That Sweet Aroma

I used to think I wasn’t much of a “scents” person. My sense of smell has never been particularly strong. I grew up with a lot of allergies and a frequent stuffy nose. Over the last couple of years I have a new appreciation for sweet fragrances and the way God speaks to us through our senses.

A Sweet Smelling Aroma
I used to think I wasn’t much of a “scents” person. My sense of smell has never been particularly strong. I grew up with a lot of allergies and a frequent stuffy nose. Over the last couple of years I have a new appreciation for sweet fragrances and the way God speaks to us through our senses.

These are a few of my favorite things:

Fresh Bread
Each Monday at the Aglow office we have communion. Recently, a staff member purchased a bread maker to make homemade bread for communion. Homemade bread vs. stale communion cracker…I’m pretty sure you can guess my favorite! The smell of homemade bread creates a longing and anticipation to share communion.

I also like to bake. There is just something wonderful about the smell of cinnamon rolls or banana bread baking. The friend I live with caught the scent of my last baking project and said, You’re killing me.  When do we get to partake? The fragrance touches your appetite.

God invites us to partake of what He has done for us. He invites us to savor the goodness and abundance that He lavished on us through His death on the cross.

Man “Scents”
I have worked at Aglow for over 10 years with mostly women and have lived with a couple different ladies over the last 5 years. I am surrounded by the smell of women. As I was walking to my desk a few weeks ago, I was hit with the fragrance of a man’s cologne before I could see him. A male director was working in the office for the week. I think I even said out loud, There’s a man in the house. Does your father or a family member have a certain cologne that reminds you of them? The fragrance men release into the atmosphere is different from the scent women carry. When I smell the scent of a man, I feel a sense of strength and protection.

God’s presence is a safe, secure and hopefully, familiar place where we can draw near and find comfort in His embrace.

The Fragrances of the Seasons
I love the scents that fill the air this time of year, but especially the fresh smell of a Christmas tree. I came across a candle called Fresh Balsam and it adds another layer of Christmas tree scent to the home. At one of my favorite places to buy candles, you can find candles for each season. I love to fill my home with the scents of the season.

The fragrances of the seasons remind me to appreciate the sweetness in every season of life.

Fresh flowers
You could call me a flower girl. I love beautiful flowers! I started running a few years ago and would run through a neighborhood that had a lovely rose garden. Each time I passed I wanted to stop and smell the roses. Another home had a fragrant plant that made  me want to pause and enjoy the lovely scent. These plants provided refreshing moments on a long run.

The sweet scent of flowers reminds me to enjoy the things that bring me delight and to linger in precious moments with the Lord.

Perfume
While in Israel, I found a perfume I love called the “Essence of Jerusalem.” The second time I went to buy it, the shop keeper informed me that the man who created it had passed away and that it would no longer be available. Because I couldn’t just go to the mall and purchase it, I would use it sparingly and only on special occasions. Knowing it would no longer be available made me cherish it even more. I love this perfume because it reminds me of Israel and brings a comfort of God’s blessings to my heart.

The perfume reminds me of God’s faithfulness to send me to the nations as well as the love I have for the Jewish people.

Are there ways that God speaks to you through some of your favorite scents?

Scriptural Significance to Fragrance

Recently in a prophetic mentorship group, the leader Diane posed this question: Do you experience the five senses in a spiritual way? In what ways have you experienced seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting in the spiritual realm? I remember thinking, “I don’t  experience God through smelling.” As I’ve pondered the question, I started to see ways that God speaks to me through my sense of smell.
Not only does He speak to us through the sense of smell, we can be a “pleasing aroma” to Him. Our worship is a sweet fragrance to the Lord.

Romans 12:1 says, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

In Genesis 8:20-21 it says, Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds,he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans.’

The 3 wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to the newborn King Jesus. Frankincense is a fragrant, anointing oil and myrrh a healing or perfume balm.

In Matthew 26, a woman brought an alabaster box filled with costly perfume and poured it out on Jesus in preparation for His burial. I wonder if Jesus remembered that sweet fragrance as He was suffering and dying on the cross?
What sweet aroma can you bring to the Lord in this season?

What sacrifice of worship can you give Him?

How can you be a sweet fragrance to those you meet?

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

Be that sweet aroma everywhere you go!