Muller

HERE IT IS…

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I’ve never considered myself a “do-gooder” kind of guy; I fall short, just like you do and therefore am not real keen on creating guilt-trips for people to wallow in. Those who know me as a friend, their (former) pastor, family member, etc. would no doubt agree that:

“This guy means (meant) well but…!”

When I came across the following quote from George Muller (1805-1898) I was taken back to the many times I would be led of the Spirit during a sermon to stop and hold out my hands, palms up, and say to those listening,

“Until we offer everything we have and are up to God and say ‘It’s Yours LORD; take it all and do with it what You will’, we will be stunted, stalled — indeed stuck in our spiritual growth.”

Every one of us eventually comes to a crossroads of commitment in our life, a “crisis of the will”, a time when we are faced with a decision that we must make. Too many of us, at that point, bail — or attempt a compromise with God. We do this in spite of promises in Scripture — like Isaiah 49:23:

“Those who hope in Me will not be disappointed.”

Some (perhaps many) of you are there at this very moment or were there some days, months, or even years ago and chose not to surrender to what the Lord was asking of you. Why not turn it all over to Him this very minute?

Time is short; your heart and conscience are weary; there are countless people (family included) who will be eternally grateful you said “yes” to God. The promise is that He withholds no good thing from those who are willing to do this (e.g. Psalm 84:11).

Meanwhile, back to George! I’ve written on him in a previous post (he was a 19th century Christian evangelist who established schools and orphanages for destitute, homeless children in Bristol, England. His autobiography is an awesome read!). Mr. Muller wrote:

“There was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”

I entitled this post “Here It Is…” for good reason: This has always been the bottom line with God — He wants for us to entrust all of our life into His hands. God has already shown the world how willing He is to provide for our every need, spelled out in verses like Romans 8:32:

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

May God bless and get through to each of us this imperative of full surrender.

Prayer and Teaching of Paul

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Colossians 1:9-14 (ESV)
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

A Theme to Remember:
Prayer is not an indifferent or a small thing. It is not a sweet little privilege. It is a great prerogative, far-reaching in its effects. Failure to pray entails losses far beyond the person who neglects it. Prayer is not a mere episode of the Christian life. Rather the whole life is a preparation for and the result of prayer. In its condition, prayer is the sum of religion. Faith is but a channel of prayer. Faith gives it wings and swiftness. Prayer is the lungs through which holiness breathes. Prayer is not only the language of spiritual life, but makes its very essence and forms its real character. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)

Words to Remember:
It is not enough for the believer to begin to pray, nor to pray correctly; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray. We must patiently, believingly continue in prayer until we obtain an answer. Further, we have not only to continue in prayer until the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers.
–George Müller

A Prayer of Faith

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Psalm 27 (NLT)
The LORD is my light and my salvation–so why should I be afraid?
The LORD protects me from danger–so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear.
Even if they attack me, I remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the LORD–the thing I seek most–is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high, above my enemies who surround me.
At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.
Listen to my pleading, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
Do not hide yourself from me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation!
Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.
Teach me how to live, O LORD.
Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done and breathe out violence against me.
Yet I am confident that I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

A Theme to Remember:
Uncertainty and fear are the result of turning our eyes away from God during times of crisis. It’s ironic that we often tie ourselves to the very things that weigh us down and further deepen our despair. There is one true source of victory over life’s trials and uncertainties. We only need turn to Him and ask for deliverance.

Words to Remember:
The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.
–George Müller