Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

I Corinthians 10:1-5 NKJV

It is possible for people to be in the same church, listen to the same sermon, live in the same City, under the same sociopolitical circumstances, be instructed by the same coach, have the same spiritual experience, but turn out differently. It is possible to have the same opportunities, same gifting yet have different outcomes in life. The things that make the difference are within us and not outside of ourselves. Whom to blame or credit does not exist outside of us. Circumstances good or bad don’t determine our lives, but what we do with them and how we respond to them.

While we don’t have control over what others do, what they believe, and other external factors which impact upon our lives, the internal factors which we are capable of determining and which actually make the difference are within our control. These factors include; perspective, the value you ascribe to the teachings received, what you do with what you have received, choice, discernment, patirnce and perseverance.

How do all of the above affect our outcomes? Find out in tomorrow’s devotional.

To be continued…