How can I please God?
God wants us to have faith in Him and follow His commandments. The Bible makes it clear that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). Here are some key ways the Bible says we can please God:
Live in Obedience to God’s Word
One of the primary ways we can please God is by living in obedience to His Word. God has given us His commandments and principles in the Bible to guide us into righteousness and help us live in a way that is pleasing to Him. As we read the Bible, we need to submit to God’s instructions with an obedient heart. We should strive to obey God’s moral laws such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), as well as all the other instructions He has given us in Scripture. Our motivation should be out of reverence and love for God, rather than just following rules and checking boxes (1 John 5:3). Complete obedience may not always be possible, but we should have a spirit of obedience and honor God’s principles. This brings delight to the Lord.
Walk in Love
God is love (1 John 4:8) and He desires us to walk in love. All of God’s moral laws are based on loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40). We can aim to please God by striving to love Him first and foremost, and then extending that love to those around us. This includes loving fellow believers in Christ, as well as loving nonbelievers and even enemies. God calls us to be kind, patient, forgiving and compassionate toward others, just as He has extended His love and mercy toward us (Ephesians 4:32). Walking in unselfish, sacrificial love pleases God and reveals His nature to the world.
Pursue Righteousness and Holiness
In addition to love, God also calls us to pursue righteousness, purity and holiness. We are instructed to “hate evil” and “cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). God wants us to turn away from sinful habits and worldly living, instead setting our minds on heavenly and eternal things (Colossians 3:1-2). As we yield every area of our lives to the lordship of Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sinful desires and reflect God’s holy character. Our aim should be to honor God with our thoughts, speech and conduct. Pursuing personal holiness is essential to pleasing God and growing in intimacy with Him.
Be Humble and Repentant
Two additional qualities that are pleasing to God are humility and repentance. We are to come before God with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging our sinfulness and need for His mercy and grace (Psalm 51:17). Pride is detestable to God, while humility demonstrates proper reverence for Him (James 4:6-10). We also please God when we sincerely repent of our sins and turn away from wickedness. A repentant heart that eagerly seeks restoration and forgiveness is beautiful to God. Maintaining humility and repentance allows us to walk in holiness before God.
Trust and Depend on God
As humans, we often try to control our lives and live in our own strength. However, this is displeasing to God. He wants us to totally trust in and depend on Him rather than relying on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). We demonstrate faith when we pray persistently, seek God’s will, and rely on His power and provision rather than trying to figure everything out in our own wisdom. As we yield control to God and lean on Him daily, He is pleased. He wants us to look to Him as Provider, Sustainer, Counselor, and Lord of our lives.
Be Thankful and Generous
Expressing thankfulness and generosity also brings joy to God’s heart. As we regularly give thanks to God in all circumstances and for all His blessings, it shows that our focus is on Him rather than on our own wants and needs (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Generosity also demonstrates trust in God as Provider when we freely share our finances, time, abilities and possessions with others (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). A righteous man is generous and gives freely to the poor and needy (Psalm 112:9). As we cultivate grateful and generous hearts, it pleases our Heavenly Father.
Spread the Gospel
One of the most important ways to please God is by participating in His mission of spreading the gospel. God wants “all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). When we share our faith with others, it results in glory to God as His plan of redemption is fulfilled. God is pleased when we tell nonbelievers about the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. He also calls us to make disciples by teaching and encouraging those who follow Jesus. When we take part in the Great Commission, it brings joy to God and pleased Him greatly (Matthew 28:18-20).
Produce Spiritual Fruit
As born again believers, God delights when we produce spiritual fruit in our lives. This includes developing Christlike virtues such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Fruitfulness demonstrates that we are spiritually alive and growing. God prunes and disciplines us so that we can bear much fruit to His glory (John 15:8). Evidence of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives brings God pleasure. He wants to produce His character in us.
Use Gifts to Serve Others
God has also given spiritual gifts to believers which we are to use to build up fellow Christians and serve the greater good (1 Peter 4:10). Whether it’s teaching, serving, encouragement, generosity, administration, evangelism or any other gift, God is pleased when we use what He’s entrusted to us. We steward God’s gifts well by selflessly serving others, meeting needs in the church, and expanding God’s Kingdom. Using our gifts faithfully pleases God and also results in joy for ourselves as we walk in our purpose (Ephesians 2:10).
Pray Continually
God desires us to develop a dynamic prayer life and maintain ongoing communication with Him. When we bring everything to God in prayer – our needs, intercessions, praise, thanksgiving and questions – it shows that we depend on and trust in Him for all things. Praying demonstrates our reliance on God rather than self-dependence. Bringing even our small daily concerns and decisions to God pleases Him as it reflects an intimate, trusting relationship. We can practice praying continually by developing an ongoing God-consciousness and dialogue throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Worship God Wholeheartedly
One of the chief ways we can please God is through heartfelt worship. God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We are to worship God alone (Matthew 4:10), offer our best in worship (Genesis 4:4-5), and worship from the heart (Psalm 103:1). Our worship includes singing praises to God, but also extends beyond music. We worship God through obedience, service, reverence, thanksgiving, prayer, and living all of life for His glory. When we exalt and honor God’s supreme worth through worship, it brings great pleasure to Him.
Have Faith in God
In Hebrews 11:6 we read that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Our gracious and sovereign God wants us to trust in His character and abilities. We demonstrate faith when we believe God is who He says He is, follow His commands even when we don’t understand, and trust that He is working all things together for our good and His glory. Choosing to believe God’s truth and cling to it despite our shifting feelings pleases Him. He wants us to believe His Word and promises wholeheartedly.
Fear and Reverence God
In addition to loving and trusting God, He also wants us to fear Him. This means approaching God with utmost reverence, awe, and respect. The fear of the Lord is foundational to true wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). When we perceive God in His glory, majesty and holiness, it results in righteous fear. We are to tremble before His Word (Isaiah 66:2), turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:7), and realize it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). A right fear motivates us to forsake sin and obey God’s commands with awareness of His righteous judgments.
Walk in Wisdom and Integrity
Proverbs reminds us repeatedly that those who walk in wisdom and integrity are pleasing to the Lord. God is pleased when we pursue prudence, discretion and moral uprightness. As we stay far from foolishness and crooked speech, it honors God who gives wisdom liberally to those who ask and live righteously (James 1:5). He delights when we speak edifying words and conduct ourselves with honesty, decency and justice. Honoring God with wise and moral choices in work, business, church and relationships pleases Him.
Be Heavenly Minded and Eternally Focused
God also wants us to live with an eternal perspective and set our minds on things above rather than earthly things. When we understand our identity in Christ and citizenship in heaven, we can live wisely and purposefully on earth (Philippians 3:19-20). This world is fleeting, but God’s Kingdom is eternal. When we live each day in light of eternity, we are motivated to live for God’s will and glory. With an eternal focus, pleasing God becomes more important than pleasing self or gaining worldly approval and rewards. Keeping our focus on the heavenly home God is preparing for us brings Him pleasure.
Accept Trials and Persecution
Finally, God is pleased when we respond to trials and persecution with perseverance, joy and trust in His sovereignty. He knows suffering will refine our faith and make us more like Christ. The Bible says we will share in Christ’s suffering (2 Timothy 3:12). So when we face various trials with patience and maintain our hope in God’s purposes, it brings Him glory. Even amid persecution for righteousness, we can rejoice knowing God sees and will reward our faithfulness (Matthew 5:10-12). Our steadfast hope through every hardship pleases God as it reflects our trust in His plan.
In summary, some key ways we can aim to please God each day include: obeying His Word, walking in love, pursuing holiness, being humble and repentant, trusting and depending on Him, giving thanks and being generous, sharing the gospel, producing spiritual fruit, using our gifts to serve others, praying continually, worshipping Him wholeheartedly, having faith in His truth, fearing and revering Him, living wisely and with integrity, keeping an eternal perspective, and persevering through trials. As we seek to please God in these ways, out of love and reverence for Him, it will bring joy to our Heavenly Father who delights in His children walking in righteousness, truth and love.