Thursday, August 6, 2009

Confessions of a Sinner

It is with great joy I have once again stumbled across George Mueller. He was a great, great, man of faith, and a prayer warrior that believed God did as He said He would do in His Word. Seven million dollars flowed through George Mueller's hands to build orphanages in the 1800s, and he never ask one penny from any person. He only asked God. He believed that God held every person's heart in His hand, and that God owned everything, therefore God would hear his prayers and influence people to give. And that they truly did...along with providing Mr. Mueller and his family with their necessities to live, for he had given up his salary as a preacher, stating he wanted people to give out of their hearts, not obligation. He was an amazing man of God, who trusted and believed God. Here is one of his quotes, and below it will be a link to an article John Piper wrote on him, which is a little long, but well worth the read. He is the most radical believer I have ever read about. (other than the saints in the bible!)

"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." (George Mueller)
(click HERE for an article on George Mueller)

Last night, after reading about George Mueller, it made me realize I have no where near the faith and trust in God that he had. In fact, I don't know anyone else that does either. George Mueller believed everything that came from God's hand was good, and was meant as good for him. He believed that God would provide all his needs, and He would build those orphanages, and provide food for all the children. It was reported that many times the food didn't show up until the very last minute for the children, but they never missed a meal...along with George Mueller and his family. He didn't believe in debt, and took God at His every word when it came to supplying his needs. He believed the most important thing in a believer's life was first making your soul happy in God. That came before anything else, because our joy in the Lord was what determined everything else. He had spent some years in fruitless labor, until he stumbled upon that truth, which he had not heard from other Christians. I believe nowadays John Piper would be the closest one teaching this truth. As I read this I became extremely convicted of where my focus had been placed in the past few months. It seems my eyes had gotten off of God's heart, and onto His hands. The past few years of seeing no change in difficult situations had taken its toll. I had began to believe as many others do, that we are blessed by good things, and cursed by bad things. My circumstances had become the indicators of God's love for me, and I had put God on trial, and begun to grow bitter. It is one thing to go through a difficult season, but to go through years with no change and the situation growing worse is another. It can be a continual wearing and beating down. I know people that have gone through much, much more,and many years of a living hell. It can definitely wear on you. But God is good, and thank goodness for people like George Mueller and John Piper, who constantly point us to God and to find our joy in Him alone. As I set pondering how my focus had gone to the Lord's hand, it made me realize just how sovereign He is. It was Him that used George Mueller to break through my stubborn heart. It was Him that focused me back on His love for me, and that His Word is truth. It was Him that showed me I can believe in those desires He gave me, for He will make it happen. And it was Him that whispered, even if nothing happens, you are still mine, and we will be together for eternity. What peace there is when you know it is not up to you to do anything, it is God that does everything.....even gives you the Love you need to Love Him. Only God is Good my friends. Pam

4 comments:

Chris said...

A peace that can be found nowhere else in all the universe! Thank you for this inspiration reminder of a what a true hero of the Lord looks like.

Pam said...

Amen Chris!

TRUTH SHARER said...

Pam: This is so cool! I am also reading a 40-Day [Letters] Devotional book from the 1600's called LET GO by FĂ©nelon - a great Saint from France [check out the sidebar of my blog under books I'm reading]. It is also all about the 'death of self'! This must be God's 'theme' right now because it's been in the Scriptures I'm studying and all the books and many of the blogs this past week! There's freedom and new life where the death of self happens!
I love Mueller too! His faith was real and very 'put to the test'. I want faith like that!

Thanks for sharing this post!
How was your vacation a few weeks back? Miss you girl!

Choosing JOY, Stephanie
[JESUS - the One I THIRST For]

Pam said...

I agree Stephanie! And these men of Faith truly desired to walk the life Christ did. Not a life like and unto the world. I want that also, and I am so far from it. I will pray the Lord gives you the ability to have that Faith!