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George Müller: Los derechos del niño una cuestión de fe (Vidas que transforman)
Here is the definitive life story of the man who lived by prayer and faith alone, housing and feeding thousands of homeless children in England, advertising his financial needs to no one but God.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
July 28, 2011
I would have rated this book 1.5 stars if I could have, but certainly not because of George Mueller's incredible, exciting, and amazing life. That would rate 5+++ stars! Rather, this rating is for Roger Steer's book, which takes this man's unbelievable life story and makes a dry, boring textbook of it, devoid of any emotion or joy. If you're writing a term paper for a professor who is a stickler for facts, especially lots and lots of date facts, this book will help you out with that. If, however, you're looking for a biography that reads like a good story, keep on looking. This one put me to sleep many a night.
August 7, 2022
The life of George Muller is inspiring to say the least. His dedication to prayer, confidence in God, and belief in a good and faithful Lord that answers his children is convicting beyond measure.
Learning of his life has led me to greater prayer, more bold prayers, looking for answers to them, and a greater faith. George muller was a simple man, with very little strength, very little money, but with a very big God.
I am encouraged and dare to say that we have an immeasurably good God and he is a stronghold of all riches. He awaits to provide his children what they need, his children must only ask.
Learning of his life has led me to greater prayer, more bold prayers, looking for answers to them, and a greater faith. George muller was a simple man, with very little strength, very little money, but with a very big God.
I am encouraged and dare to say that we have an immeasurably good God and he is a stronghold of all riches. He awaits to provide his children what they need, his children must only ask.
August 23, 2020
This account of the faith and life of George Muller was very challenging and convicting! I serve the same God he did. May I have the same faith and may I be motivated in it to see God do great things for others as this man did!
April 21, 2023
This book is incredible. George Mueller was an incredible man of God who truly believed in the power of our God. He truly believed that our God is really loving and gracious to His people. He truly believed that our God is powerful and in control of all things. He had faith in the bigness of our God, and this led him to be a man of prayer all his days. I was so convicted reading this book. I see how little faith I have in our huge God.
September 12, 2021
povestea de viață a unui om care a facut lucruri mari pentru Dumnezeu, iar Dumnezeu a făcut lucruri mari prin el.
a înființat 5 orfelinate în Anglia din 1800, orfelinate care se bazau pe total alte reguli decât celelalte pentru ca el și-a dorit ca în casele lui sa fie adăpostiți copiii care în mod normal nu au fost primiți deoarece nu au avut parinți sau rude cu bani sau cu grad social înalt.
Însă regula cea mai importanta pe care s-a bazat atât viața lui, dar mai apoi a implementat-o în construirea orfelinatelor și a celor care lucrau în casele Muller: nevoile se aduc doar în fața lui Dumnezeu nu și în fața oamenilor.
Credința lui a fost una puternica, deși uneori a fost puternic încercată! El a reușit să înființeze și să întrețina cele 5 case de orfelinat doar ca raspuns la rugaciuni.
“De aproape 70 de ani, orice nevoie legată de această lucrare a fost acoperită. Numărul orfanilor de la început până acum a fost de 9.500, dar niciodată nu le-a lipsit o masă. De sute de ori am început ziua fără sa avem un penny în mână, dar Tatăl nostru ceresc a trimis proviziile în momentul când a fost nevoie de ele. 1.400.000 de lire mi s-au trimis ca răspuns la rugăciune. Nici un om de pe pământ nu poate spune ca i-am cerut vreun ban. Totul vine ca răspuns la rugăciunea făcută cu credință. Încrederea mea a fost doar în Dumnezeu. El are multe căi de a mișca inimile oamenilor pentru a ne ajuta peste tot în lume. În timp ce mă rog, El îi vorbește unuia sau altuia, pe acest continent sau pe celălalt, pentru a ne trimite ajutor.”
a înființat 5 orfelinate în Anglia din 1800, orfelinate care se bazau pe total alte reguli decât celelalte pentru ca el și-a dorit ca în casele lui sa fie adăpostiți copiii care în mod normal nu au fost primiți deoarece nu au avut parinți sau rude cu bani sau cu grad social înalt.
Însă regula cea mai importanta pe care s-a bazat atât viața lui, dar mai apoi a implementat-o în construirea orfelinatelor și a celor care lucrau în casele Muller: nevoile se aduc doar în fața lui Dumnezeu nu și în fața oamenilor.
Credința lui a fost una puternica, deși uneori a fost puternic încercată! El a reușit să înființeze și să întrețina cele 5 case de orfelinat doar ca raspuns la rugaciuni.
“De aproape 70 de ani, orice nevoie legată de această lucrare a fost acoperită. Numărul orfanilor de la început până acum a fost de 9.500, dar niciodată nu le-a lipsit o masă. De sute de ori am început ziua fără sa avem un penny în mână, dar Tatăl nostru ceresc a trimis proviziile în momentul când a fost nevoie de ele. 1.400.000 de lire mi s-au trimis ca răspuns la rugăciune. Nici un om de pe pământ nu poate spune ca i-am cerut vreun ban. Totul vine ca răspuns la rugăciunea făcută cu credință. Încrederea mea a fost doar în Dumnezeu. El are multe căi de a mișca inimile oamenilor pentru a ne ajuta peste tot în lume. În timp ce mă rog, El îi vorbește unuia sau altuia, pe acest continent sau pe celălalt, pentru a ne trimite ajutor.”
August 15, 2020
I learned so much about the life of George Muller. He has a fascinating perspective on money and prayed a lot about funds. There is this nagging question in the back of my mind. What about the other things Muller prayed about? What about the fact that only one child survived to be an adult. What was his prayer life like in those situations. I liked what I learned about the man but it left questions in my mind.
As far as the writing style of the book is concerned I found it dry and boring. This book at times read like a list and I wasn't sure I would make it through a list of facts and endless dates. There was a good quote on page 131 that I really enjoyed. Also page 242-243 give a good summary of the author's points.
As far as the writing style of the book is concerned I found it dry and boring. This book at times read like a list and I wasn't sure I would make it through a list of facts and endless dates. There was a good quote on page 131 that I really enjoyed. Also page 242-243 give a good summary of the author's points.
April 7, 2025
The story of George Muller is a story of God's faithfulness. Muller's work in evangelism, missions, and caring for orphans is an amazing testimony to what God will do through the work of His saints. Incredible!
This particular book, while capturing the essence of the story, isn't necessarily a great biography however. The flow is clunky, there is no bibliography, and the author's points have a tendency to jump around.
For the review, I'm going 2.5 stars as a biography and 5 stars for the content, which averages out to 4 stars (3.75 rounded up).
This particular book, while capturing the essence of the story, isn't necessarily a great biography however. The flow is clunky, there is no bibliography, and the author's points have a tendency to jump around.
For the review, I'm going 2.5 stars as a biography and 5 stars for the content, which averages out to 4 stars (3.75 rounded up).
December 12, 2020
Powerful read on the life and work of George Müller. In his lifetime he cared for over 10,000 orphans and raised almost 1.5 million pounds without ever asking for funds. He trusted in the faithful God who provides for his children. His outlook on life and his faith in God is inspiring and empowering. The book brought me to tears multiple times. I am thankful for how the book, though about Müller, ultimately highlights the God Müller served. Definitely worth the read if you know nothing of Müller or if you want to see the work of God on full display.
April 16, 2022
Had to read this fast (for a seminary assignment) but it was really encouraging. God answers prayer and honors our obedience. He did that in sum of George Mueller’s life in a really beautiful way. Hopefully this will be a book I return to often.
August 16, 2021
This book was amazing. I was moved to tears several times while reading it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to challenge and encourage their walk with the Lord.
It’s about the life and ministry of George Müller. If you’re not familiar with him, here’s a brief summary from www.mullers.org:
“George Müller cared for 10,000 orphaned children in Bristol during the Victorian era. He was a man of great faith, never making appeals for money, but simply praying to God for all that was needed. During his lifetime he received £1,500,000 in money and gifts in kind. At present day prices, this would be over £100m.”
Here’s an example of his prayer life from the book:
“George Müller said that he could prove with evidence that he had received 50,000 answers to prayer in his lifetime, of which 30,000 had been within 24 hours.”
The story of Müller’s life is what makes this book so incredible. Again, I’d highly recommend it.
It’s about the life and ministry of George Müller. If you’re not familiar with him, here’s a brief summary from www.mullers.org:
“George Müller cared for 10,000 orphaned children in Bristol during the Victorian era. He was a man of great faith, never making appeals for money, but simply praying to God for all that was needed. During his lifetime he received £1,500,000 in money and gifts in kind. At present day prices, this would be over £100m.”
Here’s an example of his prayer life from the book:
“George Müller said that he could prove with evidence that he had received 50,000 answers to prayer in his lifetime, of which 30,000 had been within 24 hours.”
The story of Müller’s life is what makes this book so incredible. Again, I’d highly recommend it.
September 17, 2022
Fantastic life, as far as presentation goes… not so much. But on a level of understanding details of his life this book is great! You truly get to see the details of his everyday life and the dependency that prayer brought upon him as a follower of Jesus Christ. Although this book could’ve been more exciting on a presentation side, I did enjoy hearing about a man who changed so many lives by prayer and preaching. I’ll end with a quote from the book when Muller talked to Captain Dutton, “for fifty-two years, there has never been a single day that I have failed to get an audience with the King.”
August 7, 2022
what a man. such a great example of unwavering trust, selfless obedience, and total dependence on the Lord through prayer.
April 11, 2023
I read this for seminary - it’s not bad, I just don’t think biography is the genre for me! The details about Muller’s prayer life were definitely the most enjoyable and insightful part of the book!
January 14, 2023
Exceptional. Roger Steer does a great job narrating the life of George Müller. It’s a nice mix of entries from Müller’s diary and other accounts that Steer collected. My takeaway: I can always count on God, and I can give Him everything that’s going on in my life because he knows what’s good and best for me. Such a fantastic book on trusting God
July 24, 2021
Excellent and inspiring! Be patient as the book develops.
Why did Muller contemplate starting an orphanage? “He wanted to demonstrate to the world that there is reality in the things of God.” (P. 56). What’s happening in our life that’s demonstrating the reality of God and that we believe in the resurrected Christ?
Favorite quote by Muller, “No, my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.” (P. 177).
Why did Muller contemplate starting an orphanage? “He wanted to demonstrate to the world that there is reality in the things of God.” (P. 56). What’s happening in our life that’s demonstrating the reality of God and that we believe in the resurrected Christ?
Favorite quote by Muller, “No, my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.” (P. 177).
June 19, 2011
I read this biography at a time when I desperately needed encouragement in my prayer life. I don’t know that I could have made a better choice!
George Müller was a 19th-century preacher from Prussia, though his ministry was primarily based in Bristol, England. He is most known for the orphanages he founded (before Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist made it fashionable to care for British orphans) and for his remarkable prayer life. He opened his first children’s home in 1836, housing 30 orphans; by the time of his death in 1898, five large manors had been constructed, and he had provided care for more than 10,000 children!
Müller’s ministry grew through methods completely antithetical to common practice. He never once held a fundraiser, published a list of needs, or asked for a dime, yet the children in his homes never wanted for anything. What was his “revolutionary” solution to meeting these needs?
Prayer.
During his lifetime, Müller kept a prayer journal filled with requests, and the answers to those requests. In all, well over 50,000 specific prayers were answered! While a great many of these were answered within 24 hours, many more took years. In particular, he listed people for whose salvation he had prayed for almost sixty years! The last of these became a Christian shortly after Müller’s death.
Many of these details and statistics are common knowledge and readily available on the Internet. The benefit of this biography — one of the best I’ve ever read — is the way it presents Müller’s life from a “ground level” perspective. Far from a dry, narrative account, this book tells a fascinating (true!) story.
In addition to the account of Müller’s work with the orphanages and the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, the biography chronicles his path from reckless playboy to fervent believer, the beginning of his preaching ministry in a humble country church, his role in the founding of the Plymouth Brethren movement (and subsequent withdrawal from fellowship due to theological differences), his conflict with John Nelson Darby (the father of dispensationalism, chastised by Müller for “acting so wickedly”), and his relationships with other great preachers of his time, including C.H. Spurgeon, John & Charles Wesley, and Dwight Moody.
One thing that stood out notably to me was the way Müller used his later years. Though I knew he had been a great evangelist, I had no idea that he didn’t even begin his evangelistic travels until age 70! In the days before high-speed travel, the elderly pastor traveled over 200,000 miles, preaching in 42 countries. Moreover, his preaching schedule was exceedingly rigorous during these trips, sometimes preaching up to ten times a week, without amplification, to crowds often numbering in the thousands. May the Lord grant me the energy to be so useful should he extend my life so long!
I commend this book to you. It is a great testament to God’s faithfulness, and to the fact that one does not need to be a “name-it-and-claim-it” type prosperity preacher to believe that God powerfully answers prayers! Indeed, Müller’s theology was quite sound; the reason his prayers were so reliably answered was that they were such thoroughly biblical prayers, unlike so much of what comes from the health-and-wealth crowd. My own prayer life has greatly benefited from this book, and I pray that yours will as well.
George Müller was a 19th-century preacher from Prussia, though his ministry was primarily based in Bristol, England. He is most known for the orphanages he founded (before Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist made it fashionable to care for British orphans) and for his remarkable prayer life. He opened his first children’s home in 1836, housing 30 orphans; by the time of his death in 1898, five large manors had been constructed, and he had provided care for more than 10,000 children!
Müller’s ministry grew through methods completely antithetical to common practice. He never once held a fundraiser, published a list of needs, or asked for a dime, yet the children in his homes never wanted for anything. What was his “revolutionary” solution to meeting these needs?
Prayer.
During his lifetime, Müller kept a prayer journal filled with requests, and the answers to those requests. In all, well over 50,000 specific prayers were answered! While a great many of these were answered within 24 hours, many more took years. In particular, he listed people for whose salvation he had prayed for almost sixty years! The last of these became a Christian shortly after Müller’s death.
Many of these details and statistics are common knowledge and readily available on the Internet. The benefit of this biography — one of the best I’ve ever read — is the way it presents Müller’s life from a “ground level” perspective. Far from a dry, narrative account, this book tells a fascinating (true!) story.
In addition to the account of Müller’s work with the orphanages and the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, the biography chronicles his path from reckless playboy to fervent believer, the beginning of his preaching ministry in a humble country church, his role in the founding of the Plymouth Brethren movement (and subsequent withdrawal from fellowship due to theological differences), his conflict with John Nelson Darby (the father of dispensationalism, chastised by Müller for “acting so wickedly”), and his relationships with other great preachers of his time, including C.H. Spurgeon, John & Charles Wesley, and Dwight Moody.
One thing that stood out notably to me was the way Müller used his later years. Though I knew he had been a great evangelist, I had no idea that he didn’t even begin his evangelistic travels until age 70! In the days before high-speed travel, the elderly pastor traveled over 200,000 miles, preaching in 42 countries. Moreover, his preaching schedule was exceedingly rigorous during these trips, sometimes preaching up to ten times a week, without amplification, to crowds often numbering in the thousands. May the Lord grant me the energy to be so useful should he extend my life so long!
I commend this book to you. It is a great testament to God’s faithfulness, and to the fact that one does not need to be a “name-it-and-claim-it” type prosperity preacher to believe that God powerfully answers prayers! Indeed, Müller’s theology was quite sound; the reason his prayers were so reliably answered was that they were such thoroughly biblical prayers, unlike so much of what comes from the health-and-wealth crowd. My own prayer life has greatly benefited from this book, and I pray that yours will as well.
November 1, 2020
It's a wonder that the name George Müller is not as well-known as some of our other Christian heroes, for his example of extraordinary success by simple prayer and faith, presented here in great detail by Roger Steer, is likely unmatched within the last two-hundred years. Skepticism cannot but balk at the story of this man's life, and for any Christian looking to bolster his faith and be spurred on to greater confidence in the Lord's goodness, this biography is the one to read.
(Four stars not for the story, but only for the sub-par presentation of it at certain points).
(Four stars not for the story, but only for the sub-par presentation of it at certain points).
August 16, 2020
More than anything else, George Mueller’s biography demonstrates the power of prayer. It reminds us that prayer is action. Prayer is not just an arbitrary practice of Christians by which we heave up empty phrases. Prayer is the means by which we express our dependence upon God to act and believe that he will act when it accords with his will. If you want to be challenged in your prayer life, I recommend this read!
May 23, 2021
This was an incredibly informative and well-researched book. The picture of George Müller’s simple and beautiful faith is completely overwhelming. I knew of him before now, but finding out all he really accomplished through not only his orphanages but worldwide preaching and evangelism just blew me away. If that is what God can do through one single man, imagine what could be done if more people trusted in the same way.
August 21, 2019
Quite naturally, having grown up in the church, Müller was commonly referred to in sermons. The examples of God’s provision were always deeply moving. As such, contemplating his life through Roger Steer’s careful account only brought to life even further these episodes of God’s provision and the remarkable life of faith that Müller exemplified. Taking the life of Müller as a whole, I couldn’t help but feel severely, and rightly, challenged. Any and every account of the day-to-day dealings of movements in Bristol and beyond stir one’s heart for God, to attempt and do wonderful things for his name. Simultaneously I was made to think of how little I move into the realm of tangibly trusting God with my daily provisions, how concerned I am that I have resources and securities behind my name in case any thing should go wrong. However, it’s not just the financial provision as much as it is also the concrete manner in which Müller’s life displayed a life of prayer and devotion with Christ. Hearing how he spoke of God’s nearness, the surety that Müller felt in God hearing his prayers, the trust he manifested year after year—these are qualities and examples that evoked envy in my heart, these are matters and experiences that I wish I could speak of. Which of course raises the question as to why there is a world of difference between Müller’s experience and my own. No doubt, my lack of prayer, my lack of meaningful time in the Word, my infatuation with the things of this world are stumbling blocks to the kind of life Müller lived. This was a deeply humbling read. And I am thankful for it. I pray that this life would move me to action, that my prayers would be enlarged, that my faith would be encouraged, that Christ would be further exalted in and through my life. One final thought, though, is the question of the prescriptive nature of Müllers life. I must say that I was puzzled again and again as to how one should respond to Müller’s life. Of course, I do not doubt God’s hand in providing just as much as he needed. But some of Müller’s approaches and practices seemed to go against even some common sense and biblical examples: even the Apostle Paul asked for money! I was also concerned about some of Müller’s approach to ministry, lingering only as long as he felt called to a certain place (at least earlier on in his ministry). Perhaps my full thoughts on this cannot be developed here but certainly some of what happened didn’t sit so comfortably with me.
Steer's biography was a breeze to read, slightly jump-y at times but really easy to take in and progress. One thing I would like to read more about was Müller's conversion. Steer was brief and ambiguous. Another study I'd love to enquire into is the epistemology of Müller and the ministers during this time period: I heard a lot of emphasis on feeling and sensing the "will of God", almost to the detriment of clear biblical commands of faithfulness (at least in my mind). There's certainly been some development (backwards or forwards? I am not sure) in how Christians discern the will of God and act on it since the 1800's compared with today. If you know of any studies looking into this let me know!
Steer's biography was a breeze to read, slightly jump-y at times but really easy to take in and progress. One thing I would like to read more about was Müller's conversion. Steer was brief and ambiguous. Another study I'd love to enquire into is the epistemology of Müller and the ministers during this time period: I heard a lot of emphasis on feeling and sensing the "will of God", almost to the detriment of clear biblical commands of faithfulness (at least in my mind). There's certainly been some development (backwards or forwards? I am not sure) in how Christians discern the will of God and act on it since the 1800's compared with today. If you know of any studies looking into this let me know!
December 16, 2025
I knew a little bit about George Muller before reading this book, but I had no idea just how thoroughly he lived by faith.
To live without savings and never do any fundraising but to completely rely on the Lord through prayer for everything he needed to not only support himself and his family, but also several ministries and orphanages over decades, is stunning. Honestly, the thought gives me anxiety. To not know how I was going to meet the bills of that day would give me a panic attack. But contrast that with Muller‘s faith convicted me that I don’t trust the Lord nearly as much as I can and should.
Since the Lord is our heavenly father, and we are to trust him as a child would their parent, how does it honor of the Lord to not ask him for things? Don’t children today ask their parents for things and expect an answer? And what child hoards food for fear of not being fed by their parents? (Granted, there are some trauma cases where this happens, but most children don’t give a thought to such things and yet they trust they will be fed.) How much more so should we believers trust the Lord to meet our needs? By not asking, we are denying the Lord the opportunity to show his love for us.
The biography convicted and encouraged me to pray for more faith so I can also bring everything to the Lord in prayer. It also challenged my tendency to not bring small things to the Lord because I find them too trivial.
Like Muller, a friend of mine has no problem bringing seemingly insignificant things to the Lord in prayer. A couple years ago my friend and I were looking for a parking spot in a downtown city. Everything was taken. I remember her praying aloud that the Lord would open up a spot. My immediate emotion was embarrassment: “What a silly thing to pray for!” But no sooner had I thought that that a parking spot opened up for us. The Lord delights in us bringing everything to him, and in turn giving even small gifts like a parking spot.
(Why am I so skeptical? Why am I so prone to doubt? Why do I assume the Lord doesn’t want to hear even these small childlike prayers? Lord, please give me more faith and a trusting heart.)
This biography spans Mueller‘s entire life, which has its pros and cons. While it’s helpful to see how his faith operated from grand projects to daily minutia, it falters in the same way many historical books do: too much detail, often redundant and sometimes frivolous, isn’t edited out. The author seems to have made a conscious decision to favor thoroughness over readability, which is especially evident in the last quarter of the book - which could’ve been much shorter.
Still, it’s a worthy, convicting, and inspiring read.
Rating: 4 / 5 stars
To live without savings and never do any fundraising but to completely rely on the Lord through prayer for everything he needed to not only support himself and his family, but also several ministries and orphanages over decades, is stunning. Honestly, the thought gives me anxiety. To not know how I was going to meet the bills of that day would give me a panic attack. But contrast that with Muller‘s faith convicted me that I don’t trust the Lord nearly as much as I can and should.
Since the Lord is our heavenly father, and we are to trust him as a child would their parent, how does it honor of the Lord to not ask him for things? Don’t children today ask their parents for things and expect an answer? And what child hoards food for fear of not being fed by their parents? (Granted, there are some trauma cases where this happens, but most children don’t give a thought to such things and yet they trust they will be fed.) How much more so should we believers trust the Lord to meet our needs? By not asking, we are denying the Lord the opportunity to show his love for us.
The biography convicted and encouraged me to pray for more faith so I can also bring everything to the Lord in prayer. It also challenged my tendency to not bring small things to the Lord because I find them too trivial.
Like Muller, a friend of mine has no problem bringing seemingly insignificant things to the Lord in prayer. A couple years ago my friend and I were looking for a parking spot in a downtown city. Everything was taken. I remember her praying aloud that the Lord would open up a spot. My immediate emotion was embarrassment: “What a silly thing to pray for!” But no sooner had I thought that that a parking spot opened up for us. The Lord delights in us bringing everything to him, and in turn giving even small gifts like a parking spot.
(Why am I so skeptical? Why am I so prone to doubt? Why do I assume the Lord doesn’t want to hear even these small childlike prayers? Lord, please give me more faith and a trusting heart.)
This biography spans Mueller‘s entire life, which has its pros and cons. While it’s helpful to see how his faith operated from grand projects to daily minutia, it falters in the same way many historical books do: too much detail, often redundant and sometimes frivolous, isn’t edited out. The author seems to have made a conscious decision to favor thoroughness over readability, which is especially evident in the last quarter of the book - which could’ve been much shorter.
Still, it’s a worthy, convicting, and inspiring read.
Rating: 4 / 5 stars
September 15, 2019
Today I finished the book George Mueller Delighted in God. In the midst of seminary reading this book has been such a sweet refresher as it is such a devotional read. This is my first time reading a Christian biography and I really appreciated the way that Steer laid out the book. Steer’s helpful titles and chapter emphases really helped me piece together what Mueller’s life was. It was by no means a boring timeline to read.
Throughout my time reading this book, I have constantly been struck with how steadfast of a man Mueller was. I know that I can be so quick to stop praying instead of “praying continuously,” and “never ceasing in prayer.” It seems that very quickly from the outset of his conversion, Mueller was a changed man. He was wholly committed to Christ because of what he had done for him. This book made me ask myself, in what ways am I not wholly committed to Christ? What parts of my life are not yielded to him? It was also incredible to see the difference in my prayer life with Mueller’s. As I went about my day after reading this book I would often be struck with the questions of, “Why is it that I don’t pray for [fill in the blank] on a regular basis?” I was all the more awaked to the realization that to pray in our culture is laborious because of the ease of self-reliance. The reason we don’t pray is because we don’t see our need for God. Even while working in ministry I have realized it is so easy for me to single out some activities (leading a bible study, talking to students, etc.) as easy and some as “needing prayer,” (giving a message, sharing the gospel), when in reality all things require the holy work of God or else it is vanity. I was also struck by Mueller’s devotedness to serving God at all times. It seemed as though that there were no times where he was not, “on”. In our culture now we so often feel entitled to our comfort and to “get away from work.” But for Mueller, it was obvious that his “work” was not only necessary in glorifying God but it was his great joy. He was never burdened by prayer, but always taking to God his burdens in prayer. It was obvious that Muller truly believed God existed and was personal. It is my prayer that I would not deny myself opportunities to trust God more in taking steps of faith. I pray that my delight would be like Mueller’s, to be so virtually overwhelmed with the goodness of God in trusting him that he was so beyond contentment. “I shall now be for ever and ever be a happy man, and I will remain in the presence of my Father; I will not leave His House any more, because I found it so very, very precious to be a child of God.”
Throughout my time reading this book, I have constantly been struck with how steadfast of a man Mueller was. I know that I can be so quick to stop praying instead of “praying continuously,” and “never ceasing in prayer.” It seems that very quickly from the outset of his conversion, Mueller was a changed man. He was wholly committed to Christ because of what he had done for him. This book made me ask myself, in what ways am I not wholly committed to Christ? What parts of my life are not yielded to him? It was also incredible to see the difference in my prayer life with Mueller’s. As I went about my day after reading this book I would often be struck with the questions of, “Why is it that I don’t pray for [fill in the blank] on a regular basis?” I was all the more awaked to the realization that to pray in our culture is laborious because of the ease of self-reliance. The reason we don’t pray is because we don’t see our need for God. Even while working in ministry I have realized it is so easy for me to single out some activities (leading a bible study, talking to students, etc.) as easy and some as “needing prayer,” (giving a message, sharing the gospel), when in reality all things require the holy work of God or else it is vanity. I was also struck by Mueller’s devotedness to serving God at all times. It seemed as though that there were no times where he was not, “on”. In our culture now we so often feel entitled to our comfort and to “get away from work.” But for Mueller, it was obvious that his “work” was not only necessary in glorifying God but it was his great joy. He was never burdened by prayer, but always taking to God his burdens in prayer. It was obvious that Muller truly believed God existed and was personal. It is my prayer that I would not deny myself opportunities to trust God more in taking steps of faith. I pray that my delight would be like Mueller’s, to be so virtually overwhelmed with the goodness of God in trusting him that he was so beyond contentment. “I shall now be for ever and ever be a happy man, and I will remain in the presence of my Father; I will not leave His House any more, because I found it so very, very precious to be a child of God.”
October 16, 2021
What an amazing man of faith was the man, George Müller! As I read this book, I continued to realize the lack of a significant prayer life in my own life, and desired to know more how to pray like Müller did. What I found is that it is as simple as crying out to the Lord. One of the things that struck me from the telling of his life is the simplicity in which he approached everything. Whenever a large sum of money would come in, he simply would thank God and move on. He expected it to come in! This is something that challenged me in my prayer life, that I ought to expect to see God working. I am trying to implement this, though I must admit that so far it has been a challenge for me to do. Another thing that stood out to me was that all that he did was in an effort to prove that God was real and that He answered prayer. I believe he did exactly what he planned to do. God was certainly behind the ministry of George Müller, and as I read along, I realized that I too desired God to be behind my ministry in the same way He was Müller’s. Of course there is no magic formula to “get God on my side,” but rather the prayer that I would be used and that His name would be magnified in everything that I say in do in my life. In the last pages of the book, the author shows a question that was posed to Müller, “How can my faith be strengthened?” His answer is very good, but what struck me was his statement, “Don’t try to avoid situations where your faith may be tested.” And he has another quote earlier on in the book, “Our desire…is not that we might be without trials of faith, but that the Lord graciously would be pleased to support us in the trial, that we might not dishonor Him by distrust.” Through this, Müller shows almost a desire for God to test his faith. This is something that honestly scares me. I think of songs that say, “call me out upon the waters, the great unknown, where feet may fail,” or, “I want to be tried by fire, purified.” These lyrics are so often sung in churches today, though they aren’t always meditated upon, much less lived out. George Müller lived out these lyrics in his desire for the Lord to try his faith and to make much out of the Savior through these trials. I pray that I would look to God for help in time of need, and live in a state of constant prayer, expecting the Lord to answer me and to provide when I have nothing left.
May 17, 2022
This has been a long journey... it took me months to read this book (but it felt like years).
I tend to read nonfiction alongside reading fiction, but I read non-fiction a lot slower, more like a chapter a day, rather than a loads (like with fiction). So normally I take about 3-4 weeks to finish a non-fiction book, but this took like five months...
Very - very - important note: this review and rating is in no way a reflection of the actual real life story of George Müller - obviously that is a full on five out of five stars, because his life was incredible and God used him in so many glorious ways, and the orphanages helped so many children over the years. My critiques are focused on the actual writing of the book, which is why I was incredibly surprised when I found out I was already reading the updated and shortened version of this book, published in 1980.
So bearing that in mind, let's go:
I'll try and keep this short, but basically there were points throughout the book that kept you very engaged in the story and its details, but for the vast majority of it the writing failed to capture me. So many of the earlier chapters were devoted to the minutiae of Müller's finances, which I understand is important in demonstrating the extent of God's provision for him and his work, but when it's pages and pages, chapters and chapters, of simply listing different amounts etc., the effect was lost on me. I think if the author had tightened this up a bit, the impact could have been a lot greater. That's my main criticism really, that the story of Müller's life and work was often lost to these endless, extremely detailed lists. Another example being in the chapter about his tours abroad; there were lots of lists here of the different places etc. but they were very detailed again, and I think it possibly would have been better to include more select stories of certain events that happened in these places (like there was one about a carriage, but I can't quite remember it), rather than so many lists.
Apart from that, in terms of the writing, I did like when the author introduced counterarguments towards the end, intended to diminish Müller's work, but then disproved them. And I have no doubt the author is extremely knowledgeable about Müller as well, it was just the lists for me...
So there you have it.
I tend to read nonfiction alongside reading fiction, but I read non-fiction a lot slower, more like a chapter a day, rather than a loads (like with fiction). So normally I take about 3-4 weeks to finish a non-fiction book, but this took like five months...
Very - very - important note: this review and rating is in no way a reflection of the actual real life story of George Müller - obviously that is a full on five out of five stars, because his life was incredible and God used him in so many glorious ways, and the orphanages helped so many children over the years. My critiques are focused on the actual writing of the book, which is why I was incredibly surprised when I found out I was already reading the updated and shortened version of this book, published in 1980.
So bearing that in mind, let's go:
I'll try and keep this short, but basically there were points throughout the book that kept you very engaged in the story and its details, but for the vast majority of it the writing failed to capture me. So many of the earlier chapters were devoted to the minutiae of Müller's finances, which I understand is important in demonstrating the extent of God's provision for him and his work, but when it's pages and pages, chapters and chapters, of simply listing different amounts etc., the effect was lost on me. I think if the author had tightened this up a bit, the impact could have been a lot greater. That's my main criticism really, that the story of Müller's life and work was often lost to these endless, extremely detailed lists. Another example being in the chapter about his tours abroad; there were lots of lists here of the different places etc. but they were very detailed again, and I think it possibly would have been better to include more select stories of certain events that happened in these places (like there was one about a carriage, but I can't quite remember it), rather than so many lists.
Apart from that, in terms of the writing, I did like when the author introduced counterarguments towards the end, intended to diminish Müller's work, but then disproved them. And I have no doubt the author is extremely knowledgeable about Müller as well, it was just the lists for me...
So there you have it.
July 17, 2023
I found this book incredibly helpful! In fact, so much so that I kept a journal of the valuable things I was learning. After all, George Muller made it clear that he wanted his life to be a lesson for people. He specifically said that he wanted observers of his life to grow in their understanding of the things of God, and so he did what he did with his life for the express purpose of strengthening people's faith in the prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God of the Bible. What a privilege it was to be taught in such a way by a hero of the faith like George Muller, who never actually wanted to be seen as exceptional, but only as an example of what any Christ-follower can be and do. That's why I wanted to record and remember the lessons Muller sought to illustrate -- to help me to grow in my own experiences with God in life and ministry.
Steer described Muller's detailed thoughts about what successful prayer depends on, and about why prayer may not be answered immediately, and about how to persist in prayer and grow in faith. And I relished the experience of learning such valuable things from such a proven prayer warrior.
Perhaps it felt so helpful because so many of Muller's life-lessons were so relevant to my own personal struggles in prayer. He expanded on the importance of believing as we pray, on the value of facing trials to pray through, and on the benefits of having to wait for answers as we trust God's timing. I personally hate delayed answers, and can become easily discouraged, but Muller spoke of delays as precious opportunities to continue waiting on God, and of communing with God being the real work we do for God as we seek to do his will in this world.
Amidst all my ups and downs in prayer, I needed to be reminded of such things. I found this whole book -- George Muller's whole story -- a wonderful collection of invaluable reminders, lessons, and quotes that I want to long remember, and by God's grace, put into practice.
Steer described Muller's detailed thoughts about what successful prayer depends on, and about why prayer may not be answered immediately, and about how to persist in prayer and grow in faith. And I relished the experience of learning such valuable things from such a proven prayer warrior.
Perhaps it felt so helpful because so many of Muller's life-lessons were so relevant to my own personal struggles in prayer. He expanded on the importance of believing as we pray, on the value of facing trials to pray through, and on the benefits of having to wait for answers as we trust God's timing. I personally hate delayed answers, and can become easily discouraged, but Muller spoke of delays as precious opportunities to continue waiting on God, and of communing with God being the real work we do for God as we seek to do his will in this world.
Amidst all my ups and downs in prayer, I needed to be reminded of such things. I found this whole book -- George Muller's whole story -- a wonderful collection of invaluable reminders, lessons, and quotes that I want to long remember, and by God's grace, put into practice.
February 27, 2018
This book was poorly written. It was hard to be captured by the story at the beginning. Because I had no prior knowledge of Muller's story and read this book only because it was referenced by someone I highly respect, it would have been easy to give up on it very quickly. Fortunately, I did not do that. Muller's story is incredible. Beyond belief, really. In a time when "thoughts and prayers" are daily mocked, Muller's life is the strongest apologetic to the power of prayer that I have ever read. Even if you don't read this book, learning his story is a must for anyone who wants to understand what a life dependent on God for every need really looks like.
"The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it. Oh, how good, and kind, and gracious...is the One with Whom we have to do!" (pg. 224)
"The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it. Oh, how good, and kind, and gracious...is the One with Whom we have to do!" (pg. 224)
July 19, 2018
Claramente no es una novela, sino un libro histórico lo cual es justamente lo que buscaba.
La biografía de un Gran hombre: George Muller. Que demuestra que Dios es el mismo siempre, quien escucha nuestras oraciones con el mismo ahínco de la época de la primera generación de la iglesia.
Me ha sido de edificación y bendición esta historia, leí otros libros sobre esta persona pero necesitaba un relato más centrado, que muestre hechos y no este adornado como sucede con las novelizaciones (no significa que no me gusten).
Si quieren saber si Dios aun obra en nuestros días, les animo a leer no solo este relato sino investigar otros más y también su palabra, porque nos cegamos a nuestros pensamientos y no buscamos.
La biografía de un Gran hombre: George Muller. Que demuestra que Dios es el mismo siempre, quien escucha nuestras oraciones con el mismo ahínco de la época de la primera generación de la iglesia.
Me ha sido de edificación y bendición esta historia, leí otros libros sobre esta persona pero necesitaba un relato más centrado, que muestre hechos y no este adornado como sucede con las novelizaciones (no significa que no me gusten).
Si quieren saber si Dios aun obra en nuestros días, les animo a leer no solo este relato sino investigar otros más y también su palabra, porque nos cegamos a nuestros pensamientos y no buscamos.
March 10, 2018
Powerful, insightful, encouraging, and convicting — Müller’s life is a story biblical, pietist living that embodies the clear demonstration of prayer as Jesus practiced with the Father. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the clearness of prayer so articled as from Müller’s life, and the book really gives you insights to how he engaged God for his needs. The book itself is broken up into small chapters and simple to read, and tends to consistently hold interest and excitement as you read on. For the person wanting to read a life of true Christian value and authentic practice, this biography should be the one of the firsts on your list.
January 19, 2020
I find this a difficult review to write. George Müller was such an incredible man with an astounding testimony, and I really enjoyed reading of the many answers to prayer, and how he approached his ministry. On the down side, these provisions were so regular that the story felt a little cyclical! I also felt that the story was told with thick rose coloured glasses. I have no doubt that Müller was a great man of faith, but any struggles he had seemed to be glossed over. Perhaps the best way to describe this book is that it is a great story, but not told in a way I enjoyed. Still worth a read of course!
October 27, 2020
I don't read a lot of biographies, but this one was worth the effort. Roger Steer tells about the life of Muller in a very easy, readable way. And now that I've read about him, I count George as one of my heroes. A man that decided to glorify God by living by faith. Faith that God's word is true, and that God would answer his prayers. The book details how Mr. Muller built five orphanages for children in the 1800's without once ever asking for financial support. Not once. This is one of those books that I kept marking places so I could go back and copy down notes for myself. This is a book worth reading more than once. It has changed my prayer life.
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