I have had this book for awhile now. I found it amongst Allen’s books. My intention is to post select portions as I read through this book. In this article, I begin with a quote from Muller on page four.
” I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period now (in March, 1895) that I ever sincerely and patiently sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been always directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not wait patiently upon God for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow man to the declaration of the Word of the living God, I made great mistakes.” George Muller
On page six is HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD, again by Geroge Muller
I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of it’s own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally 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 atate, it is usally but a little way to the knowlwdge of what His will is.
2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If 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 Scriptures and never contray to them.
4. Next I take into accoount 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 miind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.
“Open wide thy mouth”
In the account written by Mr. Muller dated January 16, 1836, respecting the Orphan-House intended to be established in Bristol [England] in connection witht the Scriptual Knowledge Institution for Home and Broad, we read, ‘On December 5th, the subject of my prayer all at once became different. I was reading Psalm 81:10″Open wide thy mouth and I will fill it.” I thought a few moments about these words, and then was led to apply them to the case of the Orphan-House. It struck me that I had never asked the Lord for anything concerning it, except to know His will, respecting its being established or not; and then I fell to my knees and opened my mouth wide, asking Him for much. I asked in submission to His will, and without fixing a time when He shoould answer my petition. I prayed that He would give me a house, i.e., either as a loan, or that one might be given permanantly for this object; further, I asked Him for £1000; and likewise for suitable individuals to take care of the children. Besides this, I have been since led to ask the Lord to put it into the hearts of His people to send me articles of furniture for the house, and some clothes for the children. When I wasasking the petition, I was fully aware of what I was doing, i.e., that I was asking for something that I had no natural prospect of obtaining from the brethern whom I know, but which was not too much for the Lord to grant.’ December 10, 1835 – ‘This morning I recieved a letter, in which a brother and sister wrote thus, “We propose ourselves for the service of the intended Orphan-House, if you think us qualified for it; also to give up all the furniture , etc., which the Lord has given us, for its use; and to do this without recieving any salary whatever; believing that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, He will supply all our needs, etc.”‘
This book was published by The Bible Institue Colportage Association, Chicago, and complied by A.E.C. Brooks. No date is given.