The Sweetest Aroma
Valentine's Day is here. Some people love it, and some don't. The stores are filled abundantly with teddy bears, heart-shaped candies, and flowers. I wasn't feeling well the other day, so I went to my local Kroger to grab a few things, and in the hallway, there were boxes full of flowers. It was for easy grabs! And when you enter the store, there are more flowers. What's funny is I always go through the same door near the flower shop and always stop to smell the roses. I am that girlie girl. I adore roses. When I am gifted them, I make it a point to smell them daily. After I took in the fragrant flower smell in the store, I laughed at myself like you always do this. And it made me think, why? And do you?
Flowers are beautiful, not just roses, but tulips, peonies, and hydrangea, and I love how fragrant and beautiful lilies are. When I take a second to stop and smell the flowers - it makes me smile and thank God for creating something so beautiful for me to adore; it's pleasing to my eyes and comforting for my soul. In that moment, peace is still. That's why I stop and smell them in a store. Because it reminds me of the goodness of God. And what he's made for me to enjoy. And when I think of all of that, I am grateful. Pure gratitude sweeps over me, and it's easier to recount some blessings when my heart posture sits in gratitude.
My question to you is, when was the last time you stopped and smelled the roses? When was the last time you fell asleep smiling and with dry tears stuck to your face because you attempted to count the many blessings God has given you? When was the last time that thankfulness genuinely came in and hit you like a rushing wave? You see, society has us overstimulated with a bunch of just stuff… even if it's good stuff, because of our addictive human patterns, we still sometimes overdo that. And because of that, we stop adoring our King and what he's given us. We become insensitive to God and his voice. You can even say we've taken it for granted. Some may say we're too entitled. I believe it's a heart and eye issue. In Luke 11:34, he writes, "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body is also full of darkness."
That's why they say perspective is everything. And it prompts another question…. What are you focused on? What has your attention? Whatever has your attention shapes your heart posture. Ponder that. I know nowadays we get groceries delivered, and many people just don't go into the stores anymore, but honestly, before all of the convenience we have these days, how many times have you stopped and smelled the roses? Just took a beat.
God shows us all the time - when there are supposed to be times that we just pause and take in his blessings, we just ignore it because whatever has our immediate attention typically gets the best of us. Or we ignore or shrink back because we don't feel good enough to accept God's blessings and favor. We become numb to life's most beautiful things because we don't feel 100% worthy of having them.
That's also why we choose to run, or it's hard to sit in God's presence for a long time because we don't feel good enough. We think he's judging us for our past- so we think the shorter the visit with him the better. We define our own selves, believing God can't use us or give us a beautiful life. We think or feel this is too good to be true. When it's not too good to be true. His presence brings joy. Why are you running from joy? You deserve that. And your worship and adoration of him is a sweet aroma to him. Don't count yourself out. Don't chuck up good things happening to luck, retrograde, or the universe. Give credit to God, the Creator of the universe. And know that we are good enough to have this consistent goodness flow through our lives. We are good enough because of who HE IS. And that's the reason we should be praising. Because of who GOD IS and has ALWAYS been and will continue to be. That's why you sit in his presence and choose his voice. That's why you say, like King David, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2).
You do this because you love him and because He loves you. Never doubt that your worship is a sweet aroma to God. Never doubt that he wants to hear it because he does. He will always welcome you. Always.
Psalms 113: 3-4 says plainly: "From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is HIGH above ALL nations, His glory above the heavens."
If it's been a while, that is okay. Start today, start now. Let nothing steal your praise or blind you from what God has created for you to enjoy. Sit in his peace and allow yourself to become overwhelmed by his goodness- not just for good health, a sound mind, a nice car, or a home- but because of who he has been to you. Humble yourself and kneel to bow in reverence.
Don't let hardships and cynicism harden your heart. Let today, the day of love, be the day you give yourself permission to ask God to open your eyes and revitalize your senses again so that you can enjoy the sunrises, the gardens, the sunsets, laughter, and love and live a life of worship.
It's time to enjoy being alive. Stop and smell the roses.