This is a question that many Christians ask themselves throughout their lives. At its core, God wants all people to have a relationship with Him and to follow His commandments. The Bible provides guidance on how to live a God-honoring life, but applying biblical principles to daily decisions can still be challenging. This article will explore what the Bible says about God’s desires for how we should live and make decisions.
Develop a Relationship with God
According to the Bible, the most important thing God wants from us is an intimate, personal relationship. God loves us deeply and desires that we love Him in return (1 John 4:19). This involves spending time with God in prayer, reading and studying Scripture, worshiping, and actively relying on Him daily. God wants us to know Him personally and see Him as a loving Father (Luke 11:2, John 17:3). As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). Making our relationship with God a priority pleases Him greatly.
Obey God’s Commandments
God has given us commandments and principles in the Bible to guide us into holy living. The two greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39). Obeying God’s commands demonstrates our love for Him (John 14:15) and leads to blessings (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). Disobedience results in consequences and distances us from God. God wants our obedience because He knows it protects us and leads to abundance (Psalm 19:7-11). As we obey God consistently, it strengthens our bond with Him.
Imitate Christ
One of the best ways to discern what God wants is to imitate the life of Jesus Christ. God sent His Son to perfectly model obedience and righteousness for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). Studying Jesus’ life and striving to apply His teachings daily helps transform us into His image (Romans 8:29). The Holy Spirit empowers us to exemplify Christlike character, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Pleasing God means patterning our thoughts, words, and actions after Jesus.
Fulfill Your God-Given Purpose
God designed each of us with special gifts, talents and interests to accomplish unique Kingdom purposes (Ephesians 2:10). Discovering your God-given vocation and calling pleases God because it aligns with how He intentionally fashioned you. Jesus said bearing spiritual fruit glorifies God (John 15:8). This fruit includes Christian character, good works, making disciples, godly stewardship of resources and using your talents. Fulfilling your divine purpose is essentially fulfilling what God wants for you personally.
Trust and Depend on God
Rather than trying to control life, God calls us to trust and depend on Him fully in all circumstances (Proverbs 3:5-6). He wants us to reject self-sufficiency and acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:7). Part of maturity in Christ is learning to wait on God’s timing (Psalm 27:14), accept His will (Luke 22:42), and believe He is working for our good (Romans 8:28). Faith pleases God because it recognizes His power and sovereignty over all things. The more we surrender control to God and rely on Him, the more we will experience His blessings and direction.
Become More Christlike
God’s ultimate desire is for believers to become increasingly conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). This transformative process continues throughout our lifetime and reflects the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in us. Becoming more like Jesus involves renouncing sinful desires and pursuing godly virtues instead (Colossians 3:5-14). As we devote ourselves to spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and worship, we grow deeper in Christ. Our thoughts, words and actions take on Jesus’ holy character. Pleasing God requires earnestly striving to embody Christ’s image in all we do.
Serve God and Others
Serving God and people was a cornerstone of Jesus’ ministry on earth. He instructs believers to follow His example by meeting people’s needs through humble service (Mark 10:45). God wants us to use our gifts and resources to serve Him and bless others, both inside and outside the Church (Galatians 5:13). This includes volunteering, giving generously, and sharing the gospel. As we serve in love, we point people toward Christ. God promises to equip and strengthen us to serve faithfully (2 Timothy 1:7). A lifestyle of service brings joy and pleases God greatly.
Lead Others to Christ
One of God’s clearest desires is for all people to find salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). The Bible urges believers to share the gospel message in order to lead others to accept Christ as Savior (Matthew 28:19-20). God wants unbelievers to hear the Good News and discover the new life He offers through His Son. When we tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us, we participate in Kingdom work. There is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting (Luke 15:10). Fulfilling the Great Commission brings much glory to God.
Seek God’s Will When Making Decisions
God promises wisdom to those who earnestly seek His will when making decisions (James 1:5). We honor God by submitting our plans to Him in prayer and inviting His guidance (Proverbs 3:6). To know God’s individual will, we must renew our mind to His Word (Romans 12:2) and listen for the Spirit’s promptings (John 16:13). God’s principles in Scripture give helpful direction. Making decisions based on worldly thinking often leads us astray. But committing our way to the Lord brings peace and aligns our steps with His purpose for our lives.
Be Thankful In All Circumstances
The Bible instructs believers to give thanks to God in every situation (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Even painful trials provide reasons for praise when we consider them from God’s perspective. Being thankful acknowledges that God is loving, wise and sovereign over all things. It also activates our faith and enables us to better perceive His guidance. Complaining and ingratitude displease God because they reflect doubt in His goodness and control. But when we cultivate gratitude in all circumstances, it honors God and unleashes His blessings in our lives.
Worship God With Reverence and Awe
One central reason why God created humanity is to worship Him. Therefore, God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). We revere and honor God by expressing adoration for who He is, considering His majesty and greatness. True worship flows from an accurate view of God’s supreme holiness, sovereignty and glory. Singing, prayer, Scripture reading, communion and giving all enhance our connection with God. As we worship God with holy fear and awe, He transforms us into His image. Our lives then increasingly mirror His excellence and righteousness.
Live Holy and Set Apart for God
God clearly instructs believers to pursue holy living because it honors Him (1 Peter 1:15-16). We are to live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8) and avoid partnerships with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). Pleasing God requires separating from worldly influences that dilute our devotion to Christ. Instead, we must fix our eyes on Jesus through spiritual disciplines. As we fellowship with other believers and immerse ourselves in Scripture, God’s holiness transforms us. Our thoughts, speech and conduct take on renewed Christlike qualities that bring much fruitfulness and joy.
Use Your Gifts and Resources for God’s Kingdom
Since God entrusts gifts and resources to believers, He expects us to use them wisely for Kingdom advancement, not selfish gain (1 Peter 4:10). God wants us to generously support Christ-centered ministries with our time, talents and treasures. Using what God gives us to help build His Church and share the gospel brings Him glory. We also must avoid loving money and material possessions, which leads to sin (1 Timothy 6:10). Instead, pursuing wholehearted generosity and radical stewardship of assets pleases God greatly and stores up eternal rewards.
Delight Yourself in the Lord
God wants His children to find joy and satisfaction in relationship with Him above all else. The Bible instructs believers to delight ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). God promises to give us the desires of our heart when He becomes our supreme delight. Making time to experience God’s presence and meditate on His Word nourishes our soul in a way nothing else can. Serving Him and others then flows out of spiritual abundance. As we find true fulfillment in God, it frees us from dependence on worldly substitutes that always disappoint. Our delight becomes seeing the smile of God.
Renew Your Mind with Scripture
Romans 12:2 explains that renewing our mind enables us to discern God’s will. Filling your mind with God’s truth by studying and memorizing Scripture is a vital spiritual discipline. The Bible exposes worldly thinking that leads us astray. As we meditate on God’s Word, the Holy Spirit clarifies His will and transforms us inwardly to be more like Christ. Hiding Scripture in our heart helps strengthen us against temptation and equips us for every good work. God wants us in the Word daily so it renews our thinking to align with His perfect wisdom. This pleases Him and bears much fruit in our lives.
Pray Continually
God desires for believers to cultivate a lifestyle of continual prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We exhibit dependence on God when we pray regularly about all aspects of life. Seeking His face through prayer demonstrates our faith in His power and care. God also wants us to listen during prayer for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. Praying Scripture deepens our connection with God’s heart and opens doors for breakthrough. Lifting up the needs of others through intercession pleases God as well. Consistently praying in all situations keeps us rooted in Christ and attuned to His voice.
Love God and Others
The two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). Everything God wants from us flows through the filter of Scripture’s “two loves.” Loving God looks like pursuing intimate relationship with Him, obeying His Word, serving wholeheartedly in His Kingdom, and worshipping Him alone. Loving people looks like compassionately caring for those in need, forgiveness, hospitality, generosity, and sharing truth humbly. God measures spiritual maturity by how well we love (1 John 4:12). Therefore, God wants love to motivate all we do.
Live at Peace with Others
An important way we demonstrate love for others is by pursuing peace in relationships (Romans 12:18). God teaches us to be quick to forgive, reject bitterness, and restore broken relationships when possible. He wants us to season our speech with grace and build others up (Ephesians 4:29). Striving earnestly for unity pleases God and testifies of Christ’s transforming power. At times maintaining peace requires sacrificial compromises without violating biblical principles. Other times, we must stand firm in truth yet communicate it lovingly. Either way, God desires that His people reflect His peacemaking nature (Matthew 5:9).
Hope in God’s Promises
As believers, God wants us to live with confident hope and expectation in His promises. The Bible urges us to fix our hope completely on the grace given through Christ (1 Peter 1:13). This hope anchors our soul when storms come and empowers perseverance. Hoping in God requires patient endurance and trusting His timing (Romans 8:25). earthly trials develop Christlike maturity in us for God’s glory. Placing unshakable hope in God’s faithful promises gives us strength to press on toward victory with joy. Our hope reflects the sufficiency of God’s grace at work within us, which pleases Him greatly.
Be a Living Sacrifice to God
After exploring principles on how to discern and do God’s will, Romans 12:1 concludes by urging us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. This means putting all areas of life on the altar before God – time, goals, finances, relationships, career, talents, recreation and everything that defines you. It requires trusting God’s sovereignty over your life more than your own plans. As we present our bodies daily as living sacrifices, God transforms our mind and produces fruitfulness beyond what we can imagine. Abandoning self-rule to embrace God’s complete Lordship pleases Him immensely.
In summary, discerning and fulfilling God’s will starts with pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. Loving and obeying God, serving others, renewing our mind with Scripture, praying continually, living holy, generously stewarding all we have been given, and sacrificing our own agendas to follow Christ wholeheartedly are all central to the abundant life God desires for us. The more we know His heart through studying the Bible, the clearer His purpose for our lives becomes. Ultimately, our journey on earth is all about pursuing God’s glory in all things. His pleasure becomes our greatest joy when we fully surrender to His wise and loving will.