Oh, Smell My Fragarance!

Have you ever thought about what you smell like to others? Most of us have a "signature" fragrance that is the one perfume/cologne that we use the majority of the time. Have you ever wondered what you smell like to God, or even if our earthly smell is something that affects God? What if I told you that each of us has a "signature" fragrance that belongs only to our Heavenly Father. This fragrance is the extraction of our praises to Him....the more you worship Him, the more you release that fragrance to God. There is a song I like that says, "If praise was like perfume I lavish mine on You, I pour my love out on You." Are you pouring your fragrance out on Jesus?
Before, modern machinery was invented perfumes and colognes were made by pressing the flowers, or plants to express their oils. The oil was then used as a base for the fragrance being created. The process has changed somewhat, but the main process remains the same. First the plants are macerated, or crushed and the oil is extracted. Then the oil is distilled under very high heat. The next step is that of compressing and expressing the more concentrated product from the heated oils. The process of enfluerge is next, in which the oil is absorbed into a fat substance and then extracted.
The process of making a fragrance is long and difficult. But, when you smell the many beautiful fragrances in the world it makes it worth the process. The process of extracting a fragrance from it's source and then making a perfume/cologne could be compared to the process God desires us to go through in order to praise Him. He wants to press us in order to extract all of our sweet fragrance for Him. We serve a jealous God, who wants to fellowship and commune with us....one of those ways is through our worship. Jesus, desires for us to worship Him with abandon to all else, and in complete freedom.
Beloved, please listen to me...this is so important...because of the great sacrifice that God made for us by sending His son to die on the cross for us, He wants us to praise and worship Him with all we have. If we do, it is returned to our sweet, loving Heavenly Father in our fragrance...a signature fragrance.
Sometimes, we don't know how to worship God. Other times we don't feel like worshipping God. Then there are times when we are afraid to worship for fear of what others might say. Still yet, we hold to tradition and routine are afraid to break out and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We are to praise God truly, and we are to bring Him a sacrifice of praise even when we don't feel like worshipping Him. "A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers." John 4:23 (Amplified version) "Through Him, therfore let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name." Hebrews 13:15 (Amplified version)
Let, me remind you of the woman in Luke 7:37-38, who used her expensive perfume and her own hair to wash the feet of Jesus. She brought out an alabaster box full of ointment, or perfume. This ointment was very expensive, and was usually saved for special occasions, normally a wedding day. The woman, (who is nameless) wet Jesus feet with her tears, washed His feet with her own hair, and then annointed His feet with her ointment. What an example of how we are supposed to worship our Father in Heaven!!! No cost was too great, and nothing meant more than to love Him with her all!!
He is jealous for you, and He won't relent until He truly has all of you. God loves you so much, that He will chase you and pursue you until He has every part of you surrendered to Him. This includes worshipping Jesus with abandon, without fear, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Beloved, don't be afraid; don't pay attention to what others might think. Be free! Allow God to beckon you, and listen to how the Holy Spirit may be leading you to worship Him. Let Him smell your sweet fragrance, of praise and worship. Your fragrance comes at a high price and costs much, but give it anyway. "The secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, falling on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that God is among you in very truth." 1 Corinthians 14:25 (Amplified version)