Heroes of the faith

Part 1

“I hate to bother you, Mr. Muller,” began the matron, “but it’s happened. The children are all ready for breakfast and there is not a thing in the house to eat. What shall I tell them?” George stood up. “I’ll take care of it. Just give me a minute,” he said.

Before going to the dining room at Number One Orphan House, George walked out into the garden. “Abigail, Abigail, come here,” he called. Abigail ran up to him. “What is it?” she asked. George reached down and took her hand. “Come and see what God will do,” he said as he escorted her to the dining room.

Oh, what a man of immense faith! After a misspent youth living as a thief who only cared about himself, God got ahold of George Muller’s heart. Though he initially had plans to travel to distant, exotic lands to share the gospel, a providential encounter with a 5-year-old girl on the streets of Bristol in Victorian England changed the course of his life.

“Please, mister…could you spare us a shilling? Me ma’s gone with the cholera and me dad went to the mines and didn’t come back.” He knew in that moment what God wanted him to do. When his wife asked in a panic how they could possibly help the city’s orphans when they barely had enough to feed their own family, his response was simply, “If God is in this, He will supply.”

So began George’s incredible story of reliance upon God alone. Feeling strongly they were not to ask anyone for support, they took all their needs to God in prayer and looked solely to Him to provide…and provide He did, in extraordinary ways time and time again!

God took a self-centered thief and transformed him into a mighty man of God who cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime, showed others that God is faithful to answer prayer, and left a legacy that continues to this day.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of George Muller’s story and read it. The numerous accounts of God’s provision—of the incredible ways He showed up when it seemed they were up against impossible odds—will strengthen your faith, transform your prayer life, and remind you that God does care about the details.

“Come and see what God will do!”