Two “Prayer Tips” from George Müller:
1. Open Bible Before Him, and His Finger Upon That Promise, He would Plead That Promise, and So He Received What He Asked
2. Meditate before praying. Müller’s Discovery Was That After Meditating On Scripture He Was More Able to Experience a Meaningful Prayer-time
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1. Open Bible Before Him, and His Finger Upon That Promise, He would Plead That Promise, and So He Received What He Asked
One of the mightiest men of prayer of the last generation was George Mueller of Bristol, England, who in the last sixty years of his life (he lived to be ninety-two or ninety-three) obtained the English equivalent of $7,200,000.00 by prayer. But George Mueller never prayed for a thing just because he wanted it, or even just because he felt it was greatly needed for God’s work. When it was laid upon George Mueller’s heart to pray for anything, he would search the Scriptures to find if there was some promise that covered the case. Sometimes he would search the scriptures for days before he presented his petition to God. And then when he found the promise, with his open Bible before him, and his finger upon that promise, he would plead that promise, and so he received what he asked. He always prayed with an open Bible before him.
-R. A. Torrey on George Müller; “The Power of Prayer,” 1924 (P. 81)
2. Müller’s Discovery Was That After Meditating On Scripture He Was More Able to Experience a Meaningful Prayer-time
“Reading without meditation is unfruitful; meditation without reading is hurtful; to meditate and to read without prayer upon both is without blessing.”
-William Bridge, Puritan Writer
Christian meditation (thinking deeply on Scripture) is “the missing link between Bible intake and prayer.” If there was a “secret” to George Müller’s prayer life, it was his discovery of the connection between meditation and prayer. Müller’s discovery was that after meditating on Scripture he was more able to experience a meaningful prayer time.
-Donald S. Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” (partial quote and partial paraphrase).
George Muller’s List of Conditions
George Muller was greatly used of God in operating orphanages, and seeking wisdom and funds to operate those facilities through prayer alone. He also supported Hudson Taylor, C.T. Studd and a host of other missionaries out of the monies entrusted by God with him. He also supported over hundred schools in various parts of the world. His ability to gain answers was famous and still instructs believers at the present time.
Muller’s Conditions
1. “I have not the least doubt because I am assured that it is the Lord’s will to save them, for He willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). Also, we have the assurance ‘that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” (1John 5: 14)
2. “I have never pleaded for their salvation in my own name, but in the blessed name of my precious Lord Jesus, and on His merits alone.” (John 14: 14)
3. “I always firmly believed in the willingness of God to hear my prayers.” (Mark 11: 24)
4. “I am not conscious of having yielded to any sin, for ‘if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me’ when I call.’” (Ps 66: 18)
5. “I have persevered in believing prayer for more than fifty-two years for some, and shall continue till the answer comes: ‘Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him?”