Pleasing God

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov.16:7)

We are instructed in the Word to learn what is pleasing to God (Eph.5:10). Below is a summary of the things that are pleasing to God and those things that are not. This list is not complete but extracted from the Bible verses that follow at the bottom of the post.

Summary of things that please God:

  1. Having faith pleases God (Hebrew 11:5-6, Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 2:20)
  2. Obeying His commandments (1 John 3:22; Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:20-22)
  3. Being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)
  4. The uprightness of the heart (1 Chronicles 29:)
  5. Bearing good fruit (Colossians 1:10; Galatians 5:22)
  6. Increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10; Hosea 6:6)
  7. Fearing God (Colossians 3:22)
  8. Being humble (Psalm 149:4)
  9. Loving God with steadfast love (Hosea 6:6)
  10. Sharing what you have, joyfully (Hebrews 13:6; 1 Chronicles 29:17)
  11. Not becoming entangled in civilian pursuits (2 Timothy 2:4)
  12. Turning away from all wicked ways, repentance (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 6:9)
  13. Rejoicing in hope (Romans 12:12)

Things that do NOT please God:

  1. Being a man-pleaser (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Acts 5:29)
  2. Man trusting in man and in the strength of his own flesh (Jeremiah 17:5)
  3. Being in the flesh (Romans 8:8)
  4. Man seeking his own will (John 5:30)
  5. Seeking and loving the glory that comes from man, rather than the glory from God (John 5:44; John 12:43)

MY PRAYER

Father AhaYah, we desire to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to You. Thank you that You are teaching us in Your Word what is pleasing to You. Please lead us and guide us into to becoming living sacrifices, offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You, our God— as this is our true and proper worship (Romans 12:1). Aman.

Bible verses about Pleasing God:

  • And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
  • For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
  • But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
  • When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)
  • Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
  • I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. (1 Chronicles 29:17)
  • So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
  • Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:33)
  • And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:22)
  • Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
  • So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
  • The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
  • No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (2 Timothy 2:4)
  • But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
  • So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)
  • Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)
  • Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. (Colossians 3:22)
  • Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. (Colossians 3:23)
  • And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:10)
  • Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. (Ephesians 6:6)
  • “Say to them, As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11)
  • I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
  • By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)
  • Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16)
  • For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
  • Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5)
  • “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” (John 12:43)
  • “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 5:30)
  • “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44)
  • “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:29)
  • He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)
  • For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
  • I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)
  • The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. (Proverbs 29:25)
  • For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)
  • Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
  • I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
  • Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
  • Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
  • For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)