How to Ascertain the Will of God

By George Muller

We are going to look at the process that George Muller used to make decisions according to God’s will in his life time.  He is known for his faith in God and his trust in the Lord to provide the needs for the orphanages that he started in England. He never asked anyone for help or provision except God through prayer. Many miraculous stories concerning the supply and care of those orphans are recorded for us today. Let’s look at his description of how to ascertain the will of God and see what we can learn from it.

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 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.

• The state of your heart, [Ps.66:18] sin, [Jer.17:9] wickedness
• The surrender to the will of God, not yours, [Rom.12:1-2] a living sacrifice
• Being content with the answer, no matter what it may be, [1Tim.6:6] great gain

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

• Never based on “feelings”, you will give place for the devil, [Eph.4:27]
• Never based on “your understanding”, [Prov.3:5-6]

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.

• According to the Scriptures and never contrary
• Guided by the Holy Spirit, [John 16:13-14], will guide you in all truth, to find the will of God

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His word and Spirit.

• The ability to see God’s hand in circumstances, open doors [Col.4:3] [Rev.3:8]
• It often takes much more time for God to affect circumstance than we are willing to allow

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

• You must ask, [James 4:2]
• You must be able to ascertain the answer, the flesh may get in the way – fasting will help find the will ofGod

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

• Not only prayer and study of God’s words but reflection, Meditation [Josh.1:8][1Tim.4:11-15]
• According to the best of your ability, you may need counsel
• A peace that continues, only when you are in the will of God [Phil.4:6-7]
• Useful for trivial and very important matters, [Mk.10:27] All things are possible with God.