The Bible teaches us that through the finished work of the cross, we can overcome in this life and live in the fulfilment of God's promises. Mark 11:23-24, tells us how to practically do this. It says that if a man doesn't "...doubt at all in his heart but believes what he says... it will be done for him...whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]." Jesus makes a point of repeating the principle of believing in our hearts, and speaking it out in order to receive. It's certainly not an uncommon principle for a child of God, since it's exactly how we came into the kingdom of God. Romans 10:9-10 says if you, "... confess with your lips... and in your heart believe... you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes,... and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. When we believe God's promises from His Word, and with our words, confess what we believe, the Bible says we confirm it as being ours, and we will have it. Now, with this in mind, let's look at our verse for the day, Ecclesiastes 9:1. The promise is that the righteous and wise, and their works are in the hand of the Lord. The writer said he first considered this promise in his heart, so that he could declare it. There's that principle again, first believe in your heart, then declare what you believe so it can be established. Job 22:28 says the same thing. Now does that mean we can live as we please, simply believe a promise in our hearts, speak it out, and then receive whatever we say? You'd be a fool to believe that. In 1 Timothy 1:19, Paul clearly taught that if we deliberately sin and are not living after God, our conscience will not be clear, and we will not have the confidence to trust the Lord. He said our faith will be shipwrecked. So let's follow after God with our whole hearts, believe His promises, declare them over our lives, and walk in the reality of their abundance!