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MR. PERRY writes: At one meeting at Huntly, by special request Mr. Müller gave illustrations of God's faithfulness in answer to prayer, connected with the orphan work, of which the following are examples: a. He stated that at various times, not only at the beginning of the work, but also in later years, God had seen fit to try his faith to the utmost, but only to prove to him the more definitely that He would never be other than his faithful covenant-keeping God. In illustration he referred to a time when, the children having had their last meal for the day, there was nothing left in money or kind for their breakfast the following morning. Mr. Müller went home, but nothing came in, and he retired for the night, committing the need to God to provide. Early the next morning he went for a walk, and while praying for the needed help he took a turn into a road which he was quite unconscious of, and after walking a short distance a friend met him, and said how glad he was to meet him, and asked him to accept £5 for the orphans. He thanked him, and without saying a word to the donor about the time of need, he went at once to the orphan houses, praising God for this direct answer to prayer. b. On another occasion, when there were no funds in hand to provide breakfast for the orphans, a gentleman called before the time for breakfast and left a donation that supplied all their present needs. When that year's report was issued, this proof of God's faithfulness in sending help just when needed was recorded, and a short time after the donor called and made himself known, saying that as his donation had been given at such a special time of need he felt he must state the circumstances under which he had given the money, which were as follows: He had occasion to go to his office in Bristol early that morning before breakfast, and on the way the thought occurred to him: "I will go to Mr. Müller's orphan house and give them a donation," and accordingly turned and walked about a quarter of a mile toward the orphanage, when he stopped, saying to himself, "How foolish of me to be neglecting the business I came out to attend to! I can give money to the orphans another time," and he turned round and walked back towards his office, but soon felt that he must return. He said to himself: "The orphans may be needing the money now. I'm leaving them in want when God had sent me to help them;" and so strong was this impression that he again turned round and walked back till he reached the orphanages, and thus handed in the money which provided them with breakfast. Mr. Müller's comment on this was: "Just like my gracious heavenly Father!" and then urged his hearers to trust and prove what a faithful covenant-keeping God He is to those who put their trust in Him.
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Soul Nourishment First A Booklet by George Müller May 9, 1841 It has pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, the benefit of which I have not lost, for more than fourteen years. The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit. Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as an habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed myself in the morning. Now, I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, by means of the Word of God, while meditating on it, my heart might be brought into experiential communion with the Lord. I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning, early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon his precious Word, was, to begin to meditate on the Word of God, searching as it were into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and then my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened, and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, either very soon after or at a later time, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I gave myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man. The difference, then, between my former practice and my present one is this: Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer, except when I felt my soul to be more than usually barren, in which case I read the Word of God for food, or for refreshment, or for a revival and renewal of my inner man, before I gave myself to prayer. But what was the result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an hour, on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc., and often, after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began really to pray. I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart, first being nourished by the truth, being brought into experiential fellowship with God, I then speak to my Father and to my Friend, (vile though I am, and unworthy of it), about the things that He has brought before me in His precious Word. It often now astonishes me that I did not sooner see this point. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever brought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother stirred me up to this matter. And yet, now, since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is, to obtain food for his inner man. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as every one must allow. Now, what is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts. When we pray, we speak to God. Now, prayer, in order to be continued for any length of time in any other than a formal manner, requires, generally speaking, a measure of strength or godly desire, and the season, therefore, when this exercise of the soul can be most effectually performed is after the inner man has been nourished by meditation on the Word of God, where we find our Father speaking to us, to encourage us, to comfort us, to instruct us, to humble us, to reprove us. We may therefore profitably meditate, with God’s blessing, though we are ever so weak spiritually; nay, the weaker we are, the more we need meditation for the strengthening of our inner man. Thus there is far less to be feared from wandering of mind than if we give ourselves to prayer without having had time previously for meditation. I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God, I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials, in various ways, than I had ever had before; and after having now above fourteen years tried this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. In addition to this I generally read, after family prayer, larger portions of the Word of God, when I still pursue my practice of reading regularly onward in the Holy Scriptures, sometimes in the New Testament, and sometimes in the Old, and for more than twenty-six years I have proved the blessedness of it. I take, also, either then or at other parts of the day, time more especially for prayer. How different, when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one. Sermon by Dr. William R. DowningMR. PERRY furnishes also the following reminiscences: As George Müller was engaged in free, homely conversation with his friends on a Sunday afternoon within about three weeks of his departure to be with the Lord, he referred to two visits he had made during the previous week to two old and beloved friends. He had fully appreciated that, though they were about ten years younger than himself, his power to walk, and specially his power to continue his service for his Lord, was far greater than theirs. So that he playfully said, with a bright smile: "I came away from both these beloved brethren feeling that I was quite young by comparison as to strength, though so much older," and then at once followed an ascription of praise to God for His goodness to him: "Oh, how very kind and good my heavenly Father has been to me! I have no aches or pains, no rheumatism, and now in my ninety-third year I can do a day's work at the orphan houses with as much ease and comfort to myself as ever." One sentence aptly sets forth a striking feature in his Christian character, viz.: George Müller, nothing. The Lord Jesus, everything. In himself worse than nothing. By grace, in Christ, the son of the King. And as such he lived; for all those who knew and loved this beloved and honoured servant of Christ best would testify that his habitual attitude towards the Lord was to treat Him as an ever-present, almighty, loving Friend, whose love was far greater to him than he could ever return, and who delighted in having his entire confidence about everything, and was not only ready at hand to listen to his prayers and praises about great and important matters, but nothing was too small to speak to Him about. So real was this that it was almost impossible to be enjoying the privilege of private, confidential intercourse with him without being conscious that at least to him the Lord was really present. One to whom he turned for counsel, in prayer, or in praise, as freely as most men would to a third person present; and again and again marked answers to prayer have been received in response to petitions thus unitedly presented to the Lord altogether apart from his own special work. 
George Ferdinand Muller Birth: Sep. 27, 1805 Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany Death: Mar. 10, 1898 Gloucestershire, England Christian evangelist. Missionary. Philanthropist. George was born in Kroppenstaedt, Prussia, now Kroppenstedt, Germany, as Johann Georg Ferdinand Müller. His parents were Johann Freidrich Müller and Sophie Eleanor Haase. George had a brother named Friedrich Wilhem Müller. He also had a half brother named Franz "Frank" Müller. George's early years were full of drinking, stealing, gambling, and lying. At sixteen he was sent to prison for defrauding a hotel-keeper. Things turned around for George when a friend from the University of Halle, where George's father sent him to study divinity, invited him to a prayer meeting. He was welcomed there and began attending regularly. After seeing a man pray on his knees he was convinced he needed salvation and stopped his sinful way of life and was called to be a missionary. George married Mary Groves on 7th October 1830 in St Davids church, Exeter. They had four children: a stillborn child (9 Aug 1831) Lydia (b. 17 Sep 1832 d. 10 Jan 1890) Elijah (b. 19 Mar 1834 d. 25 June 1835) a stillborn child (12 Jun 1838) He saw the great awakening of 1859 which he said "led to the conversion of hundreds of thousands."1 He did follow up work for D. L. Moody, preached for Charles Spurgeon, and inspired the missionary faith of Hudson Taylor. His fellow worker, Henry Craik, died on January 22, 1866, followed by the death of his wife on February 6, 1870. They were married 39 years. She was 72 and had suffered from rheumatic fever. James Wright married Mueller's daughter, Lydia in 1871 and also replaced Craik as his associate. George only saw one of his children, Lydia, grow to adulthood but sadly, he found out she had died from influenza while he was on a trip to India. Nineteen months after Mary died, George remarried to a woman 13 years his junior named Susannah Grace Sangar. George had a great aptitude for languages and was able to preach in English, French, and German. He was also a man of prayer. He prayed for everything and expected God to answer his prayers. He never asked for donations. He was never in debt. He first came to Bristol, England to preach in Bethesda Chapel and it was from this visit that he saw the plight of many orphans there thus, he founded the now famous Müller Orphanage. He cared for over 10,000 orphans in his life. On one occasion they sat down to eat and there was no food in the house. George prayed. A knock came on the door from a baker who had freshly made loaves of bread to feed everyone. The milk man also gave them milk because his cart broke down in front of the orphanage. Besides managing 5 orphanages, George established over 117 schools which brought Christian education to over 120,000 children including orphans. In his nephew's book, Edward Groves describes how he was summoned to his uncle George's room on the morning of his death, "Having just drunk a glass of water, he laid himself down and apparently without a struggle or spasm of pain, gently breathed his last". He was buried by the side of his two wives. After George's death, his work was continued by The George Müller Foundation, which was renamed The George Müller Charitable Trust on 1 March 2009. Former Honorary Directors and years of service: George Müller (Founder) (1834-1898) James Wright (1898-1905) George Frederic Bergin (1905-1912) William M Bergin (1912-1930) Alfred E Green (1930-1940) Thomas Tilsley (1940-1952) John McCready (1952-1958) James J Rose (1958-1986) Joseph Cowan (Director) (1986-1988) Robert L Scott-Cook (1988-1994) Julian P Marsh (1994-2008) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Info by original memorial creater: Founder of the Ashley Down Orphanage. Family links: Spouses: Mary Groves Muller (1797 - 1870) Susannah Grace Sanger Muller (1817 - 1894) Children: Lydia Muller Wright (1832 - 1890)* Elijah Muller (1834 - 1835)* *Calculated relationship Inscription: The writing on the tombstone is as follows: "In Loving Memory of George Muller, Founder of the Ashley Down Orphange. Born September 27, 1805 Fell asleep March 10, 1898 __________ He trusted in God with whom "nothing shall be impossible," and in His beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord who said "I go unto My Father, and whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I do that the Father, may be glorified in the Son." And in His inspired word which declares that "All things are possible to Him that believeth." And God fulfilled these declarations in the experience of His servant by enabling him to provide and care for about ten thousand orphans. Burial: Arnos Vale Cemetery Arnos Vale Bristol Unitary Authority Bristol, England Taken from: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38554103 May 18, 1836. The Lord has crowned the prayers of His servant concerning the establishment of an Orphan House with great success. My prayer was that He would graciously provide a house, either as a loan or as a gift, or that someone might be led to pay the rent for one. Furthermore, I asked that He would give me one thousand pounds for the work and suitable individuals to take care of the children. A day or two later, I asked that He would put it into the hearts of His people to send me articles of furniture and some clothes for the children. In answer to these petitions, many articles of furniture, clothing, and food were sent. A conditional offer of a house, as a gift, was made, and several individuals offered to take care of the children. Various sums of money were also given, varying from one hundred pounds to a halfpenny. The above results have come in answer to prayer, without me asking anyone for one single thing. I did not keep silent about our needs on account of lack of confidence in the brethren or because I doubted their love for the Lord, but I wanted to see the hand of God much more clearly. I brought even the most minute circumstances concerning the Orphan House before the Lord, being conscious of my own weakness and ignorance. One point I had never prayed about, however, was for the Lord to send more children. I took it for granted that there would be plenty of applications. The appointed time came, and no applications were being made. This circumstance led me to bow low before my God in prayer and to examine the motives of my heart once more. I could still say that His glory was my chief aim-that others might see it is not a vain thing to trust in the living God. Continuing in prayer, I was at last able to say from my heart that I would rejoice in God being glorified in this matter, even if it meant bringing the whole plan to nothing. But it still seemed more glorifying to God to establish and prosper the Orphan House. I then asked Him heartily to send applications. I now enjoyed a peaceful state of heart concerning the subject and was also more assured than ever that God would establish the work. The very next day the first application was made, and within a short time forty-three more were received. I rented a house, which because of its cheapness and size, was very suitable. We intended to take in children from seven to twelve years of age. But after six applications had been made for children between four and six years, it became a subject of solemn and prayerful consideration whether to accept these children as long as there were vacancies. I came at last to the conclusion to take in the little girls under seven years of age. An Orphan House was needed for male children under seven years old also. Clothing was even sent for little boys. Since the Lord has done far above what I could have expected, I. decided to establish an Infant Orphan House. June 3. From May 16 up to this day, I have been confined to the house and a part of the time to my bed because of sickness. Almost every day during this time, I have been able to write a narrative of the Lord's dealings with me. My greatest objection against writing It for publication was a lack of time. Now, this affliction leaves my mind free and gives me time because I am confined to the house. I have written over one hundred pages. June 14. This morning we prayed about the schools and the circulation of the Scriptures. Besides asking for blessings upon the work, we have also asked the Lord for the finances we need. The rent for the classrooms will be due on July 1, and we need at least forty pounds more to continue the circulation of the Scriptures, to pay the salaries of the teachers, and other expenses. We have only about seven pounds for all these needs. I also pray for the remainder of the thousand pounds for the Orphan House. June 21. The Lord has sent us, through the offerings last week, the amount due for the rent of two classrooms. We even have five pounds more than is needed. Once more the Lord has answered our prayers. July, 28. We would not have been able to pay the weekly salary of the teachers had not the Lord helped us again today. This evening a brother gave eight pounds from a number of his workmen who paid weekly one penny each of their own accord toward our funds. The money had been collecting for many months, and, in this our time of need, it had been put into the heart of this brother to bring it. October 1. In dependence upon the Lord alone for support, we hired a brother as a headmaster for a sixth day school. On account of the many deliverances which we have had lately, we have not hesitated to enlarge the work and another boys' school was greatly needed. October 5. Twenty-five pounds was given to me for the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. The Lord has already given the means of defraying the expenses of the new boys' school for some months to come. October 19. I have at last employed a sister as matron for the Infant Orphan House. Up to this day, I had never met an individual who seemed suitable, although money has been available for some time to begin this work. Applications have been made for several infant orphans. October 25. By the kind hand of God, we have obtained suitable premises for the Infant Orphan House. November 5. A brother gave one hundred pounds to pay our rent. In December of last year, I had repeatedly asked the Lord to incline the heart of this brother to give one hundred pounds. I made note of this prayer in my journal on December 12, 1835. On January 25, 1836, fifty pounds were promised by him, and on November 5, fifty pounds more were given. When I remembered that this prayer had been noted in my journal, I showed it to the donor. We rejoiced together-he to have been the instrument in giving, and I to have had the request granted. November 30. On account of many pressing engagements, I have not prayed about the funds for some time. But being in great need, I was led to earnestly seek the Lord. In answer to this petition, a brother gave me ten pounds. He had it in his heart for several months to give this sum, but had been kept from it, not having the means. Now, in our time of great need, the Lord furnished him with the means, he used it to help us. In addition to this ten pounds, I received a letter with five pounds from a sister whom I never saw. She wrote, "It has been on my mind lately to send you some money, and I feel as if there must be some need. I, therefore, send you five pounds, all I have in the house at this moment." December 15. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving regarding the Infant Orphan House, which was opened on November 28. In the morning we had a prayer meeting. In the afternoon, besides prayer and thanksgiving, I addressed the 350 children of our day schools and the orphans. Donations of money, food, clothes, books, and coal were received during the year. Also, we received offers of. free medical care and supplies. December 31. We had a prayer meeting to praise the Lord for His goodness during the past year and to ask Him to continue His favor toward us. May 18; 1837. Sixty-four children now live in the two Orphan Houses. Two more are expected, and this will fill the two houses. May 28. The narrative of some of the Lord's dealings with me is now ready to be published. I have asked the Lord to give me what is lacking of the one thousand pounds. In my own mind, the thing is as good as done, and I have repeatedly thanked God that He will surely give me every shilling of that sum. I earnestly desired that the book not leave the press until every shilling of that sum had been given in answer to prayer. Thus I might have the sweet privilege of bearing my testimony for God in this book. June 15. I again prayed earnestly for the remainder of the thousand pounds. This evening, five pounds were given so that now the whole sum has been received. For the last eighteen months and ten days, I have brought this petition before God almost daily. From the moment I asked until the Lord granted it fully, I never doubted that He would give every shilling of that sum. Often I praised Him in the assurance that He would grant my request. When we pray, we must believe that we receive according to Mark 11:24, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." The Lord has listened to my prayers, and I believe He has given me a special gift of faith in His promises. An Orphan House for boys over seven years of age seems greatly needed in this city. Without it, we would not know how to provide for the little boys in the Infant Orphan House when they are older than seven years. Therefore, I plan to establish an Orphan House for about forty boys above seven years of age. July 12. It is now three years and four months since Brother Craik and I began to spread the gospel through schools, circulate the Holy Scriptures, and aid missionaries. Since then we have distributed 4,030 copies of the Scriptures; four day schools for poor children have been established by us; 1,119 children have been instructed in the six day schools, and 353 children are now in those six day schools. Besides this, a Sunday school and an adult school have been supplied with all they needed. Missionary work in the East Indies, northern Canada, and Europe has been aided. In addition to this, the Word of God has been preached from house to house among the poor though the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. August 15. The first edition of my book was published. August 17. Two more children were received Into the Infant Orphan House. Sixty-six children live in the Girl's and Infant's Orphan Houses. September 2. I have been looking for a house for the orphan boys these last three days. Everything else has been provided. In His own time, the Lord will give us a house also. September 19. It was particularly impressed on my heart that I need more rest although the ministry may suffer. Arrangements should be made so that I may be able to visit the brethren more because an unvisited church will sooner or later become an unhealthy church. Pastors and fellow-laborers are greatly needed among us. September 28. I have for a long time been too busy. Yesterday morning I spent about three hours in the vestry of Gideon chapel to rest and pray. I meant to do the same in the afternoon, but before I could leave the house, someone came to talk to me. One person after the other came until I had to leave. It has been the same again today. October 16. For a long time Brother Craik and I have realized the importance of more pastoral visiting. One of our greatest trials is that we have been unable to give more time to it. This evening we had a meeting of the two churches. Brother Craik and I and another brother from Devonshire spoke on the importance of pastoral visiting, the obstacles which hindered us, and whether there was any way of removing some of the obstacles. Pastoral visiting is important for many reasons. Watching over the saints can help prevent backsliding as we counsel them in family, business, and spiritual matters. We want to keep up a loving and familiar communion with the people. The particular obstacles in our case are: The, large number of people who are in communion with us. One hundred would be the most we would have strength to visit regularly. But there are nearly four hundred in fellowship with us. The distance of the houses of the saints from our own homes. Many live more than two miles away. The Lord's blessing on our labors. Not one year has passed since we have been in Bristol, without more than fifty being added to our number. Each of these people needed to be conversed with several times before being admitted into fellowship. Brother Craik and I have the responsibility of two churches. At first glance, it appears as if the work is divided, but actually the double number of meetings means nearly double the work. The care of a large body of believers takes much more time and requires much more strength than taking care of a small body of believers. The position which we have in the church at large brings many brethren to us who travel through Bristol. They call on us or lodge with us, and we have to give them some of our time. Extensive correspondence must be answered every day. The physical weakness of both brother Craik and me is another hindrance. When the preaching is done; when strangers who lodge with us are gone; when the calls at our house are over; when the necessary letters, however briefly, are written; and when the church business is settled, our minds are often exhausted. Even if we had strength remaining after we had taken care of all our other duties, our frame of mind is not always inclined toward visiting. After a trying day, one may be fit for the prayer closet, but not for visiting the saints. Much of my time is taken up by the Orphan Houses, schools, circulation of the Scriptures, aiding missionary efforts, and other work connected with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. What is to be done under these circumstances? The Lord has not laid on us a burden which is too heavy, for He is not a hard Master. Perhaps He does not want us to attempt to visit all the saints as much as we believe is necessary. We need other pastors; not nominal pastors, but those whom the Lord has called, and to whom He has given a pastor's heart and pastoral gifts. These men may be raised up by the Lord from our own number, or the Lord may send them from elsewhere. In order that time may be saved, it appears wise that the two churches, Bethesda and Gideon, should be united into one and that the number of weekly meetings should be reduced. October 21. Today the. Lord has given me a house for the Orphan Boys on the same street as the other two Orphan Houses. December 31. In review of the year 1837, eighty-one children live in the three Orphan Houses, and nine workers care for them. Ninety people daily sit down to the table. Lord, look on the needs of Your servant! The schools require even more help than before, particularly the Sunday school in which there are about 320 children. Lord, Your servant is a poor man, but I have trusted in You and made my boast in You before the sons of men. Do not let me fail in this work! Let it not be said all this was mere emotion and enthusiasm and will eventually come to nothing! 
Concerning this subject Mr. Mueller says: “I fell into the snare, into which so many young believers fall, the reading of religious books in preference to the Scriptures. I could no longer read French and German novels, as I had formerly done, to feed my carnal mind; but still I did not put into the room of those books the best of all books. I read tracts, missionary papers, sermons, and biographies of godly persons. The last kind of books I found more profitable than others, and had they been well selected, or had I not read too much of such writings, or had any of them tended particularly to endear the Scriptures to me, they might have done me much good—I never had been at any time in my life in the habit of reading the Holy Scriptures. When under fifteen years of age, I occasionally read a little of them at school; afterwards God’s precious Book was entirely laid aside, so that I never read one single chapter of it, as far as I remember, till it pleased God to begin a work of grace in my heart. Now the Scriptural way of reasoning would have been: God himself has condescended to become an author and I am ignorant about that precious Book, which His Holy Spirit has caused to be written through the instrumentality of His servants, and it contains that which I ought to know, and the knowledge of which will lead me to true happiness; therefore I ought to read again and again this most precious Book, this Book of books, most earnestly, most prayerfully, and with much meditation; and in this practice I ought to continue all the days of my life. For I was aware, though I read it but little, that I knew scarcely anything of it. But instead of acting thus, and being led by my ignorance of the Word of God to study it more, my difficulty in understanding it, and the little enjoyment I had in it, made me careless of reading it (for much prayerful reading of the Word, gives not merely more knowledge, but increases the delight we have in reading it); and 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. The consequence was, that I remained a babe, both in knowledge and grace. In knowledge I say; for all true knowledge must be derived by the Spirit, from the Word. And as I neglected the Word, I was for nearly four years so ignorant, that I did not clearly know even the fundamental points of our holy faith. And this lack of knowledge most sadly kept me back from walking steadily in the ways of God. For it is the truth that makes us free (John 8:31, 32) by delivering us from the slavery of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. The Word proves it; and also my own experience most decidedly proves it. For when it pleased the Lord in August, 1829 to bring me really to the Scriptures, my life and walk became very different. And though even since that I have very much fallen short of what I might and ought to be, yet, by the grace of God, I have been enabled to live much nearer to Him than before. “If any believers read this, who practically prefer other books to the Holy Scriptures, and who enjoy the writings of men much more than the Word of God, may they be warned by my loss. I shall consider this book to have been the means of doing much good, should it please the Lord, through its instrumentality, to lead some of His people no longer to neglect the Holy Scriptures, but to give them that preference, which they have hitherto bestowed on the writings of men. My dislike to increase the number of books would have been sufficient to deter me from writing these pages, had I not been convinced, that this is the only way in which the brethren at large may be benefited through my mistakes and errors, and been influenced by the hope, that in answer to my prayers, the reading of my experience may be the means of leading them to value the Scriptures more highly, and to make them the rule of all their actions. . . . “If anyone should ask me, how he may read the Scriptures most profitably, I would advise him, that: “I.—Above all he should seek to have it settled in his own mind, that God alone, by His Spirit, can teach him, and that therefore, as God will be inquired of for blessings, it becomes him to seek God’s blessing previous to reading, and also while reading. “II.—He should have it, moreover, settled in his mind, that, although the Holy Spirit is the best and sufficient teacher, yet that this teacher does not always teach immediately when we desire it, and that, therefore, we may have to entreat Him again and again for the explanation of certain passages; but that He will surely teach us at last, if indeed we are seeking for light prayerfully, patiently, and with a view to the glory of God. “III.—It is of immense importance for the understanding of the word of God, to read it in course, so that we may read every day a portion of the Old and a portion of the New Testament, going on where we previously left off. This is important because: (1) It throws light upon the connection; and a different course, according to which one habitually selects particular chapters, will make it utterly impossible ever to understand much of the Scriptures. (2) Whilst we are in the body, we need a change even in spiritual things; and this change the Lord has graciously provided in the great variety which is to be found in His word. (3) It tends to the glory of God for the leaving out some chapters here and there is practically saying, that certain portions are better than others; or, that there are certain parts of revealed truth unprofitable or unnecessary. (4) It may keep us, by the blessing of God, from erroneous views, as in reading thus regularly through the Scriptures we are led to see the meaning of the whole, and also kept from laying too much stress upon certain favorite views. (5) The Scriptures contain the whole revealed will of God, and therefore we ought to seek to read from time to time through the whole of that revealed will. There are many believers, I fear, in our day, who have not read even once through the whole of the Scriptures; and yet in a few months, by reading only a few chapters every day they might accomplish it. “IV.—It is also of the greatest importance to meditate on what we read, so that perhaps a small portion of that which we have read, or, if we have time, the whole may be meditated upon in the course of the day. Or a small portion of a book, or an epistle, or a gospel, through which we go regularly for meditation, may be considered every day, without, however, suffering oneself to be brought into bondage by this plan. “Learned commentaries I have found to store the head, with many notions and often also with the truth of God; but when the Spirit teaches, through the instrumentality of prayer and meditation, the heart is affected. The former kind of knowledge generally puffs up, and is often renounced, when another commentary gives a different opinion, and often also is found good for nothing, when it is to be carried out into practice. The latter kind of knowledge generally humbles, gives joy, leads us nearer to God, and is not easily reasoned away; and having been obtained from God, and thus having entered into the heart, and become our own, is also generally carried out.” 
An Hour with George Muller
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"The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts."
- George Muller
- George Muller