Before believing in God, I thought life was a series of random, chance events. I’m sure most people would expect atheists to see life this way. But I am concerned by how many Christians are still living with this same worldview. All too often we are still looking at life through glasses that say, “Everything in life is luck,” as credited to President Donald Trump.

This morning, while reading Ephesians 1, I was impressed by how many words of “intentionality” are used. God blessed us. God chose us. God predestined us according to the purpose of His will. God works all things according to the counsel of His will.

If you find yourself going through a struggle today, remind yourself that God has a will and a purpose. Tell your own soul that God is always at work even when you can’t see Him. Choose to believe the truth that life is not “all about luck.”

– TWIG

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:3-12 ESV

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV