I have been wanting to share the stories of Christian women who had locks (locks, dreadlocks, sisterlocks) and cut them since I went through the experience of cutting my own sisterlocks. When I share with others that “God told me to cut my locks”, the majority of the responses reflect disbelief. “Why would God ever tell you to cut your locks?” I believe that there are spiritual attachments that are formed from the root desires and reasons why we do things. In a recent blog post, I expressed that God told me to cut my sisterlocks and highlighted the level of spiritual growth I experienced afterwards. Each individual’s story is unique and I have found that many have gone through similar experiences. Today, I share the story of Apostle Racquel Jones.
Her Story
The Decision
It is often said that a woman’s hair is her beauty. In some cultures this beauty is measured by the length of one’s hair. As a child I had short hair and one of my dreams was to one day have the opposite. This was finally realized when I embarked on a quest to find myself and to ‘connect’ with God. It was
during this period of searching that I decided to lock my hair. My childhood desire soon became reality as I saw my hair grow almost to the middle of my back. It became my proverbial pride and joy but more so, it was a representation of the journey I had been on for the past seven years.
The Conviction
A year after getting saved, I became uncomfortable and began sensing that God wanted me to get rid of my locks. I completely ignored the prompting because why would God even have a problem with my hair?! Besides, wasn’t there a passage in the Bible that said “a woman’s hair is her glory?” So, why would God want me to get rid of my glory? It just did not make any sense to me. The conviction intensified and I could no longer ignore it. It was here that I began negotiating with God.
My heart broke when I came to terms to what God required of me! He knew my journey and how much my hair meant to me so why would He ask me to do such a thing? I tried to make sense of it but couldn’t; especially when there were so many other Christian women sporting locks. So what was so different about mine?
The Search for Truth
I began going through a series of deliverance sessions, after the first session the minister said to me, “God is going to speak to you but there is something that you need to do. There is a change that has taken place on the inside of you and God is calling on the outside to reflect that change.” Immediately I knew what she meant, and responded saying “God wants me to cut my hair doesn’t He?” “Yes” she replied. The very next day I was sitting in the hairdresser’s chair. My negotiation with God was futile and by then I knew without a doubt that my obedience weighed heavily on my journey. Was I OK to remain where I was or did I want all that God had for me? The transition was difficult. For a very long time I felt as if a huge part of me was gone, like somewhere out there remained a part of my being that was severed from me and was lost forever; and I mourned that loss. I continued to ask God why.
The Revelation
Then one day He responded. He said “Because where I am taking you it cannot go.” Later, as I grew in my Christian walk, He spoke to me about attachments and showed me that because of the genesis of my locks’ severance was needed for my walk with Him. It was at this point that I allowed my heart to stop grieving and allowed it the process of healing.
Many times the Spirit of God speaks to us, directs us, but because of our personal desires we ignore
the gentle promptings much to our own demise. I have learnt a few lessons from this experience but the one that overshadows them all is that our spiritual growth and deliverance are wrapped up in our willingness to obey God. Obedience to God is crucial and it is a requirement for a successful Christian walk. Blind obedience I call It because we obey even though the picture is still being painted.
Who is Apostle Racquel Jones
Apostle Racquel Jones answered God’s call to full-time ministry in 2011 and is the Founder of Greater Works Apostolic Center. She has a mandate to teach and equip the members of the Body of Christ with specific focus on the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. She also has a mandate to raise up leaders to fulfill their God-given purpose. She ministers in hospitals, schools, corporate entities and serves with the Chaplaincy Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force as a Volunteer Chaplain.
Background
Since 2007, she has been a Freelancer with the RJR Communications Group where she serves as TVJ’s Morning News Anchor and host of the Sunday gospel programme Beautiful Day aired on FAME FM at 5am. Apostle Jones is a trained Public Relations Practitioner, International Speaker and Personal Development Consultant and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology (First Class Honours) from the Jamaica Theological Seminary.
Purpose
She is driven by a passion to see persons function at their fullest potential, and as such she provides training in areas such as public speaking, voice and speech, customer service, as well as in grooming and deportment. Apostle Jones is committed to fulfilling the call upon her life “not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the living God”
Conclusion
I pray that this testimony blesses every reader. The inspiration doesn’t end at hair, as the powerful message of obedience stands.
(*story originally recounted by Apostle Racquel Jones)
Amoy is intent on fulfilling God’s will and purpose for her life. She is a celebrity publicist, a proud Jamaican, a writer, an international speaker, a media practitioner and a published author. She loves all things luxury and is on a mission to become one of the wealthiest women from her island and in the world. 40 under 40, is that you?
Alicia Taylor have a similar testimony about her locs too