Throughout history, women have been described in many different ways. Sometimes by their beauty, their style, their intelligence, their eloquence, their wealth, or even the fragrance they wear. So perhaps this is not the first time you are hearing the phrase The Fragrant Woman.
And maybe your first thought is simple:
A woman who smells nice.
You would not be wrong, but while The Fragrant Woman appreciates beauty and fragrance, there is something far deeper that defines her.
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately noticed a beautiful scent lingering in the atmosphere, even before seeing where it came from? That is the picture. The Fragrant Woman is a woman whose life carries the fragrance of Jesus. When people encounter her, they experience something beyond her words, appearance, or achievements. They encounter the evidence of a life that has been with Him.
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
2 Corinthians 2:14
The fragrance of Christ is revealed through the life of The Fragrant Woman, but it begins first in private, in her relationship with God. Just as a room cannot carry the scent of Coconut Vanilla Cookies unless the fragrance has first been released into it, a woman cannot carry the fragrance of Jesus without first encountering Him deeply for herself. It begins within. First, an inside work!
What It Means to Be The Fragrant Woman
The Fragrant Woman takes her bearing from God. She recognises Him as the source of her life and intentionally nurtures her relationship with the Holy Spirit through fellowship, obedience, and the Word of God.
She understands that her identity is rooted in Jesus Christ, the One who loved her, died for her, and rose again for her. She knows she was bought at a price far greater than rubies, that price being the blood of Jesus and she chooses to live from that truth.
She is committed to becoming more like Jesus and to living a life that reflects Him.
She embraces growth and honours the process of becoming. Though she may face challenges and difficult seasons, she refuses to allow them to define her.
She lives intentionally. She does not sit passively waiting for life to happen to her, but becomes an active participant in her growth, her relationships, her calling, and her becoming.
She sets her heart toward purpose and moves with direction, trusting God as she builds her life by divine design.
She embraces the beauty and strength of womanhood, recognising that she is God’s workmanship, created intentionally and beautifully in Christ Jesus.
She values people deeply. Having received from God, she desires to become a channel of love, encouragement, and blessing to others.
And through every season, she continues to grow, strengthening areas of weakness, walking in wisdom, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit in her everyday life.
Every woman will, at some point, decide what fragrance her life will carry when people encounter her. It will either be the sweet fragrance that flows from a life shaped by love, grace, wisdom, and Christ or a repulsive, far less life-giving odour of self. The Fragrant Woman makes the intentional choice to spend her life with Jesus, becoming more like Him day by day, and allowing His fragrance to flow through every part of her life.
