At 4 years old, I remember cutting my hair for the first time.
My adult mind remembers going in my room everyday, for several consecutive days, and cutting the same piece of hair shorter and shorter… until one day I got caught.
When my mom would fix my hair, she would get all the bumps out, and put the bow in the correct way…
And everyday I would sneak in my closet, take it all down and re-do it myself. Doing it my own way because her way “didn’t feel right.”
Some of the earliest memories I have are of fixing my hair, my baby doll’s , or my friends.
It’s always been my happy place.
It’s been the thing I’m good at.
It’s been me.
Until recently.
I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but at some point throughout the last few months, the enemy slipped in.
I allowed myself to question if the thing that I’ve loved to do for years, and naturally have a passion for, is actually from the Lord.
“Is it just an easy cop-out instead of doing what the Lord really has for me?”
“Will I still be good enough to go back to it when I get home?”
“Will I be fast enough?”
“Will I even be able to build a clientele?”
“How in the world can I do ministry AND hair?”
In each of these LIES, I was crippled with doubt.
So I sent my scissors home with my parents. I hadn’t used them for ministry like I had thought, and almost everyone on my squad who wanted a haircut had already been given one.
A week later, day 1 of ministry in Malaysia, we arrive at the homeless shelter ready to find out what we will be doing. After being told there’s opportunities in the kitchen to prepare meals, hang out in the common room and chat with the men and women who come for free meals/showers/naps, etc., our host said
“I heard a rumor that someone here can cut hair?”
…. UM what?
My hand slowly raises to identify myself.
“I don’t have anything to use.”
“We have everything you need here at the center…”
Immediately, I felt conviction from the Lord.
In my spirit I heard him say to me,
“Don’t you see, when I have called you to something, I will provide what you need.”
Man, Jesus is so sweet!!
God gave me a passion when I was teeny tiny.
He gifted me with an ability and a talent.
Why would he give me those things if he didn’t want me to use them???
And why would I even think I couldn’t be used to minister in the things I’m gifted in?
During this month, the Lord is gently reminding me “depend on me, not the physical things you think you must have.”
He’s reminding me “If I give you a gift, a calling, you just show up and I’ll do the rest.”
I challenge you to think about what this looks like for you? Are you believing the enemy’s lies about something you know you have been called to?
Let me remind you of something I think I’ve told you before,
satan is the FATHER OF LIES.
In John 8, Jesus says “there is no truth in him, and when he lies, HE SPEAKS OUT OF HIS OWN CHARACTER.”
holy cow.
“I’m inadequate” – a lie from Satan- he is the inadequate one.
“I’m not _______ enough” – also a lie, because SATAN IS NOT ENOUGH.
What lies are you believing that are a direct reflection of Satan’s character?
*****Last week and this week, I have been able to give free haircuts to those who live on the streets of Penang, as well as teach a few women, who have come out of slavery, to give a simple haircut*****
