“In 1995, my wife was severely injured in a skiing accident. After six hours of surgery, she emerged with two 6-inch metal plates and 13 screws holding her knee together. After a few weeks, the wound healed over and an 18-inch scar remained. Everything looked fine, but she kept having these recurring staph infections. These infections became a scourge in her life—a real nuisance. How could she continue to have these infections in her knee if her knee was healed?

Her knee wasn’t healed after all. Yes, the bones had mended—but the metal parts which remained inside, though good things, were not meant to be there. These objects were foreign to her body and actually harbored the infection...just like scarring over our souls may make us look good on the outside. We took steps to have the hardware surgically removed...and guess what never occurred again? That’s right. The infection had no place to hide because it had been exposed. Once it was exposed, healing—deep and true healing—could take place. So it is with our souls. For true and deep healing to occur, we must be honest and expose the hidden hurts, “failures, and wrong thoughts to the pure healing light of God’s love for us!

The purpose of scars...

Why do I share my story of healing with you? When I was a little boy, we had a horse named Big Red. One day when I was about five, I went out to the pasture to pet Big Red. He began to bite me, so I ran towards the mulberry tree (PF Flyers, you know!) and quickly climbed up away from the nipping teeth...only to discover that he could still reach me! He was called Big Red for a reason! My only option? Put on the mind of Superman and jump out of the tree and over the barbed wire fence. If only! I straddled the fence perfectly—and it’s a wonder I lived to sire 9 children! After being sewn up in the ER, I was left with several amazing scars...one being almost four inches long with tons of stitches. My first thought upon “n emerging from the ER? “I can’t wait to show my brothers!”

What does that mean? To a little five-year-old boy wants scars represent something greater than the wound itself. Scars represent some great victory or accomplishment. Scars mean something great has happened and I have lived to tell about it! In a spiritual sense, my emotional scars represent the place where God has done a healing work...and I just couldn’t wait to show you! What is my hope and desire for you? That you would one day be able to show off your scars and testify to the healing power of Almighty God because of all He has done to heal your wounds.

Questions for Meditation

• Have you received forgiveness for your sins?

ª Are you able to forgive yourself for past failures?

• Are you able to forgive those who have wounded you?

• Have you taken steps to allow the Lord to bring cleansing to the wounded places in your life?

• Have you placed your faith in the healing power of the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ? Do you belong to Him? He wants you for His own...

• What truths do you need to pack into the wounded places of your life?

• Are there any hidden or un-confessed areas of your life?

• Would you be willing to be honest with God and others and expose them to His truth and love?

Even In Their Sleep

Allow the Lord to bring cleansing to your mind as you sleep.

Listen to the song “Mercy Me.”

“DJ’s Thought for the Day”

“Truth sets us free. Honesty is the first step in the journey toward freedom.”

Excerpt From

Victim to Victor : A Personal Devotional Walk Towards Wholeness with Christ

By Dennis Jernigan

Photo courtesy of https://pixabay.com/photos/freedom-girl-travel-adventure-4782870/