This verse of Scripture has gotten me through some of the most difficult times of my life. It reminds me that "against all odds, when it looked hopeless," Abraham not only became a father in his old age, but the father of many nations. How did he manage that? He believed God's promise and "expected God to fulfill it." In the Christian walk, our expectations help to decide what we are able to receive from the Lord. Without our belief that God will actually fulfill His promises to us, we will forfeit some of His very best blessings.

Sometimes, we will be listening to a teaching or a sermon, and we will hear a Scriptural promise that the Holy Spirit will make come alive on the inside of us. We could be reading our Bibles, and a verse will light up or jump off the page for us. We may be looking at our little book of Promises one morning, and that afternoon, the Lord will have us read the same promise again somewhere else, or have us hear someone else speak it to us. That is confirmation from the Lord. Then we can pray and stand on that promise until it manifests according to God's perfect will and timing.

We don't judge God's Word and promises by our experiences - or anyone else's. This is where a lot of people miss it. Believing God's Word is not a feeling, but a decision. It honors God when we believe His Word over our circumstances. Imagine Abraham saying, "Well, I don't know a single person who has had children in their old age, so why should I believe that it could happen to me?" If Abraham had had such a doubtful mindset, he would have missed out on his God-given destiny, and we wouldn't be talking about him thousands of years later.

The second half of this verse in Romans 4:18 says, "He took God at His word, and as a result he became the father of many nations." How do we get the kind of results that Abraham did? We take God at His Word. We pray God's promises back to Him, expecting Him to fulfill them according to His will and timing. Isaiah 55:11 (AMP) says: "So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void (useless, without result), without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Hallelujah! If you want your prayers to be more effective, then learn to pray promise-centered prayers, instead of problem-centered prayers. Ask the Lord to teach you how, and watch Him fulfill your dreams against all odds!

Prayer: Lord, show me which promises You would like me to receive as my own today, and enable me to expect You to fulfill them. Help me to never judge Your Word by my experience, or anyone else's, but to always make a quality decision to take You at Your Word. Teach me how to pray effective, promise-centered prayers that always get results. Thank You that even when things look hopeless, You will fulfill Your promises to me against all odds!