Scriptural Guidance for Anointing Oil
Do you ever feel uninspired? I am having an uninspired week, or maybe just a mentally squirrelly week. I am overly excited about so many things (not complaining) that I cannot stay focused on one thing at a time. Nothing specific that came to mind when I asked myself what to sit down and write about today. So I did the only logical thing and started searching the internet for inspiration. I found it on the first click glory be to God. I discovered the website Rebooted Mom and she has a great little article about making scripture-related party favors with a little bag of mustard seeds and the related verse from Matthew 17:20:
Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.
I love her idea! It is genius! You can do many other similar "favors" using this idea. I thought about how you could put almonds in the baggie and the scripture could be Genesis 1:29:
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food."
Or maybe a baggie with bay leaves and a verse like James 1:12:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Or maybe a bag of raisins or dried cranberries with a verse like Matthew 7:20:
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Finally feeling inspired, I thought I might do something just a bit different and create an anointing oil. Originally, I considered basing the anointing oil recipe on the anointing oil from Exodus 30:22-33, but then as I was reading through the passage, I read Exodus 30:31-33:
And you shall say to the people of Israel, "This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people."
This stopped me in my tracks and caused me to ponder. Should we as Christians be using anointing oil today? There are several mentions of anointing with oil in the New Testament, but there is no clarification of what sort of oil they used. There is nothing in the New Testament that commands or directs us to use anointing oil, but there is also no scripture forbidding it. The good news is that as Christians, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. Out of reverence for God, I will not use the Exodus recipe and instead create a new recipe using the following verses as my encouragement.
1 John 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Anointing in the Bible was performed in ceremonies, worship, grooming, healing, and burial traditions. Ceremonial anointing in the Old Testament was a physical act involving smearing, rubbing, or pouring of sacred oil on someone's head or an object as a way to outwardly show that God had chosen and set apart that person or object as holy. Using this sacred oil for any other purpose was a serious offense. In the New Testament we can see in Mark 6:13 that anointing was used to heal:
"...they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil."
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Anointing Oil Favor Supplies
To make your own anointing oil gifts, you will need the following supplies:
10ml glass roller bottles
8.5 x 11 printout of the anointing oil PDF (see below)
Paper cutter or scissors
Olive oil
Anointing Oil Recipe
For each 10ml roller bottle
3 drops of frankincense (Boswellia carterri)
3 drops of lime (Citrus latifolia)
2 drops cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
~10ml of olive oil
Add drops of essential oil to the roller bottle, then fill the remaining space with olive oil. Place the roller insert and cap on, shake to blend the oils, and label the bottle.
Frankincense Essential Oil
There are a variety of frankincense species available in the essential oil marketplace, with Boswellia carterii being one of the more common options. For most uses, different species of frankincense can be interchanged. Known for its rich history and deeply grounding aroma, frankincense essential oil has been used for centuries. Here are some of its benefits:
Calming Properties: Promotes relaxation and supports you through difficult emotions.
Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Helps reduce stress and anxiety.
Emotional Uplift: Provides an emotionally uplifting effect.
Lime (Distilled) Essential Oil
Citrus essential oils, including lime, can be phototoxic, but distilled lime is not phototoxic. Lime essential oil, with its uplifting yet calming scent, is a powerful mood booster. Its benefits include:
Mood Enhancement: Reduces feelings of anxiety, depression, and exhaustion.
Creativity and Energy Boost: Promotes feelings of creativity, energy, and focus.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
There are a variety of cedarwood essential oils, all delightful in their own right. This recipe utilizes Virginian cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana), which has a mild, resinous, fresh aroma. Here are some of its benefits:
Confidence Support: Supports feelings of confidence during difficult times.
Anxiety and Stress Reduction: Helps reduce anxiety and stress.
Respiratory Support: Opens the airways when there is respiratory congestion.
Summary
Drawing from Scripture, we can create meaningful gifts to share with others, ensuring that our creations honor and glorify God. With God's guidance and blessings, we can craft an anointing oil suitable for distribution at church fundraisers, functions, and during evangelism of the Word. May this recipe provide a tangible reminder of our anointing by the Holy Spirit.
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