The Old Testament and the New Testament provide a lot of counsel as it relates to pleasing God. The Bible teaches that: obeying His commands, doing His will, and regarding Him with fear are things that give Him great delight and cause us to receive blessings and rewards.
What Does The Bible Say About Pleasing God?
Pleasing the Lord has to do with our actions and the consequences and effects of these actions. The Lord does not delight in us when we disobey His word, ignore His will, and act in evil ways.
However, when we do the things that meet His approval, He rewards us with many blessings and takes great delight in us.
In Luke 12:32 the word of God comforts us by saying, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom”. When we repent of our evil ways like the children of Israel, we have the assurance that the Lord is with us.
Zephaniah 3:17 confirms this point by stating, “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing”.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 also highlights the blessings related to pleasing God and the consequences of not doing so. It states, “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind”.
What It Means To Please God?
Knowing what it means to please the Lord will better help you to do the will of God and appreciate the blessings that He bestows on those who do His delight. The example set by Jesus and the instructions given by the apostles help us to better understand what it means to please God.
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5 NIV
Jesus lived a life of humility and holiness in constant communion with the heavenly Father. Throughout His ministry He withdrew from the crowds to spend personal time with the Lord.
In this text Jesus went up into a mountain with only three of His disciples. He was transfigured before them and while Peter was proposing that three tabernacles be made a voice from heaven spoke.
The voice declared that Jesus is, “my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased…”. The Lord was pleased with the life, ministry, and example that Jesus set. Jesus’ example is a lesson for us to live in constant union with the Lord.
The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” John 8:29 NIV
This text is another confirmation that while here on earth Jesus epitomized what it means to please God. Sharing a bond with the Lord not only means that we will enjoy His constant presence in our lives but that He will be pleased with us.
equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:21 NIV
In this text the writer of Hebrews points to the fact that doing the good will of God puts us in a position to be equipped by Him and allow the Spirit to fashion us to live pleasing lives as we embrace the glory of God. When we give glory to the Lord by doing His work, we please Him.
On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV
In the beginning of first Thessalonians two the apostle Paul spoke about the difficulties associated with spreading the gospel and the dedication that it requires. He also advised that whatever we do should be done with pure intentions.
Our motive should be to share the good news of the gospel with others because we were commissioned by Jesus to do so.
If we try to please people, when we come upon opposition and difficulties, we will put the work of God on hold. On the other hand, if our intention is to please the heavenly Father we will continue to do His work even when others oppose or try to stop us.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 NIV
In very plain words the apostle Peter shares what it means to please God. As people marveled about how the apostles spoke in tongues and questioned among themselves what had happened, Peter called them to repentance, baptism, accepting Christ Jesus, and receiving the Holy Spirit.
What Are The Ways To Please God?
The word of God highlights repentance, the fear of the Lord, obedience, and the sacrifice of praise as things that might be done by the children of God to please Him.
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7 NIV
Rejoicing in heaven signifies that the Lord and His heavenly host show great delight in something. In Luke fifteen, when one sinner repents, heaven is pleased.
It is not God’s will that His children should stray from the path of righteousness. Jesus stated that He did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
This is why verse ten tells us that it brings great joy to the Lord when we repent. It states, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”. Luke 15:10
the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11 NIV
The psalmist David understood what it meant to please God. In this chapter he started out by praising God. In the King James Version, he started the first verse stating that praise is pleasant and comely. He then mentioned the loving care that God has for us and all of creation.
In verse eleven he noted that the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him. To fear God in this context does not imply being afraid or terrified of God but having respect and thinking about Him with awe and reverence.
Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1 NIV
This text highlights what happens when the Lord is pleased with us. When we take pleasure in doing good works, following His will, and obeying His commandments He in turn blesses us.
This verse also includes the fear of the Lord as an important prerequisite for enjoying His blessings. The texts that follow point to a number of blessings for those who fear the Lord.
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 NIV
According to the prophet Samuel, it would please our heavenly Father if we only did good things and lived holy and upright lives. Though the provision was made to remedy the problem of sin God would much prefer if we had no need for a burn offering or to ask for forgiveness.
Micah 6:7-8 tells us what displeases the Lord and what He expects of us.
It states, “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”
When we live just, humble lives the Lord is delighted because this is what He requires.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV
God is not pleased with a burnt offering and the sacrifice of rams. What God delights in is a sacrifice of praise as we openly proclaim His name. This text also forcefully reminds us that we should do good work and share with others.
How Do I Live Pleasing To God?
Living a life that is pleasing to God requires having a knowledge of God, living according to His laws, and submitting to His will. This means that you will need to have faith, be spiritually minded, and live a holy life.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
By following the example of Jesus and being baptized you are making a decision to please God with your life while accepting His son as an atoning sacrifice that saves you from sin.
John the Baptist was a preacher and he understood the importance of being baptized. Jesus, the son of God was sinless yet He got baptized to fulfill the scriptures and leave an example for you to follow.
A voice from heaven declared, ‘with him I am well pleased’ for Jesus who was sinless. How much more would it please the Lord for you to accept Jesus and be baptized?
And 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. Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Children of light need an important trait to follow the Lord and trust in Him. The word of God says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. If you hope to please the Lord then you need to have faith.
You need to exercise faith to endure trials, to resist temptation, to stand against the wiles of the devil, and to grow spiritually. If you practice the things of the faith and endure to the end, you will claim the promise of eternal life.
Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:24 NIV
The story of Enoch is an excellent example of how the Lord rewards those who please Him. It highlights the importance of faith as a fruit of the spirit that delights the Lord. Enoch did not experience death because he walked faithfully with God.
When you walk faithfully with God you are claiming the blessing of Jesus Christ who has conquered death and the grave and will one day return to resurrect all who die believing in Him. Only those who please the Lord will inherit the kingdom of God.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 NIV
Here is another scripture passage that looks at faith and the example of Enoch. The writer of Hebrews noted that Enoch was commended as one who pleased God because of his tremendous faith.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8 NIV
This scripture beautifully answers the question, how do I live pleasing to God? In living a life that is pleasing to God you cannot be carnal minded because this will lead to death. Instead, you need to be led by the spirit, submit to God’s laws, and avoid the things of the flesh.
Verse fourteen of this chapter points out that those who are led by the spirit of God are His children. It states, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God”.
1 John 3:1 also alludes to this fact by saying, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”. Walk after the spirit, submit to the law of God, and He will be pleased with you.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Offering your life and your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord does not only mean that you are submitting to and following God’s will.
As you acknowledge the mercies of God, focus your mind on the things of the spirit, turn your attention to heavenly things, and live in holiness, you also gain the father’s approval.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV
This passage isn’t just a reminder to ensure that your thoughts and the things you meditate on bring pleasure to the Lord but is also a beautiful prayer. When you want to please the Lord, you may prayerfully repeat the words below.
Gracious Father, may the words of my mouth and the things that I focus my mind on be acceptable in your sight and bring glory to you. O Lord, may you be pleased with me and the life I live. Amen.
Conclusion
There are various ways to please God and submit to His will. Understanding what it means to please God, knowing the ways to please Him, and finding out how to live pleasing to the Lord are very important.
This is because not pleasing the Lord has certain consequences while there are many blessings and rewards for living according to His good pleasure.
