George Mueller was a 19th-century minister in England whose approach to discerning God’s will helped Pastor Joy Matos tremendously. He is most remembered for his orphanage work.

Here are some key details about George Mueller:

  • Orphanages and Ministry:
    • God led Mueller to open the Scriptural Knowledge Institute and an orphanage.
    • By the time of his death, he had built four orphan houses that cared for 2,000 children at a time.
    • These orphanages collectively provided for more than 10,000 children.
  • Financial Provision:
    • Mueller distributed over $8 million that was given to him, not through fundraising campaigns, but in answer to prayer.
    • Despite handling such vast sums for his ministry, his own worldly possessions were valued at only $800 when he died at the age of 93.
  • Method for Discerning God’s Will: Mueller’s method for knowing and doing God’s will, as described by Henry Blackaby (from whom the pastor learned about Mueller), involves several steps that transformed the pastor’s faith journey:
    1. Submission of Will: First, he would get his heart into a state where it had “no will of its own regarding a given matter.” This is considered the hardest part, a place of submission like Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, “not my will but thine be done”.
    2. Seek God’s Spirit and Word: He would then seek the will of the Spirit of God in connection with the Word of God (the Bible). He stressed that both the spirit and the word must be combined, as relying on feelings or impressions alone can lead to “great delusions.” He believed the Holy Ghost guides according to scriptures and never contrary to them.
    3. Consider Providential Circumstances: Mueller would also take into account providential circumstances, which he believed often plainly indicate God’s will when connected with His word and spirit. For instance, he observed thousands of orphan children on the streets of England who had no one to care for them.
    4. Prayer for Revelation: He would ask God in prayer to reveal His will.
    5. Deliberate Judgment and Peace: Through prayer, study of the Word, and reflection, he would arrive at a “deliberate judgment”. If his mind was at peace and remained so after two or three more petitions, he would proceed accordingly.

Learning about Mueller’s process significantly helped Pastor Matos in discerning God’s voice, and these steps are recommended for both personal and church-wide decision-making. Biographies about George Mueller are available and encouraged for further reading.