I don't consider myself a particularly superstitious person, and I don't really believe in the concept of "luck." It's a good thing, too, since my great granddaddy on my daddy's side was only part Irish! Not much "Luck 'O the Irish" to lean on there! Still, I suppose I use the phrases "good luck," "I lucked out," and "my lucky day" as much as the next person. Then, there was the matter of my "Lucky Peso" which I mailed to one of my Gulf War pen pals just before the fighting started. And I will admit that when I was in school, I had a certain set of pencils which I always used when I took a test. But that was more obsessive-compulsive behavior than a belief in some mysterious power within the pencils themselves! Yes, I believe in a lot of things, but "luck" and "chance" and "fate" are not among them. I'm not saying that I believe that God, the Creator of the Universe, actually redirects His attention from the suffering of the hungry babies in the Sudan just to be sure that I get a good parking space at the grocery store! But I do believe that His divine love, mercy, and provision are always at work for our benefit.People argue whether it is right for Christians to question why bad things happen to good people. I personally find it more amazing that we are genuinely surprised when good things happen to good people!We have all kinds of assurances in God's word that wonderful things lie in store for those who place their trust in God. He says that when we delight ourselves in Him, we can have even the desires of our heart (Psalm 37: 4). He says that He is able to do for us even more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). There is the daily assurance of His love and mercy toward us (Lamentations 3: 22-23). He says that whatever we want, whatever we would have happen, we need only ask for it in His name, in accordance with His will, and it will be done (John 14: 13-14; I John 5: 14-15).If we have our minds and hearts focused on God, then we can expect blessings, not only in the hereafter, but in the here and now. We should always be aware that we are not excused from hardship in this life (John 16:33), but life is still good and worth the living. Furthermore, we need to know that blessings are not necessarily material in nature (Matthew 6: 19-21). But we can be sure of them just the same. It requires a great deal of dedication and real transformation, even a re-evaluation of our priorities (Romans 12: 2). But blessings and mercy, peace, joy, and true happiness belong to those who love God. No luck required!
People argue whether it is right for Christians to question why bad things happen to good people. I personally find it more amazing that we are genuinely surprised when good things happen to good people!
We have all kinds of assurances in God's word that wonderful things lie in store for those who place their trust in God. He says that when we delight ourselves in Him, we can have even the desires of our heart (Psalm 37: 4). He says that He is able to do for us even more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). There is the daily assurance of His love and mercy toward us (Lamentations 3: 22-23). He says that whatever we want, whatever we would have happen, we need only ask for it in His name, in accordance with His will, and it will be done (John 14: 13-14; I John 5: 14-15).
If we have our minds and hearts focused on God, then we can expect blessings, not only in the hereafter, but in the here and now. We should always be aware that we are not excused from hardship in this life (John 16:33), but life is still good and worth the living. Furthermore, we need to know that blessings are not necessarily material in nature (Matthew 6: 19-21). But we can be sure of them just the same. It requires a great deal of dedication and real transformation, even a re-evaluation of our priorities (Romans 12: 2). But blessings and mercy, peace, joy, and true happiness belong to those who love God. No luck required!
