When I took college statistics, I learned about outliers. What helped me understand outliers? A couple of unlikely cartoon shows from my early childhood, Underdog, and Rocky and Bullwinkle. (Yes, I’m just that shallow, and realize they are probably now considered politically incorrect.) Anyway, statistics and cartoons both taught me that we may predict a probable cause, like the roll of the dice or the winner of a major game, but rarely can predictions be made with absolute certainty.

St. Patrick’s successful ministry to Ireland wasn’t because he had the “luck of the Irish”; it was due to his faith and hard work. The shamrocks his hands once held weren’t for luck, they were tools used for teaching about the Holy Trinity. The more I read about St. Patrick, it seems he did his best and left the rest to God. To this gal, prayer, trust, and obedience is a much better plan than relying on luck or the roll of the dice, to make decisions, no matter how large or small.

The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

James 5:16b AMP