This was originally posted in July 2009, but I felt the need to share it again today. 

photo credit: wikepedia

In Kay Arthur’s Lord Teach Me to Pray, she discusses several times throughout the study a man named George Mueller. I’m a fan of history, so I decided to look his name up. He’s definitely a man worth reading about.

In 1836 Mueller and his wife started an orphanage. By the end of Meuller’s life he raised over 10,000 orphans. As if that’s not enough to be impressed with, it’s how he provided for those orphans that amazed me.

His requests for food, supplies, or money didn’t reach people. He didn’t ask anyone for anything. He simply went to God. He didn’t ask the local lumberyard for building supplies. He didn’t ask the banker for a donation. He gave his requests to God, and ALL his needs were fulfilled. Many times he would receive food for the children only hours before they were to be fed. The children were dressed and well-educated. No child left the orphanage without a Bible in hand.

This man may have lived centuries ago, but I believe we can all still learn from him. He applied biblical principles in all of his decision-making. And he gave his requests to God before asking of others.
Does this mean we’re not to ask others for anything? I don’t necessarily think so. I believe God will put that on our hearts individually. I believe God wants us to seek Him and His will before we ask others. I believe that’s a must.
Here are Mueller’s principles:

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 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.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These 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.
6. 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 after two or three petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters and transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.

Remember that God is faithful still and hears prayers still. Sincerely and patiently seek to know the will of God by the teaching of the Word of God, and you will ALWAYS be directed rightly.
How have you seen God faithful in hearing your prayers? Leave a comment below…