HOW I ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD---GEORGE MULLER

George Muller was a man with a reputation. It was a good reputation. His reputation was that he trusted God. In all the years of his orphanage in Britain, this brother, who was a Prussian immigrant, trusted in Christ. How did he know God's will? This is what he said:

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that
it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter.

Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling of
simple impression. If I do so, I make myself liable to great
delusions.

3. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection
with, 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. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will
do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These
often plainly indicate God's will in connection with his Word and
Spirit,

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and
reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best
of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and
continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accord-­
ingly.

In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.