Luck or Blessings?
Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day and many of us are aware that green is significant to the March 17th holiday. But, did you know blue was the original color of choice for this jolly occasion. Every year, this Catholic based event is celebrated in various ways around the world. Chicago, for instance, dyed their city’s river green in honor of the Irish themed event. In conjunction, other towns hosted food exhibits, parades, and festivals.
Many of today’s partygoers who attend these outings are clueless to the religious origin of this day. They, instead, have adopted secular views, which started long before the Irish began observing this feast over 1000 years ago. One common belief that this non-Irish population shares is the existence of a worldly principle called Luck.
Turn to any news program and you will likely hear a story of how someone survived ‘Against All Odds’ due to their fortune in luck. Scenarios could include anything from a child recovering from a poisonous snake or spider bite to a victim escaping a sadistic rapist. But, these types of tales aren’t always gruesome. Other narrations could include a family being awarded a brand new, custom built home after their previous one was destroyed by a fire. In addition, it’s always nice to hear when a struggling actor or artist finally gets their ‘Big Break into Hollywood.’ Sadly though, it’s rare to hear people credit a miracle of God as the source of overcoming a near impossible ordeal.
This is the very reason the Holy Spirit helped me to understand years ago that there is no such thing as luck! Why do I say that, you might ask? It’s quite simple really. Luck originates from a pagan (non-Christian) mindset that refuses to acknowledge God’s blessings but instead, accepts worldly concepts and symbolisms. These superstitious symbols include images such as four-leaf clovers, Rabbit’s Foot, Peace Signs, wishbones, horseshoes, and Pots of Gold. None of which are biblically based, by the way.
Let’s take it a step further. How many times have you seen or read an interview of a person who experienced horrific suffering? Then are later astounded when that same person never acknowledges God openly for their deliverance. He or she basically claims that “they were lucky” to survive. A statement (or belief) such as this is dangerous to our relationship with God because it ignores His daily presence in our life. Psalm 94:17-18 NIV says, “Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O Lord, supported me.” There is something to be said for not taking the Lord’s blessings (however small) for granted. Make no mistake luck is created by chance or coincidence, whereas blessings are rewards of faith from God.
Once we proclaim ourselves as Women of God, people will begin to watch how we react to the good things that occur in our life. As a result, we must always acknowledge the greatness of our Heavenly Father and give credit where it is due; to Him. Can you imagine how hurt we would be if someone else received appreciation for our hard work and dedication. To that point, envision how the Lord must feel when we foolishly go around honoring a dead Rabbit’s Foot for a breakthrough blessing in place of Him? Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?
Beloved, we must never forget what Jesus promised in Luke 12:8 NIV, which says, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.” Therefore, we have to be ever so careful how we publicly explain our deliverance of strongholds and tribulations. We can either proclaim the powerless belief of luck or the eternal blessings of our Holy Creator.
