site here.

An acrostic was written on the word FAITH. In the eyes of this child, this is what Muller's faith involved.

F - Father of many orphans
A - Always in prayer
I - Improvising daily
T - Thankful for everything
H - Happy with little or nothing

Muller's was a simple faith in a sovereign God. We can exhibit the same faith today. God has not changed. Will we trust Him fully for..."those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true."

Note: Click on the picture for a larger view of this project.

George Muller on Rising Early to Meet With God

Here's another thought-provoking and, hopefully, life changing selection from George Muller's writings. O that we would heed his challenge.

September, 1839 [34 years old]

Muller writes:

I want to encourage all believers to get into the habit of rising early to meet with God. How much time should be allowed for rest? No rule of universal application can be given because all persons do not require the same amount of sleep. Also the same persons, at different times, according to the strength or weakness of their body, may require more or less. Most doctors agree that healthy men do not require more than between six or seven hours of sleep, and females need no more than seven or eight hours.

Children of God should be careful not to allow themselves too little sleep since few men can do with less than six hours of sleep and still be well in body and mind. As a young man, before I went to the university, I went to bed regularly at ten and rose at four, studied hard, and was in good health. Since I have allowed myself only about seven hours, I have been much better in body and in nerves than when I spent eight or eight and a half hours in bed.

Someone may ask, “But why should I rise early?” To remain too long in bed is a waste of time. Wasting time is unbecoming a saint who is bought by the precious blood of Jesus. His time and all he has is to be used for the Lord. If we sleep more than is necessary for the refreshment of the body, it is wasting the time the Lord has entrusted us to be used for His glory, for our own benefit, and for the benefit of the saints and unbe­lievers around us.

Just as too much food injures the body, the same is true regarding sleep. Medical persons would readily agree that lying longer in bed than is nec­essary to strengthen the body actually weakens it.

It also injures the soul. Lying too long in bed not merely keeps us from giving the most precious part of the day to prayer and meditation, but this sloth leads also to many other evils. Anyone who spends one, two, or three hours in prayer and meditation before breakfast will soon discover the beneficial effect early rising has on the outward and inward man.

It may be said, “But how shall I set about rising early?” My advice is: Do not delay. Begin tomorrow. But do not depend on your own strength. You may have begun to rise early in the past but have given it up. If you depend on your own strength in this matter, it will come to nothing. In every good work, we must depend on the Lord. If anyone rises so that he may give the time which he takes from sleep to prayer and meditation, let him be sure that Satan will try to put obstacles in the way.

Trust in the Lord for help. You will honor Him if you expect help from Him in this matter. Pray for help, expect help, and you will have it. In addition to this, go to bed early. If you stay up late, you cannot rise early. Let no pressure of engagements keep you from going habitually early to bed. If you fail in this, you neither can nor should get up early because your body requires rest.

Rise at once when you are awake. Remain not a minute longer in bed or else you are likely to fall asleep again. Do not be discouraged by feeling drowsy and tired from rising early. This will soon wear off. After a few days you will feel stronger and fresher than when you used to lie an hour or two longer than you needed. Always allow yourself the same hours for sleep. Make no change except on account of sickness. Autobiography, 117-119.

Hudson Taylor, Muller's Impact

One evening while watching a video on the life of J. Hudson Taylor produced by Ken Anderson Films I was thrilled by one particular scene. Taylor and his wife Maria were sorting through the incoming mail for that day when Maria commented that a cheque had arrived from England, generous financial support from George Muller. I had known of Muller's impact on the life of the man who opened up inland China to the gospel but seeing this scene excited me.

George Muller, over his lifetime, was one of the primary supporters of J. Hudson Taylor and what was then known as the China Inland Mission.

God not only supplied the needs of Muller and his orphanage work but provided for many others around the world through Muller's obedience and stewardship.

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." - J. Hudson Taylor

More Muller Musings

In an address given to ministers and workers after his ninetieth birthday, George Muller spoke these words:

"I was converted in November, 1825, but I only came into the full surrender of the heart four years later, in July, 1829. The love of money was gone, the love of place was gone, the love of position was gone, the love of worldly pleasures and engagements was gone. God, God alone became my portion. I found my all in Him; I wanted nothing else. And by the grace of God this has remained, and has made me a happy man, an exceedingly happy man, and it led me to care only about the things of God. I ask affectionately, my beloved brethren, have you fully surrendered the heart to God, or is there this thing or that thing with which you are taken up irrespective of God? I read a little of the Scriptures before, but preferred other books; but since that time the revelation He has made of Himself has become unspeakably blessed to me, and I can say from my heart, God is an infinitely lovely Being. Oh, be not satisfied until in your own inmost soul you can say, God is an infinitely lovely Being!"

Extraordinary God

George Muller's life of explicit faith has caused many who followed after him to seek after a similar lifestyle.

Somehow we have made Muller into a folk hero who we try to emulate. That's exactly the opposite to what this ordinary man would have wanted. He would rather we seek to honor God, obey Him and simply trust Him with every detail of our lives.

We have set Muller on such a high pedestal that we could never rise to that same level.

And yet Muller said his faith was not extraordinary at all. He simply trusted God and took Him at His Word.

God has not changed. We can trust Him too and..."those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true."

Ordinary Men

The following appears on the web site for the George Muller Foundation. I'm so grateful that God often chooses ordinary men - like me - to accomplish His purposes.

Read on...

God often chose ordinary men, sometimes men with an inglorious and doubtful past, men who often mocked the faith and men with whom a great deal of patience was needed because of their reluctance to turn away from the 'good life'. George Muller had been all of these types.

George Muller was born in Kroppenstaedt, a Prussian village, on the 27th September 1805. The son of a Tax Collector, he did not become a

Christian until he was twenty years of age. His father wanted him to enter the ministry but only so that he could retire to the ease of his son's manse. Despite kindness and generosity continually shown by his father, George Muller was an habitual thief, inveterate liar and indeed he later said there was almost no sin into which he had not fallen. He even had the audacity to become a confirmed member of the Lutheran Church and take Communion in spite of being well aware of his sinful ways.

George Muller's conversion was dramatic! Many of his sinful ways he relinquished at once and as understanding of the Christian way of life increased so he dedicated his life to Jesus Christ. When he came to England in 1829 he formed a friendship with a quiet, godly and scholarly Scotsman named Henry Craik. This became a life-long friendship and under God's guidance they formed a great spiritual partnership in the Gospel and in children's work.

Through the work of the Orphan Homes and the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, both of which Mr Muller founded, many responded to the gospel and heard the call to dedicate their lives to God. The work continues today on the same principles - and the witness to God's faithfulness is still used to the glory of God.

Note: The George Muller Foundation is headquartered in the pictured house. This museum displays many artifacts from Muller's life of faith. I had the pleasure of visiting the Muller House in 2007 and spent an afternoon with Julian Marsh the Executive Director.

Modern Day Mailbox Miracles

The mail box at my office often seems to be the centerpiece of my life. Our livelihood depends on what the mailman deposits there. Epistle Sports Ministries trusts God to meet our needs through the kind and generous gifts of His people.

Recently I was speaking to one of my colleagues who shares our office complex. I had stressed the dire necessity that something substantial by way of support for our ministry be in the mail box that morning. Then I added, “if there’s nothing there, the Lord can still send someone into my office with a donation.”

Several minutes later I went to check the mail and returned dejected. Nothing! Not even junk mail! Now what would I do?

Within a matter of minutes a dear friend knocked on my door, came in and began to tell me about an unexpected cheque he had just received. The mailman had been good to him at least. He said, “I’m just going to sign it and give it to you.”

Being an emotional guy who wears his feelings close to the surface, tears came quickly. I felt that my friend needed to know about the conversation I had only moments before.

He was encouraged, my financial need that was pressing that morning was met and all parties involved were blessed. God was glorified in the transaction and that’s what matters most.

Does God still work in miraculous ways? There’s no doubt in my mind. Trust Him to do what you could never do on your own. He’s waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.” ~ 2 Chronicles 16:9(a) (ESV)

Early Refreshing

"How different, when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one!" - George Muller

Muller Moments

Here are two more quotes from George Muller. Be encouraged as you read these, dear friends. God has never failed us yet and HE WILL NOT! - David

"If the Lord fails me at this time, it will be the first time."

"To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings."

An Orphan's Story

In 1939 my mother died; I was eight at the time. There were four children in our family, and we lived in Highley Nr Bridgenorth in Shropshire . It was war time and my father was in his sixties. He was too old to look after us and needed to find somewhere for us to go together to be looked after. My Aunty went to church at a little Mission Hall in Birmingham where they supported an orphanage called George Müller's Homes. My Aunty felt this would be the right place for us to go and persuaded my father to send us there. My brother and one sister went in 1939 and I followed a year later in 1940. My other sister stayed home with them.

I arrived at Müller's very excited and wondering what life would be like, but missing my mum and my other sister, as we had been very close. I had been fostered for a year, which had been a very unhappy experience when I often went hungry. George Müller's Homes seemed like heaven to me, with regular meals, plain and simple, clean clothes, baths (I hadn't had many of them) good shoes, discipline and education.

We read the Bible and sang children's songs. We had our own hymn book, a copy of which I still have today. I did not know anything at all about Jesus. I was so hungry for love and in such need of reassurance that as I heard the stories of Jesus, who loved me, a little orphan, my heart just opened up to him. I was nine then, and Jesus and those truths are still with me at the age of 74.

What was life really like there? Fun and hard. It was wartime, and we had to share everything. We slept 60 to a dormitory, made our own beds, scrubbed and polished floors, worked in the laundry (for about a thousand children and the staff). Imagine the washing for all of us! We were taught to clean our own shoes, brush our hair, knit our own stocking and socks darn them too. We used scrubbing boards in the laundry, learned how to lay tables, wait at table, clean silver and polish furniture. We learned how to make our own clothes, stitch samplers, write letters, to sing and recite poetry, march to music, skip to music, sing the alphabet and other songs.

My favourite was reciting poetry, and I write it and love it to this day thanks to Mullers dedicated teaching staff. People came from far and wide to see us perform. We were taught to write properly with nib pens and ink Although the teaching staff could not really show affection because they mustn't be seen favouring one more than another they were very kind. We did miss out on cuddles which made me miss my mum more, but I was fortunate I had a big sister and a brother in the boy's department who we saw once a month. When we left Müller's it was hard to get close to him as we'd missed out on the growing up and together times.

The highlight for me was Sunday afternoons when the book cupboard was opened. I was an avid reader then and still am. We were encouraged to read all good books and it taught me to choose carefully what things I read and I vetted all my children's books and comics as they were growing up. I read 'Pilgrim's Progress', and 'The Holy City' by John Bunyan, and was fascinated in later life to see the cage on Bedford bridge where he was imprisoned. I now have my own copy of 'The Holy War'. I always had a copy of 'Pilgrims Progress' as we were given a Bible and a copy of Pilgrims Progress when we left the home.

There is so much more I could tell! Such is my love for Müller's and the happy times I had there that I go up there every year to our reunion and am on the committee which runs it. Old boys and girls come from all over the world. George Müller and his Faithful God live on in his family, of which I am proud to belong. We sing the song 'We Love This Family of God' and one line in it says 'We are family, we are one' - and that's how we feel!

Another Muller Quote

"At last I saw Christ as my Saviour. I believed in Him and gave myself to Him. The burden rolled from off me, and a great love for Christ filled my soul. That was more than fifty years ago (at age 20). I loved Jesus Christ then, but I loved Him more the year after, and more the year after that, and more every year since." - George Müller

Modern Day Miracles

If you take note of the comments that readers post on Pilgrim Scribblings you will have read the following testimony. If not, be blessed as you read this current account of God's provision:

A good friend of mine writes:

"I've been learning a lot about prayer from men like Hudson Taylor and George Muller who pursued God and trusted in Him. Prayer, over the last 3 months, has been a focus of mine (or rather of God with me) and I have been blessed incredibly by a new and greater passion for it.

Just today a very cool answer to prayer (akin to the work God did in the lives of Taylor and Muller). I have a friend who is going to Columbia to work among orphans and I wanted to support him. Sunday I asked how much was still lacking. He responded "$200", which I very much wanted to cover. He leaves Thursday, and I could not make the money available by then - however God has blessed both of us!

This morning I received a phone call (very unexpected) from a company in Ajax who wishes to hire me for a Scuba dive. $250 for ten minutes work - cash paid on site! After my expenses, this will leave $200 for the work! (I made no effort on my own to obtain this work and I only do about 8 dives a year in Peterborough, an hour away - God clearly is the provider)."

Yes, God is still Jehovah Jireh - our Provider.

New Edition

Yesterday I picked up a copy of the latest edition of George Muller of Bristol, a classic biography of the Father of Orphans, penned by Arthur T. Pierson. This clothbound volume includes a generous Appendix at the conclusion of the book and I highly recommend it. It is published by Hendrickson and can be ordered through your local Christian bookstore.

Even though I have two earlier editions of this comprehensive account of Muller's life, this latest edition is a welcome addition to my collection. The price is right, too, for a hardcover book - only $17.95 U.S. or $19.95 Cdn.

ENJOY!

A Good Start

George Muller read through the Bible over 100 times in his lifetime. No wonder his relationship with his God was so intimate!

He once stated, "I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God. I have always made it a rule never to begin work until I have had a good season with God and His Word. The blessing I have received has been wonderful."

Therein lies much of the "secret" of Muller's success. He was in touch with the Provider!

Portrait of a Man of Faith

George Muller - He trusted God in the face of seemingly impossible situations and God was faithful.

He still is today!

Enough Faith

The following thoughts appeared recently on David Jeremiah's TURNING POINT online devotional:

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." -Luke 17:6 NIV

Many Christians know that George Müller cared for more than 10,000 orphans in his lifetime in England and was a man of astounding faith. But not all know that he was not always such a faithful man. His early life in Prussia was marked by lying, gambling, drinking, and imprisonment for fraud. At age fifteen, he gave his attention to cards and drinking with friends while his mother lay dying.

This is also the same George Müller who, later in life, would sit his orphans down at a table with empty bowls and thank God for the food He would provide. And God always did. George Müller's life goes to show that faith is a learned discipline. Faith does not come naturally but supernaturally. The natural man believes when he sees, but the supernatural man sees when he believes. And Jesus taught that it does not take as much faith to see as we might think - faith as small as a tiny seed can see mountains moved.

If you are lacking great faith today, exercise the faith you have and then ask God for more. Faith, fruit, more faith, more fruit - believing God is a self-perpetuating experience.

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. - D. Elton Trueblood