Glorifying God should be the ultimate purpose and aim of every Christian. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” But what does it actually look like to glorify God in our everyday lives? Here are some biblical principles and practical ways we can consciously glorify God in everything we do:
1. Recognize that everything you have comes from God
It’s easy to take for granted the abilities, talents, resources and opportunities God has given us. But we need to intentionally acknowledge that all good things come from Him (James 1:17). Our life, health, family, intellect, skills, resources, and even the air we breathe are all gifts from God. Thanking and praising God for these blessings helps us remember He is the giver of every good thing (1 Chronicles 29:14).
2. Use your gifts and talents to serve God and others
God has gifted each of us uniquely with abilities and passions. When we steward these gifts faithfully and use them to build God’s kingdom – whether through acts of service, creativity, teaching, encouragement or charity – we bring glory to God. Look for needs around you and seek God for creative ways to meet them. Be faithful with the gifts and responsibilities God has entrusted you with (Matthew 25:14-30). Offer your time, skills and resources to advance God’s purposes.
3. Work diligently and do everything with excellence
Doing everything with excellence honors God. Whether completing mundane tasks or pursuing bigger goals, work with all your heart as serving the Lord, not man (Colossians 3:23). God deserves our very best. So be diligent, avoid laziness, and seek to work with excellence. This glorifies God. Set a high standard in your work, act responsibly, and do things to the best of your ability. God is honored when we work with dedication, creativity and excellence (Proverbs 12:24).
4. Bring glory to God in your speech
Our words have immense power to either glorify God or dishonor Him. We can praise and thank God in our speech, sing worshipful songs to Him, and share testimonies of His work in our lives. We can speak words of truth, encouragement, wisdom and life over others. But we also need to avoid dishonesty, profanity, gossip, slander and impurity in our speech. The way we talk reflects the state of our hearts. May our speech always be pleasing to God (Psalm 19:14).
5. Do everything in love
1 Corinthians 10:31 says to do everything for God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says if we lack love, nothing else matters. So glorifying God necessitates doing everything in genuine love for Him and others. Approach each task, interaction and conversation with patient love, kindness, humility, compassion, forgiveness and grace. It’s through our love that God’s glory shines most brightly (1 John 4:12). Love should be our motivation in all we do.
6. Live in holiness and purity before God
God calls us to pursue moral excellence, integrity, righteousness and purity in our private life as well as public persona. We cannot glorify God while indulging in sin and unethical behavior. Glorifying God requires dying to selfish desires and reflecting Christlike character. So we must diligently fight sinful habits and fix our eyes on Jesus, allowing Him to transform us (2 Corinthians 3:18). The more we yield to the Spirit’s leading and walk in obedience to God’s word, the more we bring Him glory.
7. Be generous with your finances
Using our resources to be generous and bless others demonstrates trust in God’s provision and glorifies Him. We can glorify God through giving tithes and offerings at church, donating to ministries, supporting Christian causes, and being generous wherever we see a valid need. God promises to bless and multiply our generosity. So be willing to sacrifice by giving freely of your finances to further God’s work (2 Corinthians 9:6-15). Generosity reflects God’s generous heart.
8. Share the gospel
Telling others about Christ is one of the primary ways we bring glory to God. The gospel message reveals who God is and what He has accomplished for us through Christ. When we courageously share this good news, we display God’s love and grace, pointing people to salvation in His name. Look for opportunities to have spiritual conversations, share your testimony, and tell people about Jesus. There is no greater honor we can give God than introducing others to Him.
9. Do everything with reverence and gratitude
Living each moment with an attitude of reverence, awe and gratitude glorifies God. Recognizing God’s presence and lordship in all our activities keeps our focus on honoring Him. Adopting a thankful mindset in everything exalts God’s blessings over our circumstances. Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all situations (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Carry out even menial tasks with reverence and joy. A heart of worship glorifies God in all things.
10. Depend on the Spirit’s help
On our own, we cannot live in a way that consistently brings glory to God. But when we walk closely with the Holy Spirit and rely on His empowerment, our lives overflow with actions that glorify God. The Spirit enables us to produce His fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Drawing near to God and depending on the Spirit transforms our thoughts, desires and behavior. This brings great glory to God as we point all people to Jesus.