Faith in His Attributes

I am departing from my attribute list because I wanted to share two different attributes of God that I found while reading Romans 4. The passage from verses 13 to 25 describes the faith of Abraham to believe God for His promise - for which, God accounted it to him as righteousness; we have the same righteousness accounted to us when we believe. But, in the midst of these verses, in a chapter I once memorized for a Beth Moore Bible Study, two attributes of God stood out:

1. God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did (verse 17)
2. God, who is able to perform what he has promised (verse 21)

Abraham believed "contrary to hope" what was spoken to him (verse 18). He did not look at the circumstances around him or at his own physical limitations (verse 19). Instead, it says, "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to perform" (verses 20-21).

The reason Abraham could stand firm in his faith, believing on the promises of God, is because he knew God, and, moreover, he knew the attributes of God. He knew God to be the creator of life, the only one who could plant the seed of his offspring; he knew God to be able to perform that which he had promised. When we stand on who God is, what we know of Him, our faith is strengthened, and we can believe him for His promises.

I will believe contrary to hope. I will not get discouraged by circumstances. I will not waver in unbelief. I will be fully convinced my God is able! Will you?