BELIEVE

All he had to hold on to was a promise spoken to him over twenty years ago. He was rich now, and respected by his neighbors, but Sarah was still barren, her womb apparently dead and his own aging body was nearing one hundred years. 

He had even taken matters into his own hands and just been told that Ishmael would not be counted the heir. The Lord clarified that Sarah would bear a son within a year, and that Abram would now become Abraham - "Father of a multitude". 

Abram did what we are called to do, against all hope in hope he believed. He chose to deny the fact of Sarah's dead womb and to disregard his own body almost as good as dead. He did not allow these facts to stagger him into a state of disbelief, but strengthened himself BY FAITH! Denying every physical evidence, he chose to fix his hope upon the One who had power to do what that One had promised -

 Abram BELIEVED and Sarah CONCEIVED! 

Abram became Abraham and his hope became reality. The Lord saw and said it was good and Abram's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 

The Lord is looking for the same heart in us. Will the Son of man find us hoping against hope when He returns? He is watching us even now. Are we denying what we see in our own weaknesses and fixing our hope in His power to complete what He promised? If we believe as Abraham did, it will be credited to us as righteousness. If we shrink back, He will take no pleasure in us - but all things are possible for those who believe!