🙏 How Can I Live a Life That Pleases God?
“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)
For anyone who has ever bowed their head in prayer or lifted their eyes to heaven with a heart full of longing, this question comes sooner or later:
“How can I live a life that pleases God?”
It’s not just about checking boxes on a spiritual to-do list. It’s about living in such a way that brings joy to the heart of our Creator. It’s about walking in the kind of relationship with God that reflects His love, truth, and purpose.
So, what does that life look like? What does it mean to walk in step with God’s will in a world that’s often out of step with Him? And how do today’s Christian leaders answer this timeless question?
Let’s break it down, grounded in Scripture, enriched by wise voices, and made practical for everyday life.
📖 1. Start with Faith – The Foundation of a God-Pleasing Life
“And without faith it is impossible to please God…”
— Hebrews 11:6
The starting point isn’t effort—it’s faith. Trusting God is the foundation upon which everything else rests.
John Piper, in his well-known work Desiring God, emphasizes that God is most pleased not by external acts but by hearts that are satisfied in Him. Faith isn’t just intellectual belief—it’s treasuring God above all.
Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, echoes this truth. “You were made by God and for God,” he writes. “Until you understand that, life will never make sense.” According to Warren, a life that pleases God begins when we recognize we were created for His purposes, not our own.
💡 Illustration:
Imagine trying to build a house without laying a foundation. It doesn’t matter how pretty the walls are—they’ll collapse. Faith is that foundation. Without it, no amount of moral effort will please God.
📚 2. Know and Obey God’s Word – The Blueprint for Living
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
— Psalm 119:105
The Bible is not just an old religious book—it’s the living and active Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). It tells us who God is, what He desires, and how we are to live.
Tony Evans insists that “Kingdom people live by Kingdom principles.” For him, Scripture is the authority for everything in the believer’s life. “You can’t live for God on your terms,” he often says. “You must live for Him on His terms.”
Priscilla Shirer goes even further, saying, “If you want to know the will of God, get to know the Word of God.”
🛠️ Practical Tip:
Develop a daily rhythm of Bible reading and prayer. Don’t just read—study, meditate, and apply. Obedience is how love for God becomes visible (John 14:15).
❤️ 3. Walk in Love – Reflecting the Heart of God
“Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us…”
— Ephesians 5:2
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37–40). If we miss this, we’ve missed the heart of Christianity.
Tim Keller, in The Meaning of Marriage and The Prodigal God, reminds believers that the Christian life is a life of grace-filled love. “God’s love changes us so deeply that it must overflow into love for others.”
Francis Chan, in Crazy Love, critiques lukewarm Christianity. He urges believers not to settle for comfortable religion but to pursue radical love and action—the kind that pleases God.
❤️ Illustration:
Think of your life as a mirror. When you walk in love, you reflect the image of God to the world. God is love (1 John 4:8)—and when you love sacrificially, you are living in harmony with His nature.
🔥 4. Be Led by the Spirit – Living by God’s Power
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
— Galatians 5:25
Trying to please God in your own strength will wear you out. That’s why God gave us His Spirit—to guide, convict, comfort, and empower.
Beth Moore has long emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit in living a godly life. “We were never meant to white-knuckle holiness,” she says. “It’s the Spirit’s job to transform us.”
Jack Graham agrees: “You cannot live the Christian life apart from the Spirit of Christ.” The Holy Spirit produces fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—that pleases God.
🕊️ Practical Tip:
Make it a habit to pray for the Spirit’s leading. Ask for sensitivity to His promptings. Walk daily with Him as your companion and counselor.
🧎♂️ 5. Live in Repentance – Keeping Short Accounts with God
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
— Psalm 51:17
To please God doesn’t mean living perfectly—it means living honestly. Sin is inevitable, but repentance is powerful.
Craig Groeschel teaches that transparency with God is key to spiritual growth. “We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with God through our weaknesses.”
Matt Chandler points out that repentance isn’t just something we do once when we’re saved—it’s a daily practice. “God delights in showing mercy,” he says. “He is pleased when we return to Him.”
🌧️ Illustration:
Picture a windshield during a rainstorm. If the wipers aren’t working, your vision gets blurred. Repentance is like those wipers—it keeps your spiritual vision clear so you can keep moving forward.
🌍 6. Pursue Holiness – Living Set Apart for God
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
— 1 Peter 1:15
Holiness isn’t about being prudish—it’s about being set apart. It’s living a life that looks different from the world.
Christine Caine challenges Christians to stop compromising with culture and start walking boldly in holiness. “We are not called to fit in—we are called to stand out.”
John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, speaks about the power of spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, and simplicity to shape a holy life that honors God.
🌾 Practical Tip:
Holiness grows best in the soil of discipline and devotion. Fast. Pray. Be careful what you consume. Create margins for God to speak and shape you.
🛠️ 7. Serve Others – Faith in Action
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s grace.”
— 1 Peter 4:10
A life that pleases God doesn’t just love in theory—it shows love in action.
Andy Stanley often asks, “What does love require of me?” That question drives believers toward service, generosity, and compassion.
David Platt, in Radical, warns against consumer Christianity. “The call to follow Jesus is a call to abandon the American dream and embrace the kingdom of God.” Serving others—especially the poor, the broken, and the forgotten—pleases the heart of God.
🧽 Illustration:
Think of your spiritual life like a sponge. If it only soaks and never squeezes, it becomes sour. Service is the squeeze. It keeps your faith fresh.
⛰️ 8. Seek God’s Kingdom First – Prioritize the Eternal
“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…”
— Matthew 6:33
We’re not called to build empires, careers, or comfort zones. We’re called to advance God’s kingdom.
Christine Caine often tells believers to “live for what outlasts you.” Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or a CEO, your daily life can reflect Kingdom values.
Louie Giglio encourages believers to think about legacy: “You are part of a bigger story.” Pleasing God means living for things that matter eternally.
🏁 Practical Tip:
Audit your calendar and checkbook. Are they more focused on the kingdom of self or the Kingdom of God?
📷 Living Illustration: The Potter and the Clay
In Jeremiah 18, God is described as a potter shaping clay on the wheel. Sometimes the clay resists and needs to be reworked. But when it’s pliable, the potter creates something beautiful.
A life that pleases God is one that stays moldable in His hands.
Let Him shape your desires, your future, and your heart. That’s the life that brings Him joy.
✝️ Conclusion: The Cross Is the Center
“We love because he first loved us.”
— 1 John 4:19
At the center of a God-pleasing life is the cross of Jesus Christ. We don’t live this way to earn His love—we live this way because we already have it.
Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning.” Living to please God is not about earning salvation—it’s a response to grace. It’s love answering Love.
So how can you live a life that pleases God?
- Trust Jesus.
- Obey the Word.
- Love well.
- Follow the Spirit.
- Keep your heart humble.
- Be set apart.
- Serve others.
- Live for eternity.
The beauty is, you don’t have to guess. He’s told you how—and by His grace, He walks with you every step of the way.
📚 References
- Piper, John. Desiring God. Multnomah, 2003.
- Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan, 2002.
- Keller, Timothy. The Prodigal God. Dutton, 2008.
- Chan, Francis. Crazy Love. David C. Cook, 2008.
- Moore, Beth. Living Beyond Yourself. B&H Publishing, 1998.
- Evans, Tony. Kingdom Man. Tyndale, 2012.
- Shirer, Priscilla. Discerning the Voice of God. Moody Publishers, 2017.
- Comer, John Mark. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. WaterBrook, 2019.
- Groeschel, Craig. Dangerous Prayers. Zondervan, 2020.
- Platt, David. Radical. Multnomah, 2010.
- Caine, Christine. Undaunted. Zondervan, 2012.
- Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines. HarperOne, 1988.
📝 Published by Mountain Veteran Ministries
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