George Müller

The child of God must be willing to be a channel through which God’s bounties flow, both with regard to temporal and spiritual things. This channel is narrow and shallow at first, it may be; yet there is room for some of the waters of God’s bounty to pass through. And if we cheerfully yield ourselves as channels, for this purpose, then the channel becomes wider and deeper, and the waters of the bounty of God can pass through more abundantly.

George Müller (September 27 1805 – March 10 1898) was a Christian evangelist and coordinator of orphanages in Bristol, England who cared for and educated 10,024 orphans throughout his lifetime.

Quotes

• "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."
  • Muller is often attributed with a version of this saying, and the quote (with attribution to Muller) appears as early as 1897 in The Churchman [1]; however, no source written by Muller can be found to confirm him as having said this.
• There was a day when I died, utterly died — died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends — and since then I have only to show myself approved to God.
  • George Müller of Bristol: His Life of Prayer and Faith by A. T. Pierson. [2]

First Part of Narrative

• It was only after the consideration of many months, and after much self-examination as to my motives, and after much earnest prayer, that I came to the conclusion to write this little work. I have not taken one single step in the Lord's service, concerning which I have prayed so much. My great dislike to increasing the number of religious books would, in itself, have been sufficient to have kept me for ever from it, had I not cherished the hope of being instrumental in this way to lead some of my brethren to value the Holy Scriptures more, and to judge by the standard of the word of God the principles on which they act.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• As a warning to parents I mention, that my father preferred me to my brother, which was very injurious to both of us. To me, as tending to produce in my mind a feeling of self-elevation; and to my brother, by creating in him a dislike both towards my father and me.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• ...my father's desire was, that I should become a clergyman: not, indeed, that thus I might serve God, but that I might have a comfortable living
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• At that time Halle was frequented by 1260 students, about 900 of whom studied divinity, all of which 900 were allowed to preach, although, I have reason to believe, not nine of them feared the Lord.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• To ascertain the Lord's will we ought to use scriptural means. Prayer, the word of God, and His Spirit should be united together. We should go to the Lord repeatedly in prayer, and ask Him to teach us by His Spirit through His word. I say, by His Spirit through His word. For if we should think that His Spirit led us to do so and so, because certain facts are so and so, and yet His word is opposed to the step which we are going to take, we should be deceiving ourselves.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• No situation, no business will be given to me by God, in which I have not time enough to care about my soul (Matthew vi. 33).
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• There is no joy in man's own doings and choosings.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Further, I did not keep in mind, that if the most illiterate persons in the congregation can comprehend the discourse, the most educated will understand it too; but that the reverse does not hold true.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• I have considered that there is no ground to go away from the door of the Lord to that of a believer, so long as He is so willing to supply our need.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Only seek by watching and prayer more and more to be delivered from all vanity and self-complacency, by which even the true believer may be ensnared when he least expects it. Let it be your chief aim to be more and more humble, faithful, and quiet. May we not belong to those who say and write continually,' Lord,' 'Lord,' but who have Him not deeply in their hearts. Christianity consists not in words, but in power.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• There are few blessings on earth greater for a believer; and yet the Lord is frequently obliged to teach us the value of this blessing by depriving us of it for a season.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together," is a most important exhortation. Even if we should not derive any especial benefit, at the time, so far as we are conscious, yet we may be kept from much harm. And very frequently the beginning of coldness of heart is nourished by keeping away from the meetings of the saints.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• As to the other means of grace I would say: I fell into the snare, into which so many young believers fall, the reading of religious books in preference to the Scriptures.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Whilst I was at Halle, I thought I should much enjoy being among so many christians as there are in Berlin. But when I was there I found, that enjoyment in the Lord does not depend upon the multitude of believers, by whom we are surrounded
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• I have related this circumstance, because I am aware that it is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were of no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer; whilst the truth is, in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer, is, to continue praying; for the less we read the word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Within the last fifty years, I have found it the most profitable plan to meditate with my pen in my hand, writing down the outlines, as the Word is opened to me.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• For neither eloquence nor depth of thought make the truly great preacher, but such a life of prayer and meditation and spirituality, as may render him a vessel meet for the Master's use, and fit to be employed both in the conversion of sinners and in the edification of the saints.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• At the same time it appeared to me right, that henceforth I should ask no man, not even my beloved brethren and sisters, to help me, as I had done a

few times according to their own request, as my expenses, on account of traveling much in the Lord's service, were too great to be met by my usual income. For unconsciously I had thus again been led, in some measure, to trust in an arm of flesh; going to man, instead of going to the Lord at once. To come to this conclusion before God, required more grace than to give up my salary.

• • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Learned commentaries I have found to store the head with many notions, and often also with the truth of God; but when the Spirit teaches, through the instrumentality of prayer and meditation, the heart is affected. The former kind of knowledge generally puffs up, and is often renounced, when another commentary gives a different opinion, and often also is found good for nothing, when it is to be carried out into practice. The latter kind of knowledge generally humbles, gives joy, leads us nearer to God, and is not easily reasoned away; and having been obtained from God, and thus having entered into the heart, and become our own, is also generally carried out. If the inquirer after truth does not understand the Hebrew and Greek languages, so as to be able to compare the common translation with the original, he may, concerning several passages, get light by an improved rendering, provided he can be sure that the translator was a truly spiritual person.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• Now, the truth is, that, whilst we have been often brought low; yea, so low, that we have not had even as much as one single penny left; or so as to have the last bread on the table, and not as much money as was needed to buy another loaf;--yet never have we had to sit down to a meal, without our good Lord having provided nourishing food for us. I am bound to state this, and I do it with pleasure. My Master has been a kind Master to me, and if I had to choose this day again, as to the way of living, the Lord giving me grace, I would not choose differently.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• In reading about all these answers to prayer, the believing reader may be led to think that I am spiritually minded above most of the children of God, and that, therefore, the Lord favours us thus. The true reason is this. Just in as many points as we are acting according to the mind of God, in so many are we blessed and made a blessing. Our manner of living is according to the mind of the Lord, for He delights in seeing His children thus come to Him (Matt. vi.); and therefore, though I am weak and erring in many points, yet He blesses me in this particular, and, I doubt not, will bless me, as long as He shall enable me to act according to His will in this matter.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• It is a most important work to go about and stir up the churches; but it requires much grace, much self-denial, much saying over the same things, and the greatest watchfulness and faithfulness, in making use of one's time for prayer, meditation, and reading the Scriptures.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• But let none think that public prayer will make up for closet communion.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• ...to say, that His glory was my chief aim, i.e., that it might be seen that it is not a vain thing to trust in the living God.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

• The reason why I have refrained altogether from soliciting any one for help is, that the hand of God evidently might be seen in the matter, that thus my fellow-believers might be encouraged more and more to trust in Him, and that also those who know not the Lord, may have a fresh proof that, indeed, it is not a vain thing to pray to God
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, First Part.

Second Part of Narrative

• Sept. 19. Two things were today particularly impressed upon my heart, and may the Lord deepen the impression. 1. That I ought to seek for more retirement, though the work should apparently suffer ever so much. 2. That arrangements should be made, whereby I may be able to visit the brethren more, as an unvisited church will sooner or later become an unhealthy church. Pastors, as fellow-laborers, are greatly needed among us.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• May the Lord give me grace to deny myself, in order to provide for the necessities of the poor! How much may be done even by a little self-denial! Lord, help me! … It is a Christlike spirit in supplying the necessities of the poor, not to ask how little will do for them, but how richly may I possibly supply their need.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• Jan. 13. I have already received blessings through Whitfield’s life. His great success in preaching the Gospel is evidently to be ascribed, instrumentally, to his great prayerfulness, and his reading the Bible on his knees. I have known the importance of this for years; I have practiced it a little, but far too little. I have had more communion with God today than I have had, at least generally, for some time past.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• Through this affliction I have known experimentally in a higher degree than I knew it before, how, if obliged to refrain from active service, one can nevertheless as really and truly help the armies of Jesus, through secret prayer, as if one were actively engaged in the proclamation of the truth.--This point brings to my mind a truth, of which we all need to be reminded frequently, even this, that at all times, and under all circumstances, we may really and truly serve the Lord, and fight for His kingdom, by seeking to manifest His mind, and by giving ourselves to prayer.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• May 7. This morning I left Leamington for Bristol. I had grace to confess the Lord Jesus the last part of the way before several merry passengers, and had the honour of being ridiculed for His sake. There are few things in which I feel more entirely dependant upon the Lord, than in confessing Him on such occasions. Sometimes I have, by grace, had much real boldness; but often I have manifested the greatest weakness, doing no more than refraining entirely from unholy conversation, without, however, speaking a single word for Him who toiled beyond measure for me. No other remedy do I know for myself and any of my fellow-saints who are weak, like myself, in this particular, than to seek to have the heart so full of Jesus, and to live so in the realization of what He has done for us, that, without any effort, out of the full heart, we may speak for Him.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• Dec. 31. My health is much better than for years. My mental powers also are as good as they have been at any time during the last three years. I ascribe this to God’s blessing, through the instrumentality of early rising, and plunging my head into cold water when I rise.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• I have frequently found, under similar circumstances, that after I had been brought into such a state as to be willing to give up my own will, whereby I was fitted to bear the blessing, the Lord gave me the desire of my heart, according to the truth of that word: "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm xxxvii. 4.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• Now, spiritual rule can only be continued over those who yield willing subjection: an unwilling submission on the part of those who are in the place "of the ruled," we deem no true subjection at all.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

• It cannot be expected that, for the sake of pleasing even those whom we love in Christ, we should shrink back from carrying out any truth which the Lord may lead us into; and, therefore, if our brethren cannot heartily go along with us, it is better that nothing should be imposed upon them contrary to their convictions.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Second Part.

Third Part of Narrative

• Dear reader, do you know the living God? Is He, in Jesus, your Father? Be assured that Christianity is something more than forms and creeds, and ceremonies: there is life, and power, and reality, in our holy faith.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part.

• Truly, it is worth being poor and greatly tried in faith, for the sake of having day by day such precious proofs of the loving interest which our kind Father takes in every thing that concerns us.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part.

• Dealing with God is a reality.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part.

• Prayer and faith, the universal remedies against every want and every difficulty; and the nourishment of prayer and faith, God’s holy word, helped me over all the difficulties.--I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period now (in October 1881) of fifty-five years and eleven months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the word of God, but I have been ALWAYS directed rightly.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part.

• The child of God must be willing to be a channel through which God’s bounties flow, both with regard to temporal and spiritual things. This channel is narrow and shallow at first, it may be; yet there is room for some of the waters of God’s bounty to pass through. And if we cheerfully yield ourselves as channels, for this purpose, then the channel becomes wider and deeper, and the waters of the bounty of God can pass through more abundantly.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part.

• Money is really worth no more than as it is used according to the mind of the Lord; and life is worth no more than as it is spent in the service of the Lord.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part.

Fourth Part of Narrative

• So we had enough for one more day.--And it is by the day I live. Were I to think of how it will be a year or even a month hence, I should be tried indeed—yea, greatly tried. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," is my Lord's own precious warrant for this. He will not have me to be anxious about tomorrow, and therefore I cast my cares about tomorrow upon Him.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

• --Particularly notice, that the help never comes too late. We may be poor, yea, very poor; yet the help comes at the right time. We may have to wait upon the Lord, yea, even a long time; but at last He helps. It may seem as if the Lord had forgotten us, by allowing us to be poor, and very poor, and that week after week; but at last He helps abundantly, and shows that only for the trial of our faith, both for our own benefit and the benefit of those who might hear of His dealings with us, has He allowed us to call so long upon Him.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

• Now observe: on the 36th day, after having begun to pray, on Dec. 10, 1845, I received 1000l. towards the building of the Orphan-House. This is the largest donation that I had received up to that time for the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but when I received it I was as calm, as quiet, as if I had only received one shilling. For my heart was looking out for answers. Day by day I was expecting to receive answers to my prayers. Therefore, having faith concerning the matter, this donation did not in the least surprise me. Yea, if Five Thousand Pounds, or Ten Thousand Pounds, had been given to me, instead of One Thousand Pounds, it would not have surprised me.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

• Indeed step by step has the Lord prospered me in my feeble endeavours, mixed with sin as every one of them has been, and made it manifest, that, this time also, He had sent me to Germany.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

• Esteemed reader, what do you think of this? Is it not a pleasant thing, in the end, even for this life, really to trust in God? Verily, thus I have found it to be, and thus do I find it to be, the longer I live. Only there must be real trust in God, and it must be more than merely using words. If we trust in God, we look to Him alone, we deal with Him alone, and we are satisfied with His knowing about our need.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

• Under these circumstances prayer and faith were again resorted to. For my universal remedy in need of any kind is, to make known my requests unto God, and then I seek to believe that God has heard me for His dear Son's sake, and I look out for answers to my petitions, and fully expect them.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

• My dear reader, if you are tired of going on with this account of the Lord's gracious interpositions for us week after week, or day after day, I beseech you to lay it aside for the present. Take it up at another time. This Narrative is not of an ordinary character. It does not contain anecdotes for amusement; it relates no embellished tales; it gives facts in which the hand of God is seen stretched out on our behalf, as the result of prayer and faith. Seek to admire God, dear reader, in this simple Narrative of Facts, which are related to His praise, and to allure your heart more and more for Him, and which are brought before you in all simplicity to encourage you and to stir you up, if it may please God so to use His servant, to put your whole trust in Him. I judge that it will be the more profitable way to read this account by little and little.
  • A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Fourth Part.

External links

• Works by George Müller at Project Gutenberg
• George Muller - A Man Who Simply Trusted God