The aroma that my children experience is often the aroma of a busy mom flying around multitasking to beat the clock. Hurry up to hurry up some more. Always things to do. Very little aroma of stillness and heart-to-heart connection. Lord, break me of the "Martha" Mama and make me more of the "Mary" Mama.....
The aroma that my husband experiences is about as diverse as they come! He often slowly approaches me, "sniffs" lightly, and gauges my "scent" before proceeding. Nothing about that process smells Christ-like! If Christ is the center of my marriage, I need Christ to be the central aroma that lingers when I am with my husband. Not the aroma of a crazy day, or of supper preparations, or of unmet expectations, and certainly not of hormones! I have lots of work to do.......I need to reset my aroma for my husband so that Christ lingers and not my messy womaness.
The aroma that my friendships experience is probably non-existent. I give myself so little margin that my time for my friendships gets pinched and sometimes cut off. Instead of Christ being the aroma I leave with my friends, they are left with quick, short-and-sweet "wafts" as I move about trying to squeeze in my day what my hearts wants to take longer for. My friends can't see my heart, so my friendships must have more than intentions to leave a sweet fragrance of love in their lives. Another area I need to work on "smelling better"...
The aroma that my ministry women experience is probably closest to the aroma of Christ. It is in this arena that I make the most effort to put off self and put on Christ. Not for show or for anything other than pure motives, but I probably view this in my mind as where "Christ is really watching". I know deep in my soul He has called me to serve where I am, so I don't want to disappoint Him. I want to serve Him wholeheartedly and doing so brings me such joy! While I know my entire life is an open book to Christ, something in me tends to place this platform higher and thus I am able to be more intentional with my aroma. I need to carry this servant's aroma into my home and my marriage too! That is my first ministry. Christ didn't call me into ministry so that my family (and friends) would get my "leftovers". Sounds like it's time for an "aroma make-over" as I strive to balance all He has called me to be.....
"Lord, thank you for sending me this devotion and allowing me to take a hard look at the aromas that linger after me. Infuse me with your Holy Spirit so that Your fruit in me leaves the sweet scent of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). Remove the sinful aroma of self and replace it with Your redeemed aroma of Christ!" In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Activity from the devotion:
Now It’s Your Turn:
Make a list of your favorite fragrances.
- the ocean breeze of salt water
- country candles scented like cookies
- Bath & Body Works--"sun-ripened raspberry"
- my hubby's Polo cologne
- my children's cheeks as I kiss them
- fresh laundry
How do these fragrances make you feel?
- free! I associate the ocean with vacation and stealing time away with those I love in a place that I love!
- the coziness of a warm and loving home
- intimacy of my marriage
- knowing my man is near
- nothing like the blessing of beautiful and healthy children to spend my life loving on!
- the fruits of a productive day serving my family and taking care of our home. snuggling up with clean towels or sheets after a long day...
Are you saturating your life with the fragrance of God’s truth?
- daily time in the Word often outweighs my daily prayer time. While I need to fill up on His Truth, I also need to fill up on His whispers.
Who are the people in your life who need to know Christ?
- those precious women He brings to CBS and anyone He leads across my path during everyday tasks. May I not be too busy focused on my to-do list that I miss those faces and hearts who may need to be touched by Jesus through me
What step(s) do you need to take to be the aroma of Jesus Christ to the people in your life?
- I need to be INTENTIONAL. We all have an internal magnet that pulls us toward self. The aroma of Christ can't linger when I am focused on myself.
- I need to remember that my purpose is to reflect Christ; not to reflect Billie Jo.
- Do my words and actions smell sweet of service to Jesus or sour of busyness to me?
- Lord, I invite you into my day. Please mold me and change me so that I leave Your aroma everywhere You send me today.......
The Aroma of Christ devotion by "Girlfriends in God"
No comments:
Post a Comment