Your Life is a Fragrance

Have you ever been suddenly overwhelmed by a delightful scent that pulls you toward its inviting direction? A fragrance so captivating that you stop what you are doing to deeply breathe it in?

I am so thankful for the sense of smell. There are countless scents that bring me joy. I love sweet, clean smelling scents. Fragrances awaken the mind and at times have the power to bring memories flooding back into our recollection. They relax the muscles, refresh creativity and awaken the weary.

One favorite aroma that immediately comes to mind is the sweetness of thousands of orange blossoms blooming in the California sunshine. It’s exhilarating!

Another favorite of mine is when I’m sitting at a particular restaurant and the waitress walks by with a plate full of sizzling steak. I catch the intoxicating aroma as she passes – fresh off the fiery hot grill.

Still another top favorite is when I have just hugged someone wearing a clean and sugary smelling perfume. Their scent lingers in the air after our greeting like a sea breeze on a warm summer morning. I always want to follow them around to enjoy the scent a bit longer.

Last but definitely not least, is the comforting smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies coming out of the warm oven on a rainy day. My mind soothes it’s busyness and a settled calm melts over me – just like the melted chocolate chips in those big warm cookies.

These enchanting fragrances cause me to involuntarily inhale, slowly, and breathe their delightfulness in – as deeply as possible. These smells are all so pleasing to the senses.

On the flipside, I have experienced the opposite. The unpleasantness of breathing in aromas that hit the senses with repugnant disdain. Fowl orders, be them mild or harsh, are never desirable. Our nose may crinkle and our hand goes up to try to block the assaulting smell.

Did you know that your life is a fragrance? Did you know that you have an aroma of your own? 

The way we choose to live, to respond, to encounter, to interact – all leaves a fragrance, so-to-speak. This fragrance can even be sensed from far away. Just the same as my favorite fragrances I described above, our personal fragrance is carried on the breeze and it can be either pleasing or offensive.

“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” – 2 Corinthians 2:15

To be quite honest, if we are left to our own devices, many of us permeate a fragrance that is not so great. But one amazing thing is that The Lord always smells sweet. So what should we do if our spiritual fragrance needs some sweetening up? We just need to spend some time in His fragrant presence. Our unsavory fragrance will be overtaken and washed away by His delectable fragrance.

Thank you, Jesus!

Amen?

Simply spending time with God will change our fragrance into a fresh one.

Throughout my life I have heard incredible stories from people that I know, that said while spending time with the Lord in prayer and intercession, they have experienced an overpowering, sweet-smelling fragrance enter the room. There have been several testimonies of those being in the presence of God and physically smelling His sweetness. Wow! I would love to experience that! 

Even though I have never smelled the presence of the Lord in that physical sense, I do strongly believe that spending time in His presence allows us to share in His sweet fragrance and then emit the same fragrance from ourselves. Kind of like when you sit next to a campfire, you’re going to smell like a campfire. When you sit next to Jesus, you are going to smell like Jesus. You are going to get His fragrance on you.

How wonderful is that?! 

I want to emit the type of fragrance that has people leaning forward, inhaling deeply and exclaiming, “Wow, that fragrance is so pleasing!” I want my fragrance to be delightful, like the fragrance of Jesus. Inviting, fresh and sweet. Safe, encouraging and loving.

Lord, help us live our lives in such a way that it is a pleasing aroma to you, filling the room, catching the breeze, and permeating all the way to your throne room in heaven. May our lives be a sweet incense to you and bring you great joy!

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2

Your life is a fragrance, friend! Make it sweet!

Be Blessed,

~Stephanie