Answered Prayer

George Muller who, in the mid-1830s, cared for over 2,000 orphans in England - all by faith in God. He was known as the man who got answers to his prayers. Before he died, he had listed in his journals over 50,000 answers to prayer.

When asked how he determined the will of God on any matter, Muller listed the following steps he believed were necessary:

1. I get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to any particular matter.
2. I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impressions. That can make one open to great delusions.
3. I seek God's will through or in connection with his word. If you look to the Spirit without the word, you open yourself to delusion.
4. I consider providential circumstances (God-controlled circumstances).
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal his will to me.
6. I make sure I have a clear conscience before God and man.
7. Every time I listened to men instead of God, I made serious mistakes.
8. I act only when I am at peace, after much prayer, waiting on God with faith.