THE FIVE THINGS THAT PLEASE GOD

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Ephesians 5:10: “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

Have you ever considered what truly pleases God or what He most desires to see in our lives? This is an important question because pleasing God is the ultimate goal for why we go to church, worship, and live a life of faith. All our actions are in vain if we don’t know what pleases Him. Many of the world’s religions are founded with the aim of pleasing God, and yet, much of their actions fall short because they do not know what He desires. To truly honor and please God is to understand what is acceptable to Him. Here are five things that please God.

The first thing that pleases the Lord is having faith. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:5-6 “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

This scripture tells us that Enoch pleased God because he had faith. Hebrews 11:1 further defines faith as a revelation given to us by the Lord, upon which we must act. Faith is not just a belief but a combination of revelation and action. True faith is born when we put into practice the divine insight we receive.

Faith is not just positive thinking or wishful belief; it is living out the revelation of God. Without action, revelation has no use, and this is what James speaks of in James 2:17—faith without works is dead. Moreover, Romans 14:23 tells us that anything not done in faith is sin. You can preach, perform good deeds, or live a religious life, but if your actions are not born out of faith, they are meaningless before God.

Another thing that pleases God is the true desire of our hearts.

1 Kings 3:5-10 “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.”

When Solomon became king, God appeared to him in a dream and asked what he desired. Solomon’s request for wisdom pleased God immensely. Solomon’s desire wasn’t about wealth or personal gain, but wisdom to lead God’s people effectively. This selfless and spiritual desire is something that resonates with God.

Our deepest desires should align with what God values. God rejoices when His people have a longing for true understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of Him. It’s similar to how a bride longs to know her groom more deeply—such a desire pleases the groom. If Jesus asked you what you wanted, what would you say? Would you ask for something physical or spiritual, something for yourself or someone else, something temporal or eternal?

There is a story of Sister Haiti Wright, who exemplifies a deep desire for God’s wisdom. She prayed fervently for understanding and discernment, and God honored her request. Her desire pleased God because it reflected a pursuit for spiritual riches over material wealth.

God is also pleased with those who are humble and acknowledge their weakness.

Psalm 147:10-11 “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

This tells us that God is not impressed by physical strength or human power. Instead, He delights in those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. Similarly, Isaiah 66:2 says that God esteems the one who is humble and contrite in spirit.

When Peter declared that he would never leave Jesus, it wasn’t his boastfulness that impressed God. Rather, God is pleased when we acknowledge that we can do nothing without Him. The Apostle Paul learned this in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God tells him, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul came to understand that his weaknesses provided an opportunity for God’s strength to be displayed.

When you are sick, rejoice, for in your sickness, God’s power is made manifest. When you are in trouble, rejoice, for it is in those moments that God proves His power. We, as believers, are like stars in the night sky—the darker the night, the brighter we shine. Our weaknesses become a canvas upon which God paints His glory.

One of the most beautiful offerings we can give to the Lord is our praise during difficult times.

Psalm 69:29-31 “But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.”

David says that he will praise God even in his distress. The natural human reaction to trials is to seek a way out, often by making promises to God like, “I will read my Bible more,” or “I will give more.” When we do this, we are essentially offering God something in exchange for deliverance, but this is not what pleases Him.

Instead, God wants us to let Him be God, to trust in His sovereignty and goodness without conditions. Job 35:9-10 speaks of a “song in the night”—a praise offered in the darkest of times. Anyone can praise God when life is good, but true faith praises Him in the darkness. When we sing praises during our trials, we demonstrate that our trust in Him is unwavering, and that pleases God deeply.

Lastly, our giving pleases God when it is done with the right heart and motive.

Philippians 4:18-19 “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

The Apostle Paul expressed gratitude for the gifts he received from the Philippian believers, describing them as a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice that pleases God. Paul’s contentment with what he received is a striking contrast to many of the demands seen in today’s religious world. Paul’s message was, “Thank you, I am well supplied,” unlike many today who seem to always ask for more.

Our giving must be motivated by the purpose of our hearts or the leading of the Lord, as described in 2 Corinthians 9:7. True giving is done cheerfully, not grudgingly or out of compulsion. Moreover, our giving should be directed by genuine need—Paul teaches this, and Jesus emphasizes it in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:34-40). Jesus also said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Giving to receive something in return is not true giving. The right attitude is giving because we have already received from God. This attitude pleases the Lord.

To summarize, there are five things that please God:

Having Faith: True faith is the revelation of God acted upon in our lives. Faith is not wishful thinking but living out God’s truth.
The True Desire of Our Hearts: God is pleased when we seek wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of Him. Our deepest desires should be spiritual and selfless, aligning with God’s will.
Humility and Weakness: God delights in those who acknowledge their dependence on Him. Our weaknesses become opportunities for God’s strength to be displayed.
Praising our Lord During Problems: Offering praise to God during trials and hardships shows true faith and trust in His sovereignty. Praising God in the “night” is especially pleasing to Him.
Our Giving: Giving pleases God when done cheerfully, without compulsion, and for the right reasons. We give not to receive something back, but because we have already received.

Understanding what pleases God is crucial for our walk with Him. If we live our lives to please God in these ways, we will find joy, fulfillment, and the assurance of His blessings. Let us strive to live lives that truly bring pleasure to our Creator.