Billy Joe Daugherty - How to Turn Your Scars Into Stars

Contents

Chapter One

Stepping-stones or Stumbling Blocks?

By an act of your own will, you can decide to let God turn your scars into starsfrom stumbling blocks to stepping-stones! He can turn the bad things that have happened to you into something that will work for your good.

Sometimes bad things happen because of our own mistakes, faults, or sins. Sometimes they happen because of the mistakes of otherstheir shortcomings, sins and failures. Then, there are bad things that sometimes happen because we are doing something good. In such a case, it is an attack or an assault from the enemy to distract you from doing the will of God, but you can overcome it. Paul said, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" ( Timothy 3:12).

If you set your sails to go against the enemy, you will encounter some opposition and persecution for living in a godly manner. Do not become discouraged, however, because God says:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

In the life of Jesus as well as in the life of Paul, people didn't exactly stand up and cheer because they were healing the sick and casting out devils. While some people were happy, others were greatly disturbed and bent out of shape by these activities.

Stephen was stoned to death, and James was beheaded . Paul was persecuted constantly, not for doing wrong, but for doing right.

The good news for us is that Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Because Jesus has already overcome the world, we need to see ourselves from His perspectiveseated in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6)!

Chapter Two

Right Attitude for Turning Scars into Stars

Joseph's life could have ended quite tragically if it hadn't been for something in his character that caused him to take a different attitude about the horrible experiences he went through.

His brothers were jealous of him because he was the favorite son. His father had given him a beautiful coat of many colors and had honored him with special favors.

One day, while his brothers were out tending sheep, his father said to Joseph, "Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me" (Genesis 37:14).

Scripture says that when his brothers saw Joseph coming, "they conspired against him to kill him" (v. 18). Let's pick up on the story in verse 23.

So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him.

Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

And they sat down to eat a meal....

Verses 23-25

Think about it! You've just thrown your brother into a pit. Then, you go ahead and enjoy your barbecue!

...Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites , coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.

So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

"Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites , and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened.

Then the Midianite traders passed by ; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Verses 25-28

How would you feel if you were sold by your brothers for money? They would have killed him, except for Judah's intervention.

Talk about terrific scars on the emotions, a dysfunctional family, rejection and child abuse! Joseph experienced it. But there was something in Joseph that kept him from striking back. When you don't strike back, God will bless you. Because of Joseph's attitude, God began to bless everything that he did.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar , an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Genesis 39:1-3

When God begins to bless you and cause you to be prosperous and successful, you will find favor with leadership.

So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Thus he left all that he had in Josephs hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Verses 4-6

Because Joseph didn't strike back, God prospered him. If you will make a decision to turn the scar of rejection around by forgiving and releasing those who caused it, God will prosper you, no matter where you are.

You may be thinking, "I'd be doing a lot better if my upbringing had been better." Joseph could have said that. He could have said, "If only I had been able to get my high school diploma, I could make it in the world." But that's not what Joseph said. He applied himself with great diligence right where he was and trusted in God.

How can a slave be blessed ? Joseph was Potiphar's slave, and he didn't even get minimum wage! Yet God blessed and prospered him and gave him favor with those in authority over him.

I've heard many excuses why people can't make it in the world. Those excuses come because the scars from what has happened to people are holding them in bondage. Joseph let go of his scars. As a result, God was able to exalt him.

Everything Joseph touched was blessed .

You may be thinking, "But that was Joseph." Scripture says God has no favorites. He shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). The promises of Psalm 1 are for you as much as for any other person:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful ;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Verses 1-3

Like Joseph, you can say, "Everything I touch is prospering. I am committed to God, and He is committed to me."

Chapter Three

From the Frying Pan into the Fire

Although he was blessed as a slave in Potiphar's house, Joseph went from the frying pan into the fire because of slander by Potiphar's wife.

And it came to pass after these things that his masters wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."

But he refused and said to his masters wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.

"There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Genesis 39:7-9

Because Joseph was committed to holiness and integrity, he could not sin against Potiphar or against God.

Something inside of Joseph said "no" to sin. If Joseph could respond this way under the Old Covenant, surely you can under the New Covenant. There is power in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to stand against any temptation.