George Mueller is a spiritual hero of mine. His faith and trust in God led him to walk with God in such a way that countless numbers of people have been inspired by his example. He was not a perfect man, but this imperfect man has showed this imperfect man what God will do as we come to Him in prayer.
George Mueller prayed he would live and work in such a way as to be convincing proof that God hears prayer and that it is always safe to trust in Him. To show the world that God was a prayer-answering God. Faith Coxe Bailey
His heart was to show the world that God answers prayer – that He is ‘prayer-answering God.’ In order to show the world that to be a reality, you must be one who is committed to praying no matter what circumstance comes your way.
I’ve read through many biographies about George Mueller – many of which document his prayer journals. It’s said that he witnessed over 50,000 answers to prayers he prayed. The amazing thing about answered prayer is that it has a way of motivating you to keep praying.
George Mueller’s prayers not only impacted him, namely His walk with God, but his prayers had a profound impact on those around him. His prayers, both the content and fervency in which he prayed had a transformational impact on those who came into contact with him.
The following story is one I shared at GENESIS on Sunday, September 7th. What inspires me about this story is not so much how George Mueller prayed, but the impact it had on the one whom heard the prayer.
As you read this story, be encouraged to pray prayers that reflect who God really is. In other words, our prayers should reflect a conviction that nothing is impossible or too difficult for God. We might not always know the plans of God, but that should never stop us from praying prayers that reflect the character and enormity of who God is.
Be encouraged that as you pray, God will use your prayers and His answers to your prayers to transform the men and women around you so that they to would have a testimony that declares ‘God is a prayer-answering God!’
When I first came to America, thirty-one years ago. I crossed the Atlantic with the captain of a steamer who was one of the most devoted men I ever knew, and when we were off the banks of Newfoundland be said to me:
"Mr. Inglis, the last time I crossed here, five weeks ago, one of the most extraordinary things happened which, has completely revolutionized the whole of my Christian life. Up to that time I was one of your ordinary Christians. We had a man of God on board, George Muller, of Bristol. I had been on that bridge for twenty-two hours and never left it. I was startled by some one tapping me on the shoulder. It was George Muller:
"'Captain, he said, 'I have come to tell you that I must be In Quebec on Saturday afternoon.' This was Wednesday.
"'It is impossible,' I said.
"'Very well, if your ship can't take me, God will find some other means of locomotion to take me. I have never broken an engagement in fifty seven years.'
"’I would willingly help you. How can I? I am helpless.'
"'Let us go down to the chart-room and pray.'
"I looked at that man of God, and I thought to myself, what lunatic asylum could that man have come from? I never heard of such a thing.
"'Mr. Muller,' I said, 'do you know how dense the fog is?'
"'No,' he replied, 'my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.'
"He got down on his knees and prayed one of the most simple prayers. I muttered to myself: 'That would suit a children's class where the children were not more than eight or nine years old.' The burden of his prayer was something like this: 'O Lord, if it is consistent with Thy will, please remove this fog in five minutes. You know the engagement you made for me in Quebec Saturday. I believe it is your will.'
"When he finished. I was going to pray, but he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to pray. "First, you do not believe He will; and second. I believe He has. And there is no need for you to pray about it.' I looked at him, and George Muller said..
"'Captain. I have known my Lord for forty-seven years, and there has never been a single day that I have failed to gain an audience with the King. Get up, captain, and open the door, and you will find the fog is gone.' I got up, and the fog was gone!
"You tell that to some people of a scientific turn of mind, and they will say, 'That is not according to natural laws.' No, it is according to spiritual laws. The God with whom we have to do is omnipotent. Hold on to God's omnipotence. Ask believingly. On Saturday afternoon, I may add, George Muller was there on time."
