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George Muller: Man of Faith
by Bonnie Harvey. A man of prayer who trusted God to supply all the needs of his orphanages and showed those around him that he was truly a man of faith.
172 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 31, 2025
Well this book challenged me in a lot of ways. First: I need to pray more. Secondly: I really need to put some study and thought into the balance of prayer vs action. There is a time to pray and a time to act, and I'm puzzled by Muller's constant disinclination to act. He fully trusted God to supply, and that is highly admirable. But there were times when the orphanage had absolutely no money or food, and instead of acting, they would pray. Genuinely very torn on this. It could be that Muller was called to set aside action when he was inclined to go forward, and be patient and wait on the Lord. But it seemed an odd pattern. Especially when God was very clearly providing down to the penny. Was God rewarding Muller's prayer? Or was He providing for the orphans who needed food and clothes? Not for me to judge. I can certainly afford to pray more, though. And Muller's life exemplified that.
And his gentle passing from this life to the next was beautifully summed up by his servant: "Dear old Mr. Muller. He just slipped quietly off home as the gentle master opened the door and whispered, "Come.""
And his gentle passing from this life to the next was beautifully summed up by his servant: "Dear old Mr. Muller. He just slipped quietly off home as the gentle master opened the door and whispered, "Come.""
December 6, 2017
George Müller was a great man who lived an unbelievably fascinating life, but I really did not care for the way this author wrote his life story.
December 24, 2020
I appreciated this look at a great man of conviction and belief that gods promises are true. He encouraged me on believing that god is ultimately our provider in every area of life
November 25, 2018
A friend loved this book and has loaned it to me because George Muller's faith and answers to prayer are a fascinating and convicting topic for me. When she said that she would loan me a George Muller book, I thought she meant one by Muller, not about him. ("A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with Mr. George Muller," perhaps.) So, I was disappointed to see that it was one of the "Heroes of the Faith" series rather than something richer and deeper. My kids read some of the "Heroes of the Faith" series whenever they were in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades as their choices for books on which to do a biographical report for their school, and I read those after them. So, the writing style is very simplified, for younger readers, and I could hardly imagine an intelligent, older woman "loving" a book from this series. (Although, yes, she is an intelligent woman.)
Not that there is anything wrong with this book. It presents a biography of George Muller in clear, concise language, and his life and understanding are just as convicting, but I would have preferred to hear in his own words what drove him to such an extreme (or at least, unusual) stance on living in the faith of God. In fact, my favorite parts of the book, after the scripture, are Muller's own words, sprinkled throughout. Much of the rest of this book is dry reading: this or that person donating this or that amount to the orphanage after Muller's prayers. Astounding answers to prayer, yes, but they become repetitive, as far as plot goes. I do realize that's the point: that God provides for His people faithfully over the long haul.
I wished that I could underline the meaningful parts to me so that I could easily find them again, but this isn't my book ...
I hadn't realized that George Muller had sunk to such levels as a young teen. It was somewhat funny that his friend Beta thought that friendship with George would bring him "worldly pleasures," while George thought that friendship with Beta would bring him self-improvement. And yet, I've actually seen that in various sets of friends, with opposite backgrounds and directions.
Interesting thoughts on the futility of casting lots to determine God's will. I have had a friend do this, with equally futile results.
I did not know that Muller said that, "Believers only are the proper subjects for baptism [as opposed to infants], and that immersion is the only proper scriptural mode in which it ought to be attended to."
I liked how he got rid of various traditions because they either were not in scripture, or else opposed by scripture, such as pew rents. "We desire to go simply by Scripture, without compromising the truth." "Now I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditate on it, that my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved."
It's also inspiring how Mr. Muller trusted God for everything. Although his faith vastly outweighs mine, I venture to disagree with him a little about the prudence of keeping a savings account for emergencies. He didn't want to have any savings, but gave away freely what he didn't need. To me, having a savings is part of being responsible. I don't see anything contrary to it in scripture, but I also see his intent on doing the most good he could at the time for the orphans. There is a balance there, in which saving too much money could lure people away from God into trusting their wealth, and saving too little (when one has the means) could be failure to provide for the family for contingencies.
I have seen people feel prompted by God to give, with a timing that only He could initiate and provide that is awe-inspiring.
I can vouch that God answers prayers. I have also seen God provide for some young (many still teen) unwed mothers and their children. I had not signed up for the job of coordinating meals for them, but somehow, I'd ended up with the job of feeding 40-50 moms and their kids a couple times a month. For one particular meeting, I couldn't find any food donors, and even exhausted the list of backup or emergency people. At last, in frustration, I prayed, "Lord, these are Your people and if You want them fed, You'll have to do it, because I can't." It seemed like God told me, more or less, to sit down and be quiet, that my unbelief was getting in the way. Then not one, but two separate organizations I'd never heard of and not contacted, called to donate food for these families. I went from not having anything to feed them to having too much, and calling around trying to find freezers to store the overflow. It made me laugh. And think that God certainly did care for those young mothers and kids. But I never got to a situation where I felt at peace, trusting God to provide for them, like George Muller did. I always felt "on pins and needles" waiting to see what would happen. He always did care for them, though.
Several years ago, there was one small group in which every prayer request was answered over the course of the year, even the “impossible” one about someone’s wayward brother turning his life around.
"I fully realize that the dear infant is much better off with the Lord Jesus than with us, and when I weep, I weep for joy." I don't know what to make of this quote. I don't think he was calloused towards his son's death. I think, instead, Muller had such faith in the goodness of being with Jesus that he was even able to think of the joy. Here's another quote, about the death of his wife: "Every day I miss her more and more. Every day I see more and more how great is her loss to the orphans. Yet without an effort, my inmost soul habitually joys in the joy of the loved departed one. God alone has done it; we are satisfied with Him."
"I enjoyed the nearness to God and fervency in prayer for more than an hour. My soul had been panting for many weeks for this sweet experience." A reminder that prayer is sweet.
"Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." - Psalm 81:10. This verse became precious to Muller as he trusted in God to provide. Recently, before reading this book, I mentioned this verse to a friend. A good-hearted woman, she felt so exhausted trying to serve others that she said she felt she needed to nourish her own soul in some fashion. This verse came to mind, as God is the One who nourishes us. I meant it figuratively. God gives us food for our souls. Muller (and probably the Bible, as well) meant it literally.
"May He fill our hearts with gratitude for this fresh deliverance! May He enable me to trust more in Him and to wait patiently for His help." I like the reminder of gratitude, especially as I read this in the Thanksgiving season.
It's interesting to me that one of the sins that Muller struggled against was irritability. I have actually known someone like that, with faith in God for the big things, but easily frustrated with the little things. I can probably also be like that, to some extent, myself. But the knowledge that Muller wrestled irritability made him appear more human to me.
"I am in continual need. If left to myself I should fall a prey to Satan. Pride, unbelief or other sins would be my ruin. I cannot stand for a moment left to myself. O, that none of my readers might think that I could not be puffed up by pride, and think of me as being beyond unbelief. No, I am as weak as ever."
I have seen, and even used George Muller's method of keeping track of prayer requests and answers, although I did not know it had originated with him. (Perhaps it didn't; perhaps he only popularized it and used it.) However, in my teen years, when I did this, I didn't have the patience to keep a very long list and go back to it to add a date-answered. One of my earliest prayer requests had a waiting time of 6 years, and by then I'm not sure I knew where the prayer journal was.
I've come into the habit instead, of writing scraps of paper about answered prayers and putting them in our Answered Prayer jar, to look at on New Year's in remembrance of all God has done for us in the old year. I limit it to answered prayers involving our family, though, or else it would overflow too often.
It was interesting the way that Muller would try to determine God's will. I liked that he shunned both "feeling or simple impressions" and listening to the Spirit "alone," without the Word of God. "The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also." As his final step, after all the rest, he determined if he felt at peace about it.
"I have recorded my petitions that when God has answered them, His name will be glorified."
"Because He delights in the prayers of His children, He had allowed us to pray so long to try our faith and to make the answer so much sweeter."
It's also key that Muller refused to ask God for things simply for his own desires, "to consume it upon our own lusts." They were real needs, and most often, for others. To me, that is part of asking in Jesus' name, asking for things that Jesus would ask for.
"Some who helped for a while may fall asleep in Jesus; others grow cold in the service of the Lord; others be as desirous as ever to help, but no longer able. But in leaning upon God, the Living God alone, we are beyond disappointment and beyond being forsaken because of death, or want of means, or want of love, or because of the claims of other work. How precious to have learned, in any measure, to be content to stand with God alone in the world, and to know that surely no good thing shall be withheld from us, while we walk uprightly!"
"Let not Satan deceive you in making you think you could not have the same faith, but that it is only for persons situated as I am."
"With every fresh trial, faith either increases by trusting God and getting help, or it decreases by not trusting Him."
"I cheerfully bear the trials and the precious joys of this life of faith if at least some of my fellow believers might see that a child of God does have power with Him by prayer and faith."
"Every day decreases the number of days that I have to stay on this earth. I therefore desire with all my might to work. There are vast multitudes of orphans to be provided for."
"We aim at this: that if any of the children do not turn out well, temporally or spiritually, and do not become useful members of society, it shall not at least be our fault."
"Should it be supposed .... by anyone in reading the details of our trials of faith during the year ... that we have been disappointed in our expectations or discouraged in the work, my answer is ... such days were expected from the commencement. Our desire is not that we may be without trials of faith, but that the Lord graciously be pleased to support us in the trial."
"The greater the difficulties, the easier the faith."
"The greater the trial, the sweeter the victory."
"George also stressed that a Christian's giving must be to the Lord. Other people may be the recipients, but gifts must be humbly offered not for the praise of man, but for the blessings of God."
"The living God is living still."
Not that there is anything wrong with this book. It presents a biography of George Muller in clear, concise language, and his life and understanding are just as convicting, but I would have preferred to hear in his own words what drove him to such an extreme (or at least, unusual) stance on living in the faith of God. In fact, my favorite parts of the book, after the scripture, are Muller's own words, sprinkled throughout. Much of the rest of this book is dry reading: this or that person donating this or that amount to the orphanage after Muller's prayers. Astounding answers to prayer, yes, but they become repetitive, as far as plot goes. I do realize that's the point: that God provides for His people faithfully over the long haul.
I wished that I could underline the meaningful parts to me so that I could easily find them again, but this isn't my book ...
I hadn't realized that George Muller had sunk to such levels as a young teen. It was somewhat funny that his friend Beta thought that friendship with George would bring him "worldly pleasures," while George thought that friendship with Beta would bring him self-improvement. And yet, I've actually seen that in various sets of friends, with opposite backgrounds and directions.
Interesting thoughts on the futility of casting lots to determine God's will. I have had a friend do this, with equally futile results.
I did not know that Muller said that, "Believers only are the proper subjects for baptism [as opposed to infants], and that immersion is the only proper scriptural mode in which it ought to be attended to."
I liked how he got rid of various traditions because they either were not in scripture, or else opposed by scripture, such as pew rents. "We desire to go simply by Scripture, without compromising the truth." "Now I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditate on it, that my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved."
It's also inspiring how Mr. Muller trusted God for everything. Although his faith vastly outweighs mine, I venture to disagree with him a little about the prudence of keeping a savings account for emergencies. He didn't want to have any savings, but gave away freely what he didn't need. To me, having a savings is part of being responsible. I don't see anything contrary to it in scripture, but I also see his intent on doing the most good he could at the time for the orphans. There is a balance there, in which saving too much money could lure people away from God into trusting their wealth, and saving too little (when one has the means) could be failure to provide for the family for contingencies.
I have seen people feel prompted by God to give, with a timing that only He could initiate and provide that is awe-inspiring.
I can vouch that God answers prayers. I have also seen God provide for some young (many still teen) unwed mothers and their children. I had not signed up for the job of coordinating meals for them, but somehow, I'd ended up with the job of feeding 40-50 moms and their kids a couple times a month. For one particular meeting, I couldn't find any food donors, and even exhausted the list of backup or emergency people. At last, in frustration, I prayed, "Lord, these are Your people and if You want them fed, You'll have to do it, because I can't." It seemed like God told me, more or less, to sit down and be quiet, that my unbelief was getting in the way. Then not one, but two separate organizations I'd never heard of and not contacted, called to donate food for these families. I went from not having anything to feed them to having too much, and calling around trying to find freezers to store the overflow. It made me laugh. And think that God certainly did care for those young mothers and kids. But I never got to a situation where I felt at peace, trusting God to provide for them, like George Muller did. I always felt "on pins and needles" waiting to see what would happen. He always did care for them, though.
Several years ago, there was one small group in which every prayer request was answered over the course of the year, even the “impossible” one about someone’s wayward brother turning his life around.
"I fully realize that the dear infant is much better off with the Lord Jesus than with us, and when I weep, I weep for joy." I don't know what to make of this quote. I don't think he was calloused towards his son's death. I think, instead, Muller had such faith in the goodness of being with Jesus that he was even able to think of the joy. Here's another quote, about the death of his wife: "Every day I miss her more and more. Every day I see more and more how great is her loss to the orphans. Yet without an effort, my inmost soul habitually joys in the joy of the loved departed one. God alone has done it; we are satisfied with Him."
"I enjoyed the nearness to God and fervency in prayer for more than an hour. My soul had been panting for many weeks for this sweet experience." A reminder that prayer is sweet.
"Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." - Psalm 81:10. This verse became precious to Muller as he trusted in God to provide. Recently, before reading this book, I mentioned this verse to a friend. A good-hearted woman, she felt so exhausted trying to serve others that she said she felt she needed to nourish her own soul in some fashion. This verse came to mind, as God is the One who nourishes us. I meant it figuratively. God gives us food for our souls. Muller (and probably the Bible, as well) meant it literally.
"May He fill our hearts with gratitude for this fresh deliverance! May He enable me to trust more in Him and to wait patiently for His help." I like the reminder of gratitude, especially as I read this in the Thanksgiving season.
It's interesting to me that one of the sins that Muller struggled against was irritability. I have actually known someone like that, with faith in God for the big things, but easily frustrated with the little things. I can probably also be like that, to some extent, myself. But the knowledge that Muller wrestled irritability made him appear more human to me.
"I am in continual need. If left to myself I should fall a prey to Satan. Pride, unbelief or other sins would be my ruin. I cannot stand for a moment left to myself. O, that none of my readers might think that I could not be puffed up by pride, and think of me as being beyond unbelief. No, I am as weak as ever."
I have seen, and even used George Muller's method of keeping track of prayer requests and answers, although I did not know it had originated with him. (Perhaps it didn't; perhaps he only popularized it and used it.) However, in my teen years, when I did this, I didn't have the patience to keep a very long list and go back to it to add a date-answered. One of my earliest prayer requests had a waiting time of 6 years, and by then I'm not sure I knew where the prayer journal was.
I've come into the habit instead, of writing scraps of paper about answered prayers and putting them in our Answered Prayer jar, to look at on New Year's in remembrance of all God has done for us in the old year. I limit it to answered prayers involving our family, though, or else it would overflow too often.
It was interesting the way that Muller would try to determine God's will. I liked that he shunned both "feeling or simple impressions" and listening to the Spirit "alone," without the Word of God. "The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also." As his final step, after all the rest, he determined if he felt at peace about it.
"I have recorded my petitions that when God has answered them, His name will be glorified."
"Because He delights in the prayers of His children, He had allowed us to pray so long to try our faith and to make the answer so much sweeter."
It's also key that Muller refused to ask God for things simply for his own desires, "to consume it upon our own lusts." They were real needs, and most often, for others. To me, that is part of asking in Jesus' name, asking for things that Jesus would ask for.
"Some who helped for a while may fall asleep in Jesus; others grow cold in the service of the Lord; others be as desirous as ever to help, but no longer able. But in leaning upon God, the Living God alone, we are beyond disappointment and beyond being forsaken because of death, or want of means, or want of love, or because of the claims of other work. How precious to have learned, in any measure, to be content to stand with God alone in the world, and to know that surely no good thing shall be withheld from us, while we walk uprightly!"
"Let not Satan deceive you in making you think you could not have the same faith, but that it is only for persons situated as I am."
"With every fresh trial, faith either increases by trusting God and getting help, or it decreases by not trusting Him."
"I cheerfully bear the trials and the precious joys of this life of faith if at least some of my fellow believers might see that a child of God does have power with Him by prayer and faith."
"Every day decreases the number of days that I have to stay on this earth. I therefore desire with all my might to work. There are vast multitudes of orphans to be provided for."
"We aim at this: that if any of the children do not turn out well, temporally or spiritually, and do not become useful members of society, it shall not at least be our fault."
"Should it be supposed .... by anyone in reading the details of our trials of faith during the year ... that we have been disappointed in our expectations or discouraged in the work, my answer is ... such days were expected from the commencement. Our desire is not that we may be without trials of faith, but that the Lord graciously be pleased to support us in the trial."
"The greater the difficulties, the easier the faith."
"The greater the trial, the sweeter the victory."
"George also stressed that a Christian's giving must be to the Lord. Other people may be the recipients, but gifts must be humbly offered not for the praise of man, but for the blessings of God."
"The living God is living still."
December 31, 2022
Kind of a slow read. (George Mueller’s life does not include a ton of action. Also, a lot of the book is dedicated to his journal entries about answers to prayer.) In addition, some of Mueller’s theology was not great (for instance, his ecclesiology).
That said, this book pushed me in some really important ways. I read it has a teenager. Reading it again to my children in family devotions 20 years later, I was struck by how many of Murller’s ideas have stuck and affected my life, however poorly I have lived them out.
That said, this book pushed me in some really important ways. I read it has a teenager. Reading it again to my children in family devotions 20 years later, I was struck by how many of Murller’s ideas have stuck and affected my life, however poorly I have lived them out.
October 3, 2022
A rather dry telling of a very interesting story. I loved reading about all the incredible answers to prayer, but at times it felt a bit like I was reading a ledger. I wish there was more about the orphans and how Muller influenced their lives beyond providing a home fully paid for by answered prayer.
October 28, 2021
The story of this man of faith is awe inspiring. His keys: pray, trust and wait onGod. It’s unbelievable how God used him to care for so many orphans. The drawback of the book is too many details especially through the middle of the book.
September 8, 2018
George Mueller is quite a challenging Christian. I appreciated his faith in God.
July 14, 2019
What an incredible man of faith.
February 19, 2017
Good biography and I learned from it, but didn't like some of the book.
May 16, 2013
The story of George Muller is both fascinating and challenging. However, the writing of Bonnie Harvey is wooden. Even though we were excited about the topic and even some of the principles covered, reading this book was a dreary trek that we were happy to finish.
I would be interested in any recommendations from Goodreads readers of biographies on George Muller for children. This one certainly is not a keeper.
I would be interested in any recommendations from Goodreads readers of biographies on George Muller for children. This one certainly is not a keeper.
July 22, 2023
George Mueller is a role model and mentor even though he lived over 100 years prior. A man of extreme faith and confidence In his God. This is an encouraging read for me. This book is an annual read for me to keep me focused on higher things and working to grow my faith through trials and answered prayers.
Re-read in 2020. Great book as we are trying to sell and buy a house! Faith!!!!
Re x 2 read in 2021. Prayer about provision and growing in faith. George Mueller is a role model.
Re-read in 2020. Great book as we are trying to sell and buy a house! Faith!!!!
Re x 2 read in 2021. Prayer about provision and growing in faith. George Mueller is a role model.
June 12, 2012
A true story about a young clergyman who trusted in God to enable him to build a home for more than 2,000 orphans in mid-19th Century Bristol, England. The book is very heavy on faith and basic Christianity. I found it highly inspirational.
April 27, 2012
His story was compelling. I think if I would have choosen a book by a different author it might have been a better read. So yeah. Great life. Great tesitmony.
September 15, 2012
Inspired to pray more.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews