This Mother’s Day, I was sitting on the back porch enjoying coffee and the outdoors when a surprise came walking through the door. As many of you know, our family is just weeks away from welcoming our very first son-in-law into the family. He has been such a blessing and a wonderful addition to our lives—adding laughter and lightness to our family. He came up to me on the porch with this beautiful, huge, fragrant Mother’s Day bouquet! It was such a surprise and one I had not yet considered now that I am gaining a son-in-law.
This special bouquet has sat on my desk this past week, getting more beautiful by the moment and more alive and fragrant each day too. It simply fills the space with a sweet fragrance. Each time I catch a glimpse of it, I smile thinking of the special new addition to our family and how God has fitted him into our lives in His perfect way.
Did you know it is the same with the Lord?
Each day His fragrance surrounds us, whether we recognize it or not. His presence whispers His love, His acceptance, His kindness, and His faithfulness toward us. Are we sitting, lingering, pausing, and receiving what His loving, sweet presence has to give us for today?
I know many of us have habits like brushing our teeth before leaving the house, drinking our coffee, taking vitamins, etc. While Jesus doesn’t want to be reduced to a “habit” or a chore in our lives, I do have to say there is something wonderful about making a tradition of meeting with Him and His sweet presence before the whole day has gotten off to a running start.
I know that sometimes it feels like we hardly blink, running through the day until we are swept into bed at night. There are certain seasons like that, and thank God—His love and presence surround us even in the busy. But with summer coming (my favorite season!), I find a few moments here and there to soak in His presence.
Here are a few ways God shows me His fragrant presence is nearby and ready to be soaked up and received by my open heart:
1. Worship Music
We have a new-to-us vinyl record player that has been a blast to turn on and let music fill the home while we do chores, while I drink my morning coffee, etc. It brings such a sweet atmosphere, especially when it is worship music.
Here is a vinyl I have been playing on repeat: “Discovery” by Rivers and Robots.
2. My Memory Verse Holder
Little did my sister know when she gifted this to me a few years ago that it would become such a constant in our home. It sits on my desk, and the verse gets traded out once a week. It is a blessing to me to look at the words as I sit there, and it is also in view when others pass by this busy area of our home.
Oh, the Word sure ushers in the sweet presence of Jesus in our lives, doesn’t it?
3. My Outside Porch
It is a delight this time of year to take my coffee outside and sit on the porch for my morning with the Lord. Whether it is taking my Bible outside, talking to Him while enjoying the outdoors, writing with Him, or soaking up His beautiful creation—this is a spot where I feel the fragrant presence of God.
4. Prayer Changes the Atmosphere
Let’s not forget the sweet atmosphere and fragrance of time spent in prayer. It is a real thing.
I remember going to my grandparents’ home and sitting at their dining table and feeling the real, lingering presence of God fall on my shoulders. It was more than just the love of grandparents (although there was plenty of that). It was the sweet atmosphere that lingered after my grandmother’s dedicated and heartfelt time in prayer at that table each morning. Her own quiet times and prayers changed the atmosphere of her home.
I experienced that with my mom’s prayers too in our childhood van. Mom, like Grandma, has always spent time with Jesus in prayer, and it was tangibly felt in our van when she would come pick us up from school. Even years later, when my own family drove that car for several years, we could still feel the beauty of time spent with God.
Maybe some of you have a prayer closet, or maybe you feel that same sweetness when meeting with a Spirit-filled friend or entering church. It is a beautiful, deep presence. Only the presence of God.
I encourage you to think about your own life in this season right now. Where, when, and how are you experiencing the fragrant, alive, beautiful, powerful presence of God in your own life today?
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.Psalm 139:7–10
Before summer fills up with sports, swimming, projects, late nights, and outdoor fun, make room to linger with the Lord.
Find your spot of receiving from Him—through worship music, prayer, Scripture, church, encouraging friendships, or simply sitting quietly outdoors with Him. His presence is not rushed or distant. It is available to us in every season.
The beautiful thing about God is that we never “use up” His presence. We can come back again and again for peace, refreshment, wisdom, comfort, and love. His faithfulness never runs dry.
“Relying on God has to begin all over again each day as if nothing had yet been done.” — C.S. Lewis
Lord, we thank You for Your beautiful, alive, ministering presence being with us in each moment of our lives. To be with You, to let You pour Your love over us as we love You back—that is the focus and priority of our lives. Everything else pales in comparison.
Open our eyes this week to how You want to meet us: through a song, a verse, a friend, the outdoors, prayer. We are open to it all—open to You.
We thank You that You show up fresh and fragrant each and every day. Your faithfulness has no end. Thank You for the refreshment and guidance we receive when we soak in You.
I pray that this summer we would see You, know You, love You, and receive Your love in every nook and cranny of our hearts so that we, in turn, may become Your sweet fragrance to others in this world.
We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Until next time,
PS. Here’s a few Recommendations:
I also have this book lined up for my summer reading (if you knew my dad, this was one he was always recommending!): Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims (Revell, 1967)
Sometimes when I am on the run, I like to listen to the “Pray As You Go” app. It helps get my mind on His Word and where He is speaking to me for that day. https://prayasyougo.org
I also like to do the “Pause” with John Eldredge during busy seasons or just to help me recenter and refocus on God in the middle of my day. https://wildatheart.org/pause
Melanie Talevski 