Nothing Good Happens To You By Chance
It Is Always Because God Is Busy Working On Your Case
Whatever positive experiences you've encountered in your life so far haven't occurred by mere chance; simply because the adversary would never allow it.
Adversary – English
Satan – Hebrew
It’s definitely time to swap the energy we’re investing in thinking about the unpleasant experiences we’ve had in life with the good ones - past and present. Instead of using our energy to delve into the unpleasant, we should be using it to emphasize and think upon the good.
If you ever need to be reminded of any mistakes you've made, unjust things that have happened to you, or anything that you desire to move beyond, the adversary will always be there to remind you, condemn you, and beat you over the head with it if you allow. There's really no need to dwell on experiences that have wounded you, because if you ever need a reminder, the adversary will be there to do just that.
There Is No Such Thing as Good Luck
Definitions
Luck: (a) a force that brings about good fortune or adversity. (b) the events or circumstances that work for or against an individual. (c) favoring chance. - Merriam-Webster.com
Blessing: (a) fill with benefits. (b) praise, fortune, make happy, speak well of. - Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 223-224
There is no such thing as good luck, but there is such a thing as a good blessing. We frequently employ the term "luck" to characterize something favorable or unfavorable that we perceive as occurring by chance, seemingly out of nowhere. However, when we contemplate our actuality and scrutinize our views or beliefs about the concept of "luck," we swiftly regain our rationality and come to our senses.
How many things in our life happen by chance? Do we get out of bed by chance? Do we eat, sleep, or fulfill our responsibilities by chance? We do not. All of these things occur because we decided to do them since life requires them to be done.
There are, however, forces, events and circumstances that operate for and against us, but they don’t do so by chance.
The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. John 10:10 KJV
The adversary/devil, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Jesus comes to give us life in great abundance.
If we believe in the words of the Holy Bible, we are compelled to acknowledge that Jesus informed us about the forces working for and against us.
I believe that by now, everyone has acknowledged the existence of both forces of good and evil. We primarily experience these forces through human nature. There are people who willingly commit acts of goodness, and there are those who do otherwise. Though we experience these forces most prevalently in human nature, human nature is not the source of them. John 10:10 tells us that the respective sources of these forces of good and evil are the God of the Bible and the adversary.
For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 6:12 CJB
Hence, what we are truly experiencing is not good luck, but rather, good blessings. 'Good' refers to intentional benefits brought forth by the God of the Holy Bible, while 'evil' signifies intentional harm brought upon humanity by the enemy of God’s most prized possession: man.
PSA - Public Service Announcement
If you were informed that a convicted serial killer has escaped imprisonment and is currently on the loose in your neighborhood with deadly weapons, how vigilant would you be when you're outside in your community?
You would exercise much more caution and care when outside, as a natural self-preservation response to this newly discovered threat to your existence.
Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 ASV
In light of this verse, 1 Peter 5:8 ASV, I want to inform you that there is an adversary who is even more dangerous to your very existence than a serial killer running around in your neighborhood.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 AV
While a serial killer has the capability to destroy the body, they will never possess the ability to destroy the soul. The point is that since the devil has made it his primary objective to destroy you, the enemy has devised a search and destroy mission for your body and soul. Therefore, anything positive that has occurred in your life has never happened by chance. The devil will never allow anything good to happen to you, as he is on a deliberate mission to destroy you and every positive aspect of your being.
You Never Get Lucky
You Never Get Lucky; You'll Only Receive a Blessing or a Curse.
We shouldn't outlaw the word 'luck' because it doesn't truly exist; it's just a figure of speech (laugh out loud). What we should delve into is our positive experiences and dwell on them, acknowledging God for His mercy, unfailing love and unrelenting - obsessive commitment to us.
We need to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that any good that happens to us is because God’s army is unwavering in the battle for our souls.
He who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3 AMP
The only thing that truthfully explains the reality of bad things happening to good people, and even worse, good things happening to bad people, is the words of the scriptures. Specifically, Ephesians 6:12 and John 10:10.
While we often find ourselves inclined to believe in luck, chance, or happenstance, our blessings are deliberate, planned and triggered by specifics. They are so intentional that we possess the ability to influence the blessings that manifest in our lives. While we may not have complete power over adversity, we do have authority and control over the positive aspects. We can make decisions that invite the blessings of God into our lives.
We Have Control Over Our Blessings
There are many ways through which we control the blessings that enter and leave our lives. We possess this control over our blessings because we are created in the image and likeness of God.
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule” Genesis 1:26 CJB
After God created man, He gave man the authority to rule and have control over his environment. One of the ways in which we have control over the blessings that enter and leave our lives is through our speech.
As God created the world with His words, so we possess the ability to create our environment and experiences with our words.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Proverbs 18:21 AMP
Essentially, whoever or whatever you obey is the source from which your blessings will come. Therefore, if you desire the blessings of God, you'll need to obey His words. This isn't solely due to God's omnipotence and authority, but it's also about the principle of work, payment, labor, and rewards.
Be ye strong…for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 KJV
Don’t delude yourselves: no one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 CJB
For he will pay back each one according to his deeds. To those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance in doing good, he will pay back eternal life. But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey evil, he will pay back wrath and anger. Romans 2:6-8 CJB
If You Do God’s Work, You Receive God’s Pay
If you instruct your child to look in your secret hiding place and take out a hundred-dollar bill, but they don't obey you, they won't receive the hundred-dollar bill.
Once again, it's not about ‘do this because I said so’. It's about being obedient and being rewarded for your obedience. If we do God's work, we receive payment from God for doing His work. If we do the adversary’s work, we receive payment from the adversary.
Throughout Scripture, we are told repeatedly that our blessings come and go based on our decisions. If we want to be blessed, we must make a choice to be blessed.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 Now if you really obey the Lord your God’s voice, by carefully keeping all his commandments that I am giving you right now, then the Lord your God will set you high above all nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and find you if you obey the Lord your God’s voice. CEB
Deuteronomy 30:15 Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil. CJB
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants. CJB
During the time of wandering in the desert, God called heaven and earth to witness against the children of Israel. He presented two very simple options: life and blessing, or death and cursing. God continues to call us to choose in modern times. Our ability to make decisions is something that God has never taken away from mankind.
Some may wonder, if God is so loving, then why doesn't He just pour on our blessings without requiring anything? Anything worth having takes effort to obtain. In this life, anything you desire is in reach, but regardless of how simple it may be to obtain, you must follow the instructions necessary to acquire it.
If you want water, you must get up and head to the refrigerator or the faucet. If you want to take a walk outdoors, you must put on your shoes and step outside your door. If you desire to receive God’s blessings, you must follow God's instructions.
Why can't God simply bestow upon us all the good things and allow us to pursue whatever we desire, regardless of how reckless? Why doesn’t a parent give the car keys to a five year old and allow him to do what he wants? Parents that love their children will never do such a thing and neither will God do things that are never for the benefit of His children; those who have bowed down to Him because He is their Father and God.
We should always be aware that anyone can disobey God and walk outside of God’s realm of protection by choice; however, doing so is akin to walking outside in the rain without an umbrella on a cold day. There’s a chance you won’t get sick, but the longer you’re in the rain, that probability decreases. God is, so to speak, an umbrella — your protection on a cold rainy day.
You always have the option of walking out from under that umbrella, but be reminded: whenever you disobey God and step outside of His protection, you're in the crosshairs of a vicious and merciless enemy.
There is an adversary waiting to take advantage of an easy target, one with no protection. Once you step out from under God's protections (via some form of disobedience to His protective instructions), you're in an open field with literally no shield against an attack from your adversary, who is on a seek-and-destroy mission.
God Is Not Responsible for the Consequences of Our Disobedience
God is solely responsible for what He instructs us to do in His word. He bears responsibility towards His children, but not for the consequences of His children's decisions. This dynamic mirrors any parent-child relationship. A parent will often not face legal consequences for the bad decisions of their child. The child usually faces the consequences of his/her decisions.
God is obligated to care for us, but He is not obligated to give us a "get out of jail free" card. There are times when God will rescue us, and other times, we must learn a valuable lesson.
This is why it is important to habitually read the scriptures. They provide guidance on what you should or should not do, in accordance with God's will. The scriptures demonstrate the outcomes for people who went against God's intentions for them, and it's evident that such actions didn't lead to favorable results. The pain resulting from the consequences of their decisions always changed the trajectory of their lives in a devastating manner.
King Solomon, for example, chose to have many wives, despite God setting the precedent of one wife to one husband by creating Eve as Adam's sole partner. Solomon was led astray into idolatry, and the consequences of his backsliding are evident in the Book of Ecclesiastes and other scriptures. There is no wisdom that holds greater quality of life than the wisdom of God.
Filled with profound wisdom and regret, this is King Solomon’s conclusion: " When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 AMP
That was a painful experience for him, and in order to avoid unnecessary painful experiences, we're better off doing things God's way. It will not always be the easy way, but the better way.
God will not reward our disobedience. Therefore, if there is any aspect of your life in which you can be disciplined and readily obey God, it's best to start doing so immediately. It won't be easy, but it will be much easier than facing the consequences of disobeying God, walking out from under His divine protection and opening ourselves up to the adversary.
Legal Tender Worth More Than the Euro
And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant made on oath with your fathers: God will favor you and bless you and multiply you. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 Contemporary Torah
These blessings are commanded upon you, and God will not change His word. You might not believe this if you consider God to be a liar, but because we know and are confident that God is truthful, we can rely on this principle and exchange it for our blessings.
This law is legal tender, worth more than any paper currency, because God never leaves the faithful unrewarded. You can take God's word to the heavenly bank and receive whatever you've been promised in scripture. You may have to wait in line or wait for the teller, so to speak, but you will eventually be able to withdraw your reward.
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 KJV
He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:12 JKJV
If you don't believe in miracles, even though you're a walking miracle, it's time to begin believing. Billions of molecules and your DNA had to be replicated with 100% precision for you to be breathing and reading this right now. If you’re alive, you’re a miracle because it took a miracle to bring you through your mother’s womb.
Nothing Good Will Ever Happen to You By Chance Because The Adversary Will Never Allow It
Let’s revisit John 10:10 once again.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Joh 10:10 AV
This verse conveys something of great significance — that the adversary, described as a thief, is on a dedicated mission. The adversary has committed to making it his life’s purpose to invest his time in stealing any goodness from your life. He is not content with merely pilfering your joy, health, or purpose.
It's not enough for the adversary to merely steal from you. The adversary feels that he must also kill and destroy you. He aims to steal, then kill and destroy you, preventing you from ever enjoying the abundance of love, peace, mercy, and the higher quality of life that Jesus died for you to have.
Do you ever feel like you're constantly fighting a battle? If so, your gut feeling is echoing what reality already knows.
Who will protect you from bombardments and assaults on your life?
Only the forces of good; the forces of the living God can aid you. While having support and help from others is valuable, ultimately, only God can truly assist you in winning this battle.
According to the truthful Holy Bible, which has maintained its integrity and correctness for thousands of years, specifically within the books of Revelation and First John, it is written that we have already won this war.
And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony. Revelation 12:11 AMP
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world. 1 John 5:4-5 ESV
Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact? 1 John 5:5 AMP
Even though the war is already won, you still have smaller battles to fight. Be confident in God, walk in victory and enjoy the abundance of prosperity Christ died to give you in every aspect of your life.
Tough Love
God protects you from dangers that you weren't even aware were awaiting you.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Fight For Your Well-being
Since you are not fighting against a visible enemy, you will need the appropriate weapons.
2 Corinthians 10:4
AMPC For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.
CJB Because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds.
As is often said, it's unwise to bring a knife to a gunfight.
A Spiritual War Requires Spiritual Weapons. These are just a few of the weapons you must use to win this war for your life, your mind, soul, loved ones, and anything that holds significance in your life. Read the scriptures, specifically the book of Daniel to consistently learn more about spiritual war.
The Amor of God So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people. Ephesians 6:11-17 CJB
The Holy Spirit of God. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 KJV (The Holy Spirit is the part of God that is always with us).
Reverential fear of the Lord The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 CJB . Fear of the Lord opens us up to the wisdom, knowledge, and instructions from God.
Prayer and Fasting But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:21 AMPC. Prayer and fasting do what no other weapon can do: they break the pattern of any stubborn elements in your life.
Stand Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious] Ephesians 6:13 AMP.
Have Confidence in God Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward Hebrews 10:35 KJV. Have confidence in God and stand firm after you’ve done all the Holy Bible says to do.
Have Faith in God But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Hebrews 11:6 KJV. Demonstrate your confidence in God by following His guidance and consistently walking by faith.
Obedience to God’s word A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Deuteronomy 11:27-28 KJV
Take Action to Fight For Your Well-being
•Take at least 5 minutes, twice a day, to reflect on positive experiences you've had, no matter how small they may be. Did you wake up in good spirits? Have you heard any distressing personal news today? If not, contemplate those aspects. Replaying our positive experiences is significantly more advantageous for our mental health and our future.
•Rehearse Bible verses that (1) speak of God's blessings towards you and (2) provide instructions on how to fight this battle.
•Take 15 minutes daily to study the instructions and laws concerning blessings and curses. You may begin with Deuteronomy 28 and 30.
•Recite these verses and memorize them. Set an alarm to read these Bible verses before bed.
To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. Proverbs 11:18 KJV
Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. Jeremiah 31:16 KJV
The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:12 KJV
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 KJV
In summation, whenever we encounter a positive experience, we don't always delve into the details. We don't ponder the specifics; we simply accept the goodness and move forward, feeling joyful. However, we don't often approach negative experiences in the same manner. We question God and ourselves, analyzing the issue from every angle.
While we should retrace our steps to identify areas for improvement, we shouldn't excessively dwell on our negative experiences. This is because we tend to reinforce whatever we consistently replay in our minds.
An essential aspect of recognizing our positive experiences, far more than dwelling on the negative ones, is that we emphasize how blessed we truly are. Since nothing good happens to us by chance, we must celebrate and savor each goodness and its provider with daily gestures of thanksgiving and praise.
Prayer Appointment
• Make thanksgiving and praise a part of your daily prayer appointment.
• Ask God to show you how He is continually blessing you throughout the day.
• Ask Him to lead you step by step in developing a particular method that will help you learn how to focus on your positive experiences and blessings.
Answered Prayers Journal
What prayers has God answered this week? Did He answer them in ways that you were expecting?
What are three things God has done this month that you know did not happen by chance?
References
Contemporary Torah. Deuteronomy 7:12-14. Retrieved from https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.7.13?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Draper, Ph.D, C., Owen, Ph.D, C., & England, Ph.D, A. (Eds.). (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, Tennessee: Hollman Bible Publishers.
Scriptural Evidence
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.” Complete Jewish Bible
Deuteronomy 7:12-14 And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant made on oath with your fathers: God will favor you and bless you and multiply you—blessing your issue from the womb and your produce from the soil, your new grain and wine and oil, the calving of your herd and the lambing of your flock, in the land sworn to your fathers to be assigned to you. You shall be blessed above all other peoples: there shall be no sterile male or female among you or among your livestock. The Contemporary Torah
Deuteronomy 30:15 “Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil. Complete Jewish Bible
Deuteronomy 30:11-16 For this mitzvah which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, it is not beyond your reach. It isn’t in the sky, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will go up into the sky for us, bring it to us and make us hear it, so that we can obey it?’ Likewise, it isn’t beyond the sea, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea for us, bring it to us and make us hear it, so that we can obey it?’ On the contrary, the word is very close to you — in your mouth, even in your heart; therefore, you can do it! “Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil — in that I am ordering you today to love Adonai your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his mitzvot, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and Adonai your God will bless you in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it. Complete Jewish Bible
Deuteronomy 30:11-16 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. King James Version
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, loving Adonai your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him — for that is the purpose of your life! On this depends the length of time you will live in the land Adonai swore he would give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov.” Complete Jewish Bible
Psalm 62:12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. King James Version
Psalm 121:3-5 He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield]. Amplified Bible Classic Edition
Ephesians 6:12-18 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people. Complete Jewish Bible
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. CJB
Proverbs 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. King James Version
Jeremiah 31:16 Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. King James Version
Matthew 17:14-21 When they approached the multitude, a man came up to Him, kneeling before Him and saying, Lord, do pity and have mercy on my son, for he has epilepsy (is moonstruck) and he suffers terribly; for frequently he falls into the fire and many times into the water. And I brought him to Your disciples, and they were not able to cure him. And Jesus answered, O you unbelieving (warped, wayward, rebellious) and thoroughly perverse generation! How long am I to remain with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked privately, Why could we not drive it out? He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. King James Version
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. King James Version
Revelation 12:11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition