But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those being saved and those who are perishing to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance of life to life.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV
Waking up to the strong smell of coffee pulls me out from under the covers on most days. Instead of lulling me back to sleep my caffeine addiction (yes, I freely admit it) beckons me to rise and shine. As I shuffle into the kitchen for a fresh offering sure to awaken me, the aroma meets me first. It is sweet and welcoming; oh yes, to get my day started, it’s coffee for the win.
I don’t know what gets you out of bed in the morning, but we all need something to spur us on in difficult situations. And sometimes mornings mean facing the hard things in our lives that we can’t seem to shoo away. Maybe it’s a financial crisis, an angry teenager or crying baby, perhaps it’s a relationship gone cold that stands in the way as you try to conquer the chaos of the morning.
Our trials tempt us to believe we’re defeated when, in reality, we are victorious in Christ. Paul reminds us that God leads us in “triumphal processions” using us to spread the knowledge of Christ’s love to those He places in our path. We are atmosphere changers! We’re more than conquerors who draw others to God with the sweet-smelling aroma of Holy Spirit overflowing out of our hearts and into their lives (Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 2:14).
Something’s surely amiss when our situations and attitudes stink to high heaven. And, if we blink, we might overlook the key to our victorious day. Look closely at Paul’s first words in 2 Corinthians 2:14; he begins with a grateful heart. We see that gratitude paves the way to this victory parade when he begins with these words, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us…”
If we desire Godly guidance on our journey, gratitude guarantees to help us get up and go.
Indeed, God is our banner (Jehovah Nissi) when we step out to let our lives GO & TELL of His goodness. Our faith journey is designed to be a display of the Great Commission down the street, through the town, and for eternity (Matthew 28:16-20). Like a massive float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade or the Rose Bowl, our lives are a showcase for God’s grace. I love how one version of the Bible uses the image of a parade in these scriptures (go check out these verses in The Message, it’s beautiful).
During holiday seasons, we tend to focus on being grateful, but what if, in addition to getting our first cup of coffee (or tea), our daily pursuit was a grateful heart? What if we let our passion for the hearts of humanity who are dying without Jesus be the thing that gets us going in the morning? What if we surrendered our days to being the sweet aroma that welcomes the broken, beaten-down, and defeated souls we encounter to know the love of God?
Don’t worry, I’m not advocating you give up your morning cup o’ joe. Let’s be women who declare victory over our days because of Christ in our hearts. No matter what you’re facing today, it’s a beautiful day for a parade––a victory parade.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the victorious life we have in Christ. Help us to be a sweet-smelling aroma to those around us. May our grateful hearts welcome Holy Spirit into every situation and every conversation today. May we wake up to the sweet smell of victory every single day! Yes, Lord, lead us into victory for Your Name’s sake. Amen
Reflection Questions:
1. How can you start your day with gratitude?
2. How can you be the sweet aroma of God to those in your household, workplace, or online?
3. Write down the hard thing/s you’re facing today and find a way on some level to give thanks to God, let gratitude be the gateway for today’s victory parade.
Amy Elaine Martinez is an inspirational speaker, former radio show host, and gifted Bible teacher. Her ministry is devoted to helping women with heart-shattered lives become whole again in Christ. She recently moved from the beautiful mountains of Castle Rock, CO to play on the plains of historic Guthrie, OK. Amy Elaine’s desire is to see women walk in wholeness and develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Living the victorious life is one of the major themes of her ministry.Connect with Amy Elaine at www.amyelaine.com
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