The Fragrance of the Knowledge of Godნიმუში

Day 2: The Process of Preparation

“Who is this coming out of the wilderness
Like pillars of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?” – Song of Songs 3:6 (NKJV)

The making of a precious perfume requires patience and process. Rose petals must be carefully distilled, sandalwood aged for years, and precious oils extracted drop by drop. In the same way, the knowledge that becomes fragrance in our lives rarely comes instantly. It is refined by time, by experience, and often by breaking.

Consider the alabaster jar of perfume that was broken to anoint Jesus. The perfume was pure nard, an aromatic oil extracted from a plant that grew only in the Himalayan region of India and Nepal, making it extremely rare in the ancient world. In John 12:3, Mary of Bethany poured half of a kilo of pure nard on the feet of Jesus, a gift so valuable that it equaled a year’s wages. Its high price came from the dangerous trade routes across mountains, making this oil a true treasure of devotion and sacrifice.

But the fragrance of the perfume Mary of Bethany carried could not be released until the jar was broken. Sometimes our proud certainties must be shattered before true wisdom can flow. The graduated student who thinks they know everything must face their limitations. The leader who relies only on their own understanding must encounter situations that humble them into seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This breaking is not punishment. It is preparation. Just as crushing lily petals releases their oil, the pressures of life often serve to draw out the most beautiful aspects of what we are learning. The businessperson who faces bankruptcy learns empathy. The healthy person who faces illness discovers compassion. The confident believer who walks through doubt emerges with a faith carrying the fragrance of authenticity.

Even our mistakes are part of the process. The wisdom gained through wrong choices, when surrendered to God, can become one of the most powerful fragrances we carry. Former addicts who have found freedom exude an aroma of hope that speaks to others still in bondage. Those who have experienced forgiveness after betrayal radiate a grace that attracts the brokenhearted. What a wonderful fragrance that is!

And it is in the act of giving thanks for the process that God uses our lives as perfume.

My Prayer:

Father, help me to trust in Your process of preparation, even when it involves discomfort or breaking. May I surrender my experiences to You—both victories and failures—allowing them to become the raw material for wisdom that will bless others. Teach me to be patient with Your timing and Your methods. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What “breaking” experiences or challenges in your life have truly helped refine your understanding and wisdom?
2. How might God be using current difficulties to prepare a new fragrance in your spiritual life?

(If this free devotional is speaking to your heart, share it so others may also be reminded of the fragrance of the knowledge of God.)