Gary Player, the great golfer, was completing the final hole in the final round of an important tournament. His ball landed in the sand trap and it appeared as though he would not win. He walked into the bunker, looked at his ball and then the green, and then positioned himself for a make-or-break swing. Finally, he blasted the ball with all of his might, it went up into the air and rolled into the cup!

One of his spectators shouted, “You were sure lucky, Gary!”

“Yes,” he replied, “but the more I practice and the harder I work, the luckier I get!”

Luck waits for someone or something to turn up and bring good fortune. It spends countless hours looking into the future believing that there will be a turn of events, an unanticipated shower of good things falling from the clouds, an unexpected opportunity that comes in the mail or over the phone. It seems to suggest that if we wait long enough, patiently enough, quietly enough, good things will happen.

Some think that chance happenings, good or bad, are a result of one’s “luck.” Is there such a thing? Is there a reference to it in God’s Word? No. But He does say that we are to seek and trust His understanding of things, not ours.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, not to wait and wonder, but to work and watch for signs and signals that give us Your directions. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

A Chinese farmer had only one son and one horse. Nothing else in life mattered much to him. One night his horse ran off. His neighbors came to console him and said, "What bad luck!"

Later the horse returned and brought twelve wild horses with him. The neighbors, hearing the news, gathered at his home and rejoiced with him saying, "What good luck!"

While taming one of the wild horses, the son fell and severely broke his leg. The neighbors gathered once again and with remorse said, "What bad luck!"

Soon after this their warlord was engaged in a battle and took all of the able-bodied men to war – except the son. None of the men returned. But the son, left behind, led a long and productive life.

Was it the Lord or was it luck?

Every event that occurs in our lives is open to interpretation. The discerning mind sees God.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to realize Your presence and power in our lives and see Your hand at work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Romans 8:26