As a Christian, do you depend more on luck or faith? It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and you’ll likely see and hear phrases about luck in them. Do you believe in luck, even just a little bit?

I can’t say that I’ve felt much of a pull toward luck in my life. But I do like finding a $20 bill in my coat pocket or discovering that I get an unexpected refund. In my mind, the first thought is usually “I’m lucky today” rather than “Thank you, God.” That may have happened to you as well.

If you struggle with the concept of luck vs. faith, I’ve written a devotion just for you today. It’s intended to be sanctifying, meaning that it helps you become more like God. That’s why it’s an important concept to consider, though luck is usually a lighthearted term in our culture.

I’m honored to write about luck and faith at LifeLetter Cafe today. Here’s a preview of my post, and I hope you’ll head over to read the rest.

Luck or Faith?

Do you use the phrase, “Good luck?” You’re probably hearing about luck now, since this devotion publishes on St. Patrick’s Day. If you use that phrase, do you really believe in luck?

It’s easy to say “good luck” and even hope for your life to be lucky. The world tempts us to use luck as a casual way of wishing for better things. We may consider it harmless, but that’s not how God sees it.

In God’s eyes, luck does not exist. He is the only one in control. To him, luck is just as meaningless as the wooden idols that tempted the Israelites. We too have modern-day idols that we hope we will receive with luck.

The concept of luck competes with God’s power. Every time you see the phrase “cast lots” in Scripture, God was 100 percent in charge of the way they fell. When the disciples had to replace Judas Iscariot, they cast lots in a spirit of fairness. God directed those lots to fall exactly how he wanted, and he chose Matthias as the replacement.

My LifeLesson

I confess that I’ve sometimes prayed for selfish reasons. Maybe I didn’t believe in luck, but I thought that I knew best what I wanted. So I prayed for things that weren’t good for me, hoping that God’s will would bend to my liking. That didn’t work out so well.

You may have felt that way before too. It isn’t easy to trust that God will answer your prayer or direct your life in the way you want. It’s hard to wait for an answer you can’t control, and it’s really difficult when you don’t get the answer you want.

Faith is trusting that God is perfectly in control. If you were able to roll virtual dice on an important decision in your life, would you trust that God would let the dice fall in the exact right pattern? Even if you get “snake eyes”? This is where your faith becomes vital to your spiritual growth.

Rather than placing your faith in luck, place it in the Lord God Almighty. He most likely does not have a pot of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow for you. Yet he offers you his loving presence, forgiveness, comfort, strength, friendship and so many other priceless treasures. He holds your future in the palm of his hand. Believe in his perfect control, and you’ll never need to depend on luck again.

My LifePrayer

Dear Father in heaven,

I affirm that you are 100 percent in control of my life. Help me to trust you more every day.

I want my faith to grow, Lord. I believe, but I ask you to help my unbelief. Show me the worthless things I put my faith in, and help me throw them away so I am totally focused on you instead.

Help me remember that I have all I need right now because I am your beloved child.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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