Born in Prussia in 1805, George Muller’s youth was marked with lying, stealing and drinking.

When he was 16 years old, he spent several weeks in jail for not paying his hotel bills. A few years later, his father convinced him to study theology, only because he thought this would be Muller’s best chance to earn a good living.

A year after he enrolled in Halle University to prepare for the ministry, Muller was invited to a home Bible study and there surrendered his life to Christ. This turning point in his life was evidenced by the abrupt abandonment of his former lifestyle.

Upon graduation, Muller moved to England, became a minister and exemplified a life of prayer.

He began the Scriptural Knowledge Institute for the purpose of supporting missionaries, supplying Bibles and providing religious education.

In addition, moved by the large number of homeless orphans who begged for food, he opened an orphanage. Eventually, he had five large orphan houses built which, in his lifetime, provided for more than 10,000 children.

To meet the vast financial needs, he prayed. Muller believed that God was able to provide the resources so he never asked anyone for money.

He brought his requests to God, left them there and is quoted as saying, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.”

Over the course of his life, Muller distributed more than $8,000,000 he had received in answer to prayer, and died in 1898 with his own possessions valued at $800.

He also left a legacy to each of us: an example of what God can do through someone who lets Him.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.