The Fragrance of the Presence of God

• 2 Corinthians 2:14 (ASV)
• 2 Corinthians 2:15 (ASV)
• 2 Corinthians 2:16 (ASV)

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The fragrance of the presence of God clings to my flesh like the perfume of my beloved, and though it fills the air around me with lingering richness even in solitude,
it is a stench to the nostrils of the adulterous one who would whip my spirit by spitting upon my heart and, hating my adoration of my first love, would cause me to ration my worship, rendering it fruitless yet familiar, impotent yet proud- blasphemous...and would then leave me to face damnation alone.

Picking my flesh from lusty teeth with the bones of my resolve and rubbing my blood through hair made thick and red by the folly of many a fallen lie-believer, vanity obscures the face of hell itself.

But the fragrance of the presence of God comforts, soothes, and brings true peace in place of war and brings war in place of false peace, for it is holy and true
and accompanies even the smallest taste of God's Word.

it lingers still
(fall 2001)

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