<P> Belief in the extent of Divine Providence varies; most acknowledge providence as at least a partial, if not complete influence on luck . Christianity, in its early development, accommodated many traditional practices which at different times, accepted omens and practiced forms of ritual sacrifice in order to divine the will of their supreme being or to influence divine favoritism . The concepts of "Divine Grace" or "Blessing" as they are described by believers closely resemble what is referred to as "luck" by others . </P> <P> Mesoamerican religions, such as the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, had particularly strong beliefs regarding the relationship between rituals and the gods, which could in a similar sense to Abrahamic religions be called luck or providence . In these cultures, human sacrifice (both of willing volunteers and captured enemies), as well as self - sacrifice by means of bloodletting, could possibly be seen as a way to propitiate the gods and earn favor for the city offering the sacrifice . An alternative interpretation would be that the sacrificial blood was considered as a necessary element for the gods to maintain the proper working order of the universe, in the same way that oil would be applied to an automobile to keep it working as designed . </P> <P> Many traditional African practices, such as voodoo and hoodoo, have a strong belief in superstition . Some of these religions include a belief that third parties can influence an individual's luck . Shamans and witches are both respected and feared, based on their ability to cause good or bad fortune for those in villages near them . </P> <P> Some encourage the belief in luck as a false idea, but which may produce positive thinking, and alter one's responses for the better . Others, like Jean - Paul Sartre and Sigmund Freud, feel a belief in luck has more to do with a locus of control for events in one's life, and the subsequent escape from personal responsibility . According to this theory, one who ascribes their travails to "bad luck" will be found upon close examination to be living risky lifestyles . In personality psychology, people reliably differ from each other depending on four key aspects: beliefs in luck, rejection of luck, being lucky, and being unlucky . People who believe in good luck are more optimistic, more satisfied with their lives, and have better moods . If "good" and "bad" events occur at random to everyone, believers in good luck will experience a net gain in their fortunes, and vice versa for believers in bad luck . This is clearly likely to be self - reinforcing . Thus, a belief in good luck may actually be an adaptive meme . </P>

Where did the phrase good luck come from