August's featured article
Why Pray?
10 Ways We Benefit
Food For Thought
George Mueller, a prominent English evangelist and philanthropist of the 19th century, lived on his knees. In his eyes, no request was too small or too large to be brought before his loving God.
In 1835, Mueller began to feel a burden–undoubtedly placed on his heart by God–to start an orphanage. He began to pray that if it was truly God’s will then the Lord would provide the means necessary to start the operation. As Mueller sought God’s guidance in this situation, a whole new realm of prayer opened up for him when he read Psalm 81:10: "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it."
Mueller believed it was God’s will for this orphanage to materialise, so now instead of just asking God to make it come to pass, Mueller began to make specific requests. In understanding this verse, Mueller realised a couple of things: 1) God desired to bless him through this endeavour, and 2) God had the means to do just that–bless him and all involved with the orphanage.
Not only did Mueller believe God would give him the time and means to begin, but he started believing for the necessary practical items to make the orphanage a reality. He began believing for an orphanage itself, 1,000 pounds (the British currency), and people to help run the orphanage. Within 18 months, Mueller’s requests were fully answered.
Prayer was how Mueller survived. He had learned a tremendous secret: as a believer, prayer was the key to survival. And that’s the same principle God wants us to apply to our lives. Even after God supplied him everything he needed to start an orphanage, Mueller still relied on God daily to provide meals and money necessary to keep the children fed and clothed. He never stopped praying!
Whenever we hear stories like Mueller’s, we may find ourselves wondering if God still moves like that today. Are we watching and praying for His answers today like the great men of faith did?
Many times we don’t pray like we should–with fervency, faith, and passion–because we don’t see the point in it. Let’s face it, praying to God for our next meal isn’t something most of us have to do everyday.
But does that diminish our need to go to Him?
That’s where we go wrong. When we become so reliant on ourselves, so proud that we can accomplish things without God, we lose sight of Him. We think there’s no point in praying because we’ve got everything figured out. Sure, we cry out to God when things start taking a turn for the worse: Why me, God? or God, can you help me?
But is that the kind of prayer life we want to have, only going to Him in times of desperation?
Mueller always seemed to be desperate for God, which is why he spent most of his life making his reequests known to God. But the desperation wasn’t always for earthly things. Sometimes, that desperation was simply to meet with God and to know Him better.
