Living to Delight the Lord
Practicing the Presence of the Lord
As Christians, our desire is to live lives that please the Lord, knowing that His love surrounds those who trust in Him. We don’t earn God’s love, but through faith and obedience, we can bring joy to His heart. Psalm 33:22 reminds us of this beautiful relationship:
"May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You." (Psalm 33:22, NIV)
When we live with our hope in the Lord, His unfailing love covers us. The Bible provides many insights on how we can live in a way that pleases Him, guiding us toward a life of purpose, joy, and spiritual fulfillment. Below are seven key ways we can please the Lord, supported by Scripture and reflections from Christian thinkers who have walked this journey of faith before us.
1. Faith
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with Him, trusting in His promises and living in obedience, even when we cannot see the outcome.
"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)
As Dallas Willard wrote, "Faith is not opposed to knowledge; it is opposed to sight. Faith is a confidence in God and His actions in our lives based on knowledge of Him." Living by faith pleases God because it shows that we trust His character even when life’s path is uncertain.
2. Obedience
Obedience to God’s commands reflects our love for Him. Jesus made it clear that those who love Him will obey His teachings, and this pleases the Father. Obedience is not merely following rules; it is aligning our hearts and actions with God’s will.
"If you love Me, keep My commands." (John 14:15, NIV)
Corrie Ten Boom demonstrated radical obedience in risking her life to save Jews during the Holocaust. She once said, "You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have." Her obedience in the face of danger shows how a surrendered heart pleases the Lord.
3. Gratitude
A heart of gratitude pleases the Lord because it shows that we recognize His hand in every aspect of our lives, from the smallest blessings to the grandest miracles. Even in difficult circumstances, a thankful heart reflects our trust in God’s sovereignty.
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV)
G.K. Chesterton wisely said, "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." A life marked by gratitude pleases God because it acknowledges that every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17).
4. Humility
Humility is a hallmark of a life that pleases God. He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our dependence on Him, we open the door for His grace to work in and through us.
"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (James 4:6, NIV)
Richard Foster wrote, "The grace of humility is a great gift; it allows us to step into the flow of God’s love without demanding attention for ourselves." Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less—allowing God to be glorified.
5. Pursuing Holiness
God is holy, and He calls us to be holy as well. To pursue holiness is to strive for purity in thought, word, and deed, separating ourselves from the sinful ways of the world and dedicating our lives to God.
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV)
Paul Brand, a Christian physician, once reflected, "God's plan isn't to make us comfortable, but to make us holy." Pursuing holiness pleases God because it reflects His character in us and sets us apart as His people.
6. Loving Others
One of the greatest ways to please the Lord is to love others as He has loved us. The command to love is central to the Christian life, encompassing both our relationship with God and with those around us.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34, NIV)
C.S. Lewis famously said, "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." Loving others, especially when it is difficult, pleases God because it reflects His heart of forgiveness and mercy.
7. Seeking God’s Will
Pleasing the Lord involves seeking His will in all that we do. When we earnestly seek His direction, rather than pursuing our own ambitions, we honor Him and trust in His greater plan for our lives.
"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 12:2, NIV)
Eugene Peterson once wrote, "All prayer is prayed in a story, and when we pray, we are praying in the middle of God’s story." By seeking God’s will, we surrender our small stories into the grand narrative of God’s redemption, which pleases Him because it aligns our lives with His greater purposes.
Conclusion
Pleasing the Lord is not about perfection, but about a heart posture that seeks to honor God in all aspects of life. Through faith, obedience, gratitude, humility, holiness, love, and seeking His will, we bring joy to the heart of God. As we continue to grow in these areas, we reflect the nature of Christ, drawing closer to the Lord and living in a way that glorifies Him.
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose." (Philippians 2:13, NIV)
As Psalm 33:22 encourages us, may God's unfailing love surround us, even as we put our hope in Him, trusting that He is working in and through us for His glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment