Praying With A Strong Faith

Have you had situations in your life that really required an answer to your prayers? Perhaps you need a strong faith in God’s financial provision, or guidance, or taking a step of faith. Is there some adverse circumstance with no resolution which will only be rectified through answered prayer and total dependence on God?

George Muller (pronounced “Mewler”) was a man of tremendous faith who lived in the 19th century. He started orphanages for thousands of children. George lived his life and provided for the basic needs of his large family of orphans without ever asking anyone for money. He was a very praying man who totally depended on God for his daily provisions. Muller “prayed without ceasing”(I Thess. 5:17), and followed the teaching of Philippians 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Muller’s faith was tried every time he opened a new orphanage and took in more and more fatherless children. When he prayed for a specific amount of money, God always answered his prayers just when he needed it. God answering his prayers in turn led to a stronger and stronger faith, which resulted in more answered prayers.

(The following abridged quote is taken from the book, “George Muller, Man of Faith” by Bonnie Harvey, Barbour Publishing, pages 88-90, used by permission of the publisher).

“In giving advice gained through the daily trials of his faith, George offered certain rules profitable for Christians to follow and be strengthened in their faith. Simply put, they are:

1. Carefully read the Bible and meditate on it. Through reading the Word of God, and especially through meditation on it, we become acquainted with the nature and character of God. Besides God’s holiness and justice, we realize what a kind, loving, gracious, merciful, mighty, wise, and faithful Father he is. Therefore, in poverty, affliction, death of loved ones, difficulty in service, or financial need, we will rest on the ability of God to help us.

2. We must maintain an upright heart and a good conscience and not knowingly and habitually indulge in things which are contrary to the heart of God. How can I continue to act in faith if I grieve the Lord and detract from his glory and honor? All my confidence in God and all my leaning on him in the hour of trial will be gone if I have a guilty conscience and yet continue in sin…With every fresh trial, faith either increases by trusting God and getting help, or it decreases by not trusting him. A habit of self-dependence is either defeated or encouraged.

3. If we desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried. The more I am in a position to be tried by faith, the more I will have the opportunity of seeing God’s help and deliverance.

4. The last important point for the strengthening of our faith is that we let God work for us and do not work a deliverance of our own…If we do not patiently wait for God’s help or if we work a deliverance of our own, then at the next trial of our faith we will have the same problem.”

God, help us to develop a strong faith by leaning on you in the times of testing. May we be in an attitude of perpetual prayer and seeing answers, resulting from a strong faith. In Jesus name, Amen!