“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”
Mark 11:22–23 (ESV)
Born in 1805, George Müller was such a ruffian that by the time he was 20, he’d been thrown in jail for reneging on his debt to creditors. Yet, even with his rowdy disposition, his friend Beta invited George to attend a prayer meeting. Since he had nothing better to do, George went with Beta that evening. There, George met his Savior.
At church, the young 20-year-old witnessed genuine love, great joy, and even a seldom-seen deep humility in the congregants. That evening, he knelt for the first time ever and surrendered his tattered life to God. He never looked back.
In the first moments of submission to Jesus, he had a great burden to press forward and share with others his delight in the Lord. One author put it this way: “No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus.1
With a heart brimming with a newfound faith, he began to understand the love that Jesus had for him. Those components led him into a deeply devoted Bible study and prayer life.
At this point, he finally had purpose, a positive purpose, which changed his life’s trajectory. He knew that he needed to quit thinking and get busy. “Today I have had it very much impressed on my heart no longer merely to think about the establishment of an Orphan Home, but actually to set about it. I have been very much in prayer respecting it, in order to ascertain the Lord’s mind.”2
Get busy, he did. God moved him from his native Prussia (now Germany) to Bristol, England. There he lived for many years, pastoring a church and growing orphanages. His homes for homeless youngsters required money, and a lot of it, even in the 1800s. He needed to feed, house, clothe, and educate these children so they could lead productive lives. In the process, he taught them about Jesus’ love for them.
His fundraising method was unique, even in his day. His daily petitions heavenward were his only means by which he supported his God-ordained ministry. Mr. Müller laid his need only before his heavenly Father. During his years of service, millions of dollars flowed through his hands because God is faithful.
George Müller’s Method Put to the Test
At a summer Vacation Bible School in the Upper Midwest, Cheryl taught about the prayers of George Müller. Many non-church member children attended, and Cheryl’s friend Abbie shuttled seven of them. On the way home from one of the meetings, one kid exclaimed, “I want ice cream.”
“Me, too!” “Me, too!” “Me, too!” reverberated through the vehicle.
Cringing, Abbie quietly noted, “I’m not sure I have enough money for all eight of us.”
“Let’s pray like George Müller did!”
With that, eight heads bowed and asked Heaven for ice cream. Abbie did find enough money, so moments later, they enjoyed the creamy lusciousness.
Call to Action
Perhaps your need is greater than ice cream, but we serve the almighty God. No need is too great for Him to fill. Sometimes His answers might be puzzling, but they are always for what’s best for eternal purposes.
I believe He gives us three answers, or at least a combination of these three:
- Yes, I’m happy to help you with that.
- Wait, the time is not right.
- No, I have something better.
Will you call on God the next time
you need to see Him work, even if it’s just for ice cream?
- Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ (Battle Creek, Mich.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1898), 78.
- George Müller, Autobiography of George Müller: A Million and a Half in Answer to Prayer (Glenside, PA: Westminster Literature Resources Inc., 2003), 80.
