George Müller: Trusting God for Daily Bread

During the 1800s, missionary George Müller cared for thousands of orphan children in Bristol, England. He also traveled over 200,000 miles (by ship) across the globe, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging Christians for world missions . . . all while maintaining a joyful example of ministry and family balance.

Over the next few months, we want to encourage you in your walk with God with examples from our missionary heritage.

The following excerpt is adapted from Ann’s book,
The Mission-Minded Family

Trusting God for Daily Bread

George Müller (1805-1898) was a Christian missionary evangelist and a coordinator of orphanages in Bristol, England. Through his faith and prayers (and without asking for money) he had the privilege of caring for over 120,000 orphan children. He also traveled over 200,000 miles (by ship) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 42 countries and to challenge believers about world missions and trusting God. In his journals, Müller recorded miracle-after-miracle of God’s provision and answered prayer:

One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”

There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.”

Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.

. . . and an example of family-balance

At his wife Mary’s funeral, Müller’s loving words also represent a good example of the joy God gives when ministry and family priorities are balanced:

Were we happy? Verily we were.

With every year our happiness increased more and more. I never saw my beloved wife at any time, when I met her unexpectantly anywhere in Bristol, England, without being delighted so to do. Day by day, as we met in our dressing room, at the Orphan Houses, to wash our hands before dinner and tea, I was delighted to meet her, and she was equally pleased to see me. Thousands of times I told her, “My darling, I never saw you at any time, since you became my wife, without my being delighted to see you.”

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
And He will direct your paths.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

The JOY of trusting JESUS!

George Müller is featured in this month’s Harvest Ministry mission newsletter:

Can we send you our mission newsletter?

This month’s Harvest Ministry mission newsletter (with a brand-new “look”) highlights this awesome missionary hero, George Müller — along this month’s theme of TRUSTING God (and — on the inside — current HM mission praise reports and highlights for prayer). We recently sent these out in the mail, but we have quite a few extras. We would be honored and thankful if you would like to become a mission prayer-partner with us.

If you would like a (in the real-mail) just CONTACT US with your mailing address.