| Title | : | Answers To Prayer |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0802405657 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780802405654 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 128 |
| Publication | : | First published October 8, 1984 |
Answers To Prayer Reviews
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It's hard to fault George Mueller's message of totally depending on God's provision for what he has directed you to do, but the presentation of this volume was not good. The publishers piled together several sections of Mueller's diary without regard to chronology or progression. Then added framing comments, perhaps because they were embarrassed to ask eight dollars for what would have better been presented in a six-page pamphlet.
Readers will be numbed by the repetitious cliff-hanger crises with last minute reprieves.
Those eager to employ Mueller's method are reminded to follow his six-step process to ascertain God's will. A lot of humility and trust is required to do as Mueller did, establishing and supporting a system of orphanages near Bristol--totally 2100 staff and students in later years--completely dependent on divine provision for the means. Mueller never even asked for money nor advertised what he was doing. For over fifty years, until his death in 1898.
Mueller also reports his role in the Irish Revival of 1859. Modern readers often forget that the western world has been visited by these periodic outpouring of Christian renewal for at least the last five hundred years. And that the charismatic evidences we think started at Azusa Street in 1906 were in fact manifested in those earlier times. Having no sense of history, we think history started (and will end) with us. ;-) -
Answers to Prayer by George Müller is part of the Read & Reflect With the Classics Series (I am reviewing the hardcover version) which provides thought provoking questions and also prayers at the end of each chapter. Müller's book details various accounts of God's all sufficient grace in the works that God had prepared for him to do.
The way that Mueller approached the ministries that God graciously gave him is very unique compared to most present day Christian ministries (and perhaps most ministries in Müller's day as well). Ministries today are very focused and reliant upon, money. They hold fundraising drives, have commercials on the radio asking for people's support, and some will send tons of letters and emails begging for monetary help. I think of one ministry in particular, which, although its founders believe in God's absolute sovereignty, they contradict their belief by implying that their ministry cannot continue without the help of people, that "your support makes ministry happen".
Many ministries act as if they are the most important ministry in God's Kingdom and that if you do not give money and they expire, that God's Word will not be given out any more. Muller did not act like that. He knew that God did not need human beings in order to get His work done.
Müller took a more faith-based approach, relying upon God rather than upon people for help. He would not ask people for help with ministries, he asked God, period. And God provided. "Never since the Orphan work has been in existence have I asked one single human being for any help for this work; and yet, unasked for, simply in answer to prayer, from so many parts of the world, as has been stated, the donations have come in, and that very frequently at a time of the greatest need."
He also came to the conclusion that one should not rely on people's promises to give money and that one should not even think about those promises: "Now this morning it came to my mind, that such promises ought to be valued, in a certain sense, as nothing, i.e., that the mind ought never for a moment to be directed to them, but to the living God, and to the living God only. I saw that such promises ought not to be of the value of one farthing, so far as it regards to thinking about them for help." This is quite a contrast to ministries who beg for pledges of money, and put large or regular donors names up on plaques. They make more of the people, more of the tools, that God uses than the Supplier Himself! God is the One who supplies all our need, and though he may use people to do it, they are but channels (think "Channels Only"). God doesn't need people, or their money, AT ALL in order to supply our needs!
As Müller puts it, "Earthly friends may lose their ability to help us, however much they desire so to do; but He remains throughout eternity the Infinitely Rich One. Earthly friends may have their minds after a time diverted to other objects, and, as they cannot help everywhere, much as they may desire it, they may, though reluctantly, have to discontinue to help us; but He is able, in all directions, though the requirements were multiplied a million times, to supply all that can possibly be needed, and does it with delight, where His work is carried on, and where He is confided in. Earthly friends may be removed by death, and thus we may lose their help, but He lives forever, He cannot die. In this latter point of view, I have especially, during the past 40 years, in connection with this Institution, seen the blessedness of trusting in the Living God alone. Not one nor two, nor even five nor ten, but many more, who once helped me much with their means, have been removed by death; but have the operations of the Institution been stopped on that account? No. And how came this? Because I trusted in God, and in God alone."
Müller would at times give updates on God's provision for the ministries in times of great need, but this was to encourage Christians in the faith, not to work on their emotions to make them feel compelled to give supplies. At least one time Muller and his fellow workers put off giving an update because at the time they were, from a human perspective, in desperate straits, and they did not want other people to know it, wanting to rely solely on God for help.
Many ministries want God to give them a yearly supply rather than just their daily bread. The ministries that God gave Müller charge over lived day by day in reliance upon God's supply, many times literally being given the means for their daily needs DAILY on the day they were needed, rather than in advance.
I really liked this book. The only thing that I didn't quite like were the prayers that were added at the end of each chapter. I would rather that they have been commentary rather than prewritten ways that we can use to talk to God. Yes, we do not know how to pray as we ought, but neither does the person who wrote those prayers. Though I don't think that using other people's prayers is necessarily wrong, Christians ought not to rely upon other Christians to write their prayers for them, we have the best Helper of all in the Holy Spirit who is our Interceder in our prayers (Romans 8:26-27). There are good concepts in them though, "You provide what I need, and if I don't have it, I can absolutely trust that I don't need it. "
Before I end, and I really need to end because this is quite long, at the end of the book there is an appendix containing an article by Muller on "The Careful and Consecutive Reading of the Holy Scriptures". It is an excellent read, and describes Muller's goal in writing this book. He advocates the consistent daily reading of the Scriptures, over and above any other book. He describes how he once slacked in that area and how he had gotten into the habit of reading other books, including Christian ones, instead of the Scripture. "…thus, like many believers, I practically preferred, for the first four years of my divine life, the works of uninspired men to the oracles of the living God." As he put it, "God himself has condescended to become an author" and this is the "book of books" containing all that we ought to know! We should not value Christian books (including this one) above the Scriptures, the Scriptures themselves should be our delight.
Many thanks to the folks at B&H Publishers for sending me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable). -
Reading experience was the ironic opposite of Book of Martyrs. Just as one can be numbed to horrors with enough repetition, God coming through in seemingly dire circumstances time after time can actually undermine tension and attention.
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Five stars for the man and his prayer life. His steadfast trust in God to provide for all of his needs was truly inspiring and spurred me on to pray and trust more. But I gave the book three stars because it is boring (forgive me). Most of the entries are quite short (one or two paragraphs), and they typically take the following form: "We were running very low on money for the orphanage. I prayed. Then we got some money in the mail. God is good." It is this over and over and over again. Reading through the whole thing does help one to appreciate Mueller's steadfastness--he asked God for his daily bread every day. But after a while it does get monotonous.
And if you're looking for truly inexplicable and unusual answers to prayer, you might be a little disappointed. The answers are inexplicable in the sense that Mueller doesn't publicly ask for the money and yet it regularly comes in from various donors. But it is not as though Mueller says they need $1,232, and the next day they receive a check for $1,232. Rather, he needs $1,232 dollars and he receives $2,000. I know, I know. Call me a grumbler and an ingrate. But if I'm being honest, I was kind of hoping for that $1,232 check. -
I really liked this book and hope it is a book that I will go back to over and over for encouragement to how prayer works and that God is so faithful!!
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It is unbelievable how much this man trusted in God and how much he was able to do without the help of no-one but God alone. He never asked anyone else for anything yet, he recorded over 50,000 answers to prayers. He had a desire from God to help orphans, and so he started praying and through faith he opened orphanages.
By the end of his life, he had taken care of thousand of orphans, and was running five Day-schools – two for boys and three for girls. He never received government support and only accepting unsolicited gifts. He recorded all the giving which in the end amounted - translated in today's times to around £90 million ($145,000,000,000 approx.).
I really enjoyed this book, I could not put it down. In his words, you can tell that he had been transformed by God into a man filled with faith, hope, and love. His message is humble and encouraging. I particularly appreciated the part where he was talking about how guilt hinders our faith, and that as Christians, we must believe that our sins our forgiven by the blood of Jesus to rid of guilt and live a life of faith. Excellent reading! -
A beautiful collection of journal writings chronicling Mueller's journey in trusting the Lord to provide for the orphanages. His faith and prayer, his dedication and unwavering dependency on the Lord to provide their daily needs for over 40 years is absolutely amazing and such an encouragement for the Christian. Such a precious testimony of what God will do with those who have faith enough to believe that what He says is true.
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There are quite a few versions of the Autobiography of George Müller, a minister famous for receiving answers to prayer in the course of founding and running several large orphanages in dickensian, England. The one I’m referring to is a compilation of extracts from his quite extensive journals (titled, “Autobiography of George Müller, or, a Million and a Half in Answer to Prayer” available online.) compiled by A. E. C. Brooks of the Moody Bible Institute, titled, Answers to Prayer From George Müller's Narratives.
Very good account of trying to live your life and ministry depending only on God’s faithfulness in answering prayer. Here’s a bit where he explains that he founded the orphanages to prove that God did indeed answer prayer.
“Sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect of old age, when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore were harassed by the fear of having to go into the poor-*house. If in such a case I pointed out to them, how their Heavenly Father has always helped those who put their trust in Him, they might not, perhaps, always say, that times have changed; but yet it was evident enough, that God was not looked upon by them as the Living God. My spirit was ofttimes bowed down by this, and I longed to set something before the children of God, whereby they might see, that He does not forsake, even in our day, those who rely upon Him.
"Another class of persons were brethren in business, who suffered in their souls, and brought guilt on their consciences, by carrying on their business, almost in the same way as unconverted persons do. The competition in trade, the bad times, the over-peopled country, were given as reasons why, if the business were carried on simply according to the word of God, it could not be expected to do well. Such “a brother, perhaps, would express the wish, that he might be differently situated; but very rarely did I see that there was a stand made for God, that there was the holy determination to trust in the living God, and to depend on Him, in order that a good conscience might be maintained. To this class likewise I desired to show, by a visible proof, that God is unchangeably the same.
“Then there was another class of persons, individuals who were in professions in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or persons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual things; but both classes feared, on account of the consequences, to give up the profession in which they could not abide with God, or to leave their position, lest they should be thrown out of employment. My spirit longed to be instrumental in strengthening their faith, by giving them not only instances from the word of God, of His willingness and ability to help all those who rely upon Him, but to show them by proofs, that He is the same in our day. I well knew that the Word of God ought to be enough, and it was, by grace, enough, to me; but still, I considered that I ought to lend a helping hand to my brethren, if by any means, by this visible proof to the unchangeable faithfulness of the Lord, I might strengthen their hands in God; for I remembered what a great blessing my own soul had received through the Lord's dealings with His servant A. H. Franke who in dependence upon the living God alone, established an immense Orphan-House, which I had seen many times with my own eyes. I, therefore, judged myself bound to be the servant of the Church of God, in the particular point on which I had obtained mercy: namely, in being able to take God by His word and to rely upon it. All these exercises of my soul, which resulted from the fact that so many believers, with whom I became acquainted, were harassed and distressed in mind, or brought guilt on their consciences, on account of not trusting in the Lord; were used by God to awaken in my heart the desire of setting before the church at large, and before the world, a proof that He has not in the least changed; and this seemed to me best done, by the establishing of an Orphan-House. It needed to be something which could be seen, even by the natural eye. Now, if I, a poor man, simply by prayer and faith, obtained without asking any individual, the means for establishing and carrying on an Orphan-House, there would be something which, with the Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being a testimony to the consciences of the unconverted, of the reality of the things of God. This, then, was the primary reason for establishing the Orphan-House. I certainly did from my heart desire to be used by God to benefit the bodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and seek in other respects, with the help of God, to do them good for this life;—I also particularly longed to be used by God in getting the dear orphans trained up in the fear of God;—but still, the first and primary object of the work was (and still is:) that God might be magnified by the fact, that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith without anyone being asked by me or my fellow-laborers whereby it may be seen, that God is FAITHFUL STILL, and HEARS PRAYER STILL.”
Excerpt From
Answers to Prayer / From George Müller's Narratives
George Müller -
Inspiring
A heart filling example of persistent, faith filled prayer through the holy-living of George M. I am inspired and challenged to increase the practice of my prayer life in every way! -
Very encouraging
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Great book. It really encouraged me in the area of prayer, and blessed my heart as I read of God's greatness.
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My only complaint is that I wish it was longer! This book is a great encouragement in the walk of faith and a perfect model of daily dependence on our Heavenly Father.
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Spirit-filled book; you aren't to drop it without contemplating on how you depend upon the Creator.
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I love the message: PRAY…just pray and believe…Muller is an inspiration to all believers. However, the chronology is all over the place, there are no page numbers, just the structure is difficult to get past. However, I have several quotes worth saving and reflecting upon. I can’t list the page numbers since there are none.
“God is FAITHFUL STILL, and HEARS PRAYERS STILL.”
“When I lose such a thing as a key, I ask the Lord to direct me to it, and I look for an answer to my prayer; when a person with whom I have made an appointment does not come, according to the fixed time, and I begin to be inconvenienced by it, I ask the Lord to be pleased to hasten him to me and I look for an answer; when I do not understand a passage of the word of God, I lift up my heart to the Lord, that He would be pleased, by His Holy Spirit to instruct me, and I expect to be taught, though I do not fix the time when, and the manner how it should be…I look for His assistance, and believe that He, for His dear Son’s sake will help me…I pray to the Lord, and expect an answer to my requests; and may not you do the same, dear believing reader?…you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him.”
“Either we trust in God, and in that case we neither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in circumstances, nor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of these, and in that case do NOT trust in God.” -
this book was lovely! very encouraging to see a man who was so fervent in his prayer life and completely depended on God.
here are some quotes!
“…For faith with every fresh trial of it either increases by trusting God, and thus getting help, or it decreases by not trusting Him; and then there is less and less power of looking simply and directly to Him, and a habit of self-dependence is begotten or encouraged. One or the other of these will always be the case in each particular instance.”
“But if we do not patiently wait for God’s help, if we work a deliverance of our own, then at the next trial of faith, it will be thus again, we shall be again inclined to deliver ourselves, and thus with every fresh instance of that kind, our faith will decrease.”
“Would the believer, therefore, have his faith strengthened, he must especially give time to God, who tries his faith in order to prove to His child, in the end how willing He is to help and deliver him, the moment it is good for him.” -
Müller’s faith for daily provision far exceeds mine, and for this I am thankful, encouraged, and challenged.
At no fault of the author, I cannot give the book 5 stars for a few reasons. First, due to a change in history from then until now, and a different monetary system, it is difficult for a current-day American reader to truly appreciate the value of the money that would come in and what it could provide for. Secondly, I can only imagine the lifetime of care that God provided for and through Muller for all his needs was great. However, the presentation in the book was somewhat monotonous. I realize it was journal entries, but it was quite formulaic at times, and therefore, it was difficult to grasp the true need and true provision of each instance.
Regardless of how the book was actually written, we need more men like Müller, who give themselves to prayer and rely on God, and God alone, for every daily need. -
Who can rate George Mueller? Probably no one. His life was selflessness personified, and stands as a living witness of God’s active participation in the lives of those who follow Him. I was really encouraged through reading his writings in this book.
This edition though is dreadful. The first 100 pages is a biography that was hard to get through, and the layout of content is poorly constructed. I frequently re-read the same quotes or excerpts from his diaries, and the flow of content frequently didn’t make sense.
Regardless, this book was a good compilation of his thoughts and life, and is more approachable than reading his own writing in their entirety. I would recommend it to others. -
George Muller is an inspiring person, this book less so.
While Muller's habit of never asking for donations, but continually praying to God for his and his ministry's "daily bread", is an encouragement to all who believe in the power of prayer - his journals and writing style can be a bit dry and old fashioned. There are a few gems in here. And I had to laugh that he said he married his first wife because he had made her care for him and he didn't want to have led her on for no purpose. So romantic! -
Wonderful man of God, wonderful story. But I am not a fan of how this book was structured.
This books was composed of experts from George Mueller’s journal, but completely out of order. First I’m reading an entry form 1843, and then an entry from 1860. It was not very coherent and there didn’t seem to be a theme that united the entries. I got the impression that they were complied at random.
This is not a complaint against George Mueller, rather against A.E.C. Brooks, who compiled these journal entries. -
"And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]." Revelation 12:11
This testimonies of answered prayer, again made me realize, the power of God released through prayer.
Pray without ceasing! Praying the will of God and depend fully upon Him in everything. This book again made me realize how much God wants to do and be for His children, all we need to do is, come to Him. -
George Mueller's life is a rare example of pure and timeless faith. He knew and trusted the Lord completely. The Lord never failed him. Mr. Mueller wants us to know God's faithfulness and trust in Him alone. Even though Mr. Mueller wrote these narratives in the 1800s, they remain ever relevant. I stopped to pray several times while reading. Read this shinning example of complete trust within a surrendered life lived to support orphans and honor God.
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This book was the catalyst to my prayer life. I have saved so many quotes from this book in my personal prayer journal & memos in my phone. The simple truth of just taking God at His word has transformed my way of viewing Scripture, praying it & waiting for an answer. For it will surely come. "He witholds no good thing who walks uprightly" Ps. 84:11 is the promise I hold onto through all the storms in my life. The Lord is good & provides all of His children's needs.
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A great encouragement, for all who believe, that our living God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! This book is also a great testimony to the reality that the one who walks in faith and obedience to God, and asks according to His will, sees His power and provision in and through their lives.
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encouraged to holiness over and over again reading this. “Hitherto, by God’s grace, I have been enabled to continue to trust in Him alone; and Hitherto, though failing and weak in many ways, yet, by God’s grace, I have been enabled to walk uprightly, hating sin and loving holiness, and longing after increased conformity to the Lord Jesus.”
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Diary of Lord's supplication
A diary of the director of orphan house, how prevailing prayer would not come unanswered. The author made this book for the remembrance of the Lord's supplication in our life. Maintaining a big orphanage wasn't easy task, but the author survive the years by praying to the Lord and the Lord answer his prayer. -
Inspiring
What an inspirational man! His faith Encourages other believers in their journey. I was amazed that at the age of 70 he was still serving the Lord and he ventured into missions.
