Sunday, May 10, I was awakened in the middle of the night by my husband because he was trying to bring me out of an apparent nightmare. I remember feeling very tense and on edge but not exactly afraid. In the dream, I was sleeping in my bed like normal and my 6 year old daughter, Edynn, came running into our room yelling for help. Obviously, just like it would have happened in real life, I was jolted awake and immediately went into panic mode. It was almost as if my bed was in water, and all I could think to do was throw her a lifeline, like a life preserver being thrown from a boat to someone struggling to stay afloat on a sea of troublesome waves. I then began to do the only thing I could think of which was to unwind my hair from the top-knot I usually put it in to sleep. I was frantically untwisting and pulling and just as I began to throw it out to Edynn, I awoke.
At the time, I did my usual of speaking Jesus’s name over whatever the dream may have been about, prayed a prayer of protection over Edynn, and then drifted off back to sleep. Upon awakening the next morning, I didn’t remember having the dream, so it wasn’t on my mind at all. I took off from my house shortly after to go for a walk. I was listening to a message being preached by Bro Jason Sciscoe as I walked. Now, I can’t recall if it was something he said in his message or if it was because I was absorbed in God’s presence, but all of a sudden my dream was brought to the forefront of my mind; it slammed my heart, and stopped me in my tracks. I felt the Lord move upon me very powerfully and felt Him say, “It’s yours. They can’t take it. Use it!” I immediately knew what He was referring to.
My connection. My glory. My weapon! My hair. Now, I don’t mean my hair physically. You won’t find me with it in a pony tail, swinging it helicopter style, and yelling in my best Xena Warrior Princess voice, but in every sense possible, I do mean it spiritually.
Every one of us grows in our walks with God. It is what we are instructed to do (Hebrews 6:1) It is through the journey with my hair that I learned to do just that. Just like a parent does for their child, after showing and helping with a new lesson, it then becomes time for the child to try it out own their own. Many failed attempts may occur but eventually it’s mastered. This then builds the confidence to keep trying new things.
It’s Yours.
My hair was the first thing I ever sought the Lord about. It was the first time I asked Him for the knowledge of something to be opened up to me and for the power of something to be revealed to me. After about 8 years of being fully involved in the church with things ranging from choir, to nursery, to signing and drama, I wanted something more personal. Something I could hold tight to, knowing He alone was the One who gave it to me. It was at this point He asked me, “Would you let it grow?” What a polite God He was to me. It was like He took my hand and said, “Come, we will walk this journey together.” I can attest He has certainly never missed a step in it.
They Can’t Take It
Contrary to popular belief, no one told me to stop cutting my hair. It wasn’t a requirement for me to be used in the kingdom of God. I wasn’t shunned when it was being cut, nor was I held in higher esteem once I stopped. This was simply my weapon He placed in my arsenal. At first I held it awkwardly, not knowing exactly how it was going to be used in my life or the lives of others. I wasn’t aware of the confusion and struggles that would come along with the use of this particular weapon of warfare but just like the gentle Guide that He is, He always came through just when I felt like the weight of this weapon was too much for me. I had to remind myself that I had asked for more, and this was His way of building me. He would drop little jewels of strength and clarity through things like a sermon preached, a book, a song, and even words of affirmation from people who had no idea of what I was going through. These would always give me a renewed love for my weapon. I also would gain a new respect for it because the Lord entrusted me with it.
I believe we all have these different weapons in our lives. Something, as your walk with God progresses, that you know without any doubt He asked of you, told you, or gave you to use for His kingdom. Maybe it’s something that you had to give up or maybe it’s something that He asked you to start doing. Whatever it is, never give up on it. Never toss it aside thinking it’s no longer needed. If it came from Him, He meant it. It’s yours and no one can take it away. New weapons may be added as you mature in Him but that doesn’t ever lessen the importance of any other one, it only adds to your arsenal. As you pray and dig into the Word, this causes your weapons to be honed causing your arsenal to be mighty!
I get to look back over the years and see the path my hair has taken me. It has made it easier for me to be accepting of any new thing He has asked of me because I can see how He has guided me through this journey. I also love that I can tell my children of my walk with this weapon. When they are going through a tough time, they can see me holding tight to a commitment through all these years and know that God doesn’t waste anything. He is faithful!
Use It!
I know many have felt lost and confused in these past few months with so much “taken” from us and not being able to join together in our churches the way we were used to doing. I, too, have had many moments of uncertainty, but it has, in turn, given me an opportunity to draw closer to Him in ways I may not have before. I have let Him become the center again, to reign in my home. I’ve had to recall the earlier times when He began revealing to me how He gives us all unique weapons to be used by Him through each of us. What an amazing army we make up. I may not have been able to join in with my fellow soldiers lately but I have been able to still meet Him and have Him right in my home and in the lives of my husband and children. Because the weapons He gave me are mine to use, they don’t have to be reserved for a church service; they are at my disposal at all times. I remember the covenant I made with the Lord about my hair and it lifts my spirits and recharges my faith. It keeps me closely connected to Him. I use it to remind myself of where I’ve been brought from and I use it as encouragement for wherever He is bringing me to. I use it as a symbol of the blessing that can come from obedience to Him (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). It reminds me that no sacrifice is too great for Him. As I live this life striving to be pleasing to Him, whatever could possibly make His heart swell, I want to be a part of it.
As I previously stated, what a remarkable army we are. An army made up of so many different weapons of warfare, soldiers for Him, helpers of those in need, and followers of Christ. I know yours may be different than mine but I pray whatever it is, you never let go of it. Let it set you apart, let it elevate you, let it propel you forward in His kingdom. Cherish it. Protect it. Use it!
At the time, I did my usual of speaking Jesus’s name over whatever the dream may have been about, prayed a prayer of protection over Edynn, and then drifted off back to sleep. Upon awakening the next morning, I didn’t remember having the dream, so it wasn’t on my mind at all. I took off from my house shortly after to go for a walk. I was listening to a message being preached by Bro Jason Sciscoe as I walked. Now, I can’t recall if it was something he said in his message or if it was because I was absorbed in God’s presence, but all of a sudden my dream was brought to the forefront of my mind; it slammed my heart, and stopped me in my tracks. I felt the Lord move upon me very powerfully and felt Him say, “It’s yours. They can’t take it. Use it!” I immediately knew what He was referring to.
My connection. My glory. My weapon! My hair. Now, I don’t mean my hair physically. You won’t find me with it in a pony tail, swinging it helicopter style, and yelling in my best Xena Warrior Princess voice, but in every sense possible, I do mean it spiritually.
Every one of us grows in our walks with God. It is what we are instructed to do (Hebrews 6:1) It is through the journey with my hair that I learned to do just that. Just like a parent does for their child, after showing and helping with a new lesson, it then becomes time for the child to try it out own their own. Many failed attempts may occur but eventually it’s mastered. This then builds the confidence to keep trying new things.
It’s Yours.
My hair was the first thing I ever sought the Lord about. It was the first time I asked Him for the knowledge of something to be opened up to me and for the power of something to be revealed to me. After about 8 years of being fully involved in the church with things ranging from choir, to nursery, to signing and drama, I wanted something more personal. Something I could hold tight to, knowing He alone was the One who gave it to me. It was at this point He asked me, “Would you let it grow?” What a polite God He was to me. It was like He took my hand and said, “Come, we will walk this journey together.” I can attest He has certainly never missed a step in it.
They Can’t Take It
Contrary to popular belief, no one told me to stop cutting my hair. It wasn’t a requirement for me to be used in the kingdom of God. I wasn’t shunned when it was being cut, nor was I held in higher esteem once I stopped. This was simply my weapon He placed in my arsenal. At first I held it awkwardly, not knowing exactly how it was going to be used in my life or the lives of others. I wasn’t aware of the confusion and struggles that would come along with the use of this particular weapon of warfare but just like the gentle Guide that He is, He always came through just when I felt like the weight of this weapon was too much for me. I had to remind myself that I had asked for more, and this was His way of building me. He would drop little jewels of strength and clarity through things like a sermon preached, a book, a song, and even words of affirmation from people who had no idea of what I was going through. These would always give me a renewed love for my weapon. I also would gain a new respect for it because the Lord entrusted me with it.
I believe we all have these different weapons in our lives. Something, as your walk with God progresses, that you know without any doubt He asked of you, told you, or gave you to use for His kingdom. Maybe it’s something that you had to give up or maybe it’s something that He asked you to start doing. Whatever it is, never give up on it. Never toss it aside thinking it’s no longer needed. If it came from Him, He meant it. It’s yours and no one can take it away. New weapons may be added as you mature in Him but that doesn’t ever lessen the importance of any other one, it only adds to your arsenal. As you pray and dig into the Word, this causes your weapons to be honed causing your arsenal to be mighty!
I get to look back over the years and see the path my hair has taken me. It has made it easier for me to be accepting of any new thing He has asked of me because I can see how He has guided me through this journey. I also love that I can tell my children of my walk with this weapon. When they are going through a tough time, they can see me holding tight to a commitment through all these years and know that God doesn’t waste anything. He is faithful!
Use It!
I know many have felt lost and confused in these past few months with so much “taken” from us and not being able to join together in our churches the way we were used to doing. I, too, have had many moments of uncertainty, but it has, in turn, given me an opportunity to draw closer to Him in ways I may not have before. I have let Him become the center again, to reign in my home. I’ve had to recall the earlier times when He began revealing to me how He gives us all unique weapons to be used by Him through each of us. What an amazing army we make up. I may not have been able to join in with my fellow soldiers lately but I have been able to still meet Him and have Him right in my home and in the lives of my husband and children. Because the weapons He gave me are mine to use, they don’t have to be reserved for a church service; they are at my disposal at all times. I remember the covenant I made with the Lord about my hair and it lifts my spirits and recharges my faith. It keeps me closely connected to Him. I use it to remind myself of where I’ve been brought from and I use it as encouragement for wherever He is bringing me to. I use it as a symbol of the blessing that can come from obedience to Him (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). It reminds me that no sacrifice is too great for Him. As I live this life striving to be pleasing to Him, whatever could possibly make His heart swell, I want to be a part of it.
As I previously stated, what a remarkable army we are. An army made up of so many different weapons of warfare, soldiers for Him, helpers of those in need, and followers of Christ. I know yours may be different than mine but I pray whatever it is, you never let go of it. Let it set you apart, let it elevate you, let it propel you forward in His kingdom. Cherish it. Protect it. Use it!
 | Rachelle Fontenot is a Certified Pharmacy Technician and a new writer. Rachelle has attended Livingway Pentecostal Church for 20 years. There, she shows her love for God through singing on the praise team and in the choir and through dramatized worship and theatrical performances. One of her greatest joys is singing alongside her husband, Allen, at church. They have been married almost 13 years and have 4 amazing daughters, Taylor, Aubrey, Edynn, and Norah. |
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