“The secret of praying is praying in secret.”

“Prayer is the language of the poor in spirit.”

“The more self-confidence you have, the less you pray. The less
self-confidence you have, the more you have to pray.” (1)

“One trick of the Evil One is to get us to wait until we feel like praying.
But if the life-boat man, having heard a distress signal from a sinking
boat, waited until he felt like going to the rescue, would he not be classed as a shirker and a coward? Feelings or no feelings, we must pray.”

“Our spiritual immaturity never shows up more than in our lack of praying.”

(1) Copyright 1994 by Leonard Ravenhill, Lindale, Texas.

I am rude.

I win people’s affection.

I absorb time.

I spoil conversations.

I promote lust.

I cause people to be late for work.

I make sin look funny.

I hinder prayer.

I compete with the H.S.C.

I sow seeds of rebellion.

I hinder communication between spouses.

I encourage revenge.

I compete with Bible reading.

I shape peoples’ morals.

I cause ironing to be put off until another day.

I steal the limelight.

I reduce attendance at prayer meetings.

I promote selfishness and greed.

I stop lawns from being mowed.

I encourage teenagers to disobey their parents.

I stir up vile imaginations.

I stop children from playing outdoors.

I consume electricity.

I cause board games to stay locked away in the cupboard.

I encourage promiscuity.

I cause good books to remain unread.

I hinder physical fitness.

I cause bloodshot eyes.

I alter priorities.

>

>

>

I am television

In 1836, God laid it on George Muller’s heart to commence a ministry among England’s orphans. He began by caring for 120 orphans in four rented houses in Bristol. Eventually five large orphan homes were built. During Muller’s involvement with the homes, over a period of sixty-two years, 9,725 orphans were cared for. It was a wonderful work of God, and reaped results that only heaven will reveal the size of.

One of the cornerstones of George Muller’s ministry was prayer. He was a great man of prayer. He depended on God to provide for the orphans, having a policy of never asking people for money but taking his requests to God alone. He said:

> “Prayer and faith are all the means I make use of to obtain supplies when we are in need.”

> “There is no happier, no easier, and no better way for the obtaining of pecuniary means or anything else in connection with the work of God, than to deal directly with the Lord Himself.”

> “When I am in need of anything, I fall on my knees, and ask God that He would be pleased to give me what I need; and He puts it into the heart of someone or other to help me.”

By 1884, around 2000 children had to be provided for every day in the orphanages. Yet God graciously undertook for them and compelled people around the world to give towards their support. Donations came from as far away as India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and South Africa. The vast majority of the donors did not personally know George Muller. God moved them to give as Muller prayed and news of the orphanages spread.

One on occasion, a gift arrived for the orphans in which the donor wrote, “It has been laid on my heart to remit you the enclosed cheque, value 100 pounds. Whilst I was lying awake this morning meditating on Him, my thoughts were directed to this, and I made haste and delayed not to obey His commandment. You may be just now needing help.” Muller added, “True indeed were these words. We were greatly needing help, but we told no one but our Heavenly Father, and He spoke for us to His obedient child.”

God answers prayer! God is still responding to the appeals of His people today, and all Christians in full-time ministry can depend on God alone to supply their financial needs. George Muller’s policy is still the best – to deal directly with God. (Why “hint” to people of our financial needs when we can go direct to God?) God is faithful to meet our needs. The God of George Muller is alive and working miracles today!

David Hunt

All quotes are from The Autobiography of George Muller,
Muller, G. (Pickering & Inglis, Paternoster Row, London, 1905)