Christians believe in certain things. One of those things isn’t luck.

Luck is the idea that everything unfolds according to chance. According to that line of thinking, God is neither almighty nor active.

Granted, someone might say “What luck!” when it’s sunny on the same day they decide to go for a picnic. But any true belief in a luck-alone universe stands in contrast to the rulership of God.

In the 12th century a monk named Guigo sent a letter to a friend. He talked about being watchful as one of God’s people: “Become a recruit of Christ and stand guard in the camp of the heavenly army, watchful with your sword on your thigh against the terrors of the night.”*

Guigo was speaking about humans being watchful. His reference to a sword was not a physical sword, but a spiritual one. He was most certainly referring to the word of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:17.

But in Psalm 121 the sentiment is the other way around. It is the Lord who is being watchful over his people—twenty-four seven, seven days a week—against the terrors of darkness. Verses 5 and 6 say: “The LORD watches over you… the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Luck shmuck.

Have you been blessed? Has God claimed you as his own and entrusted his promises to you? Do you have people who care about you? Do you have people to care about? Do you have food to eat and a roof over your head? Have you benefited from teachers or helpers? Have you ever experienced joy or purpose?

Thank God, not luck.

Secretly and silently, we can let certain ideas infiltrate our hearts—like the one which says that God is like a distant uncle who you only see at Christmas (and perhaps Easter), but who isn’t really close, caring, personal or powerful. When that happens we start to feel alone, apathetic, unloved and in constant danger.

But the Lord is in fact on guard. Don’t spit on his feet by crediting your blessings to luck.

Be thankful. Be confident. The Lord watches over you, even now.

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Notes:

–*Tim Peeters, When Silence Speaks (Darton Longman & Todd Ltd, 2015), 82.

–“God helps those who… ask for help.” Sermon on Psalm 121. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.