Lingering Fragrance

By Paula Williamson Guest Writer

Once, I was visiting a garden center when the most delicious scent found its way to me. It stopped me in my tracks. It was so wonderful that I had to find its source.

I wandered through the garden center, stopping at flower after flower, breathing deeply, searching for the fragrance that beckoned me. Row after row, I searched until I finally discovered it—an orange tree in full bloom. It was costly at the time, and with reluctance, I walked away, carrying only the memory of its scent.

A Fragrance Remembered

That fragrance became firmly planted in the recesses of my mind. Years later, I encountered it again. This time, I knew exactly what it was, and without hesitation, I made a beeline toward it—willing to pay the price to bring it home.

Once it was mine, I enjoyed the fragrance day after day. At times, I would simply sit nearby, breathing in its sweetness, wishing they made a perfume or bubble bath that carried the same heavenly scent.

The Parallel of His Presence

My mind often draws parallels between the natural and the spiritual. Have you ever sat in the presence of the Lord and marveled at the peace you felt where the unconditional love, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, and grace so rich that all worries and cares faded into the background?

The beauty of God’s presence reminds me of that orange tree. It is so holy and so beautiful that you just want to sit in silence and inhale.

A Holy Aroma

There have been moments in worship when the praise was so pure and holy that I—and others—noticed the scent of incense. Not smoky, but spicy, weighty, and sweet, filling the room with something beyond the natural.

Those fragrances linger.

Scripture tells us:

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”—2 Corinthians 2:15

What Will You Leave Behind?

Whether we realize it or not, we leave a fragrance everywhere we go. Our words, our attitudes, our presence—all carry a scent.

The question is simple, yet searching:

What kind of fragrance will you leave behind today?

Devotional Takeaway

Time spent in God’s presence changes us. Just as a fragrance clings to clothing, His presence clings to our lives. When we linger with Him, we begin to carry the aroma of Christ—bringing peace, hope, and grace into every space we enter.

Prayer

Lord, draw me close to Your presence. Let me linger long enough to be changed by You. May my life carry the fragrance of Christ—sweet, holy, and inviting to those around me. Help me leave behind the scent of Your love wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.