For Christians to be successful in any area of life, we must learn how to please God. Each morning we should wake up and say, “Good morning, Holy Spirit. What is your pleasure today?” Our desire to please the Lord above everything else in our lives—no matter the cost—is the secret to success.
Throughout Church history, men and women who God used mightily all had the same quality—a consuming passion to please God above all else.
God is looking for people who have an insatiable hunger to please Him no matter what anyone thinks. Great things will happen for those types of people. The Lord will show Himself strong on their behalf. (See 2 Chron. 16:9.)
Three Men Who Knew the Secret
Joseph knew the secret to success. When Joseph was seduced by Potiphar’s wife, he refused. He said, “How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (Gen. 39:9 NLT).
From being sold into slavery by his brothers to being wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph never wavered in His devotion to pleasing God. I imagine he woke up and said, “Good morning, Holy Spirit. I may be in jail wrongly, but how can I bring you pleasure today?”
After Joseph endured 13 years of trials, God showed Himself strong and greatly blessed him. He was exalted to prime minister and became the most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh. And he served in that position for 80 years!
When the prophet Samuel arrived at Jesse’s house to choose the next king of Israel, Jesse did not consider his youngest son, David, a shepherd boy, as a candidate. David’s family saw him as just a young kid who tended the sheep. But God saw his heart. He saw that David had an overwhelming desire to please Him.
The Lord said to Samuel, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7 NLT). The moment Samuel saw David he proclaimed, “This is the one,” and anointed him as king.
In Genesis chapter 5, we see that Enoch was a man enamored with God. I believe Enoch started each day asking, “Lord, what can I do for you today? How can I please you?” Enoch walked in such close fellowship with God that the Bible says, “God took him” (v. 24). He skipped death and went straight to Heaven!
Each morning we should wake up and say, “Good morning, Holy Spirit. What is your pleasure today?”
Living to Please God
Our greatest responsibility as Christians is to learn what pleases the Lord. As long as there is any degree of selfishness in us, we will live for ourselves and demand our way.
In Galatians 2:20 (NKJV), the Apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Paul had gained the desire to live only for Christ. His selfish nature had been removed, and Christ was able to live in and through him to accomplish great things.
Only what we do for God will last. The day is coming when we will stand as believers before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Whether we’ve lived to please people, our flesh, or God will be weighed out. Thankfully, while we’re here on earth, the Lord works in those of us who believe to give us the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Phil. 2:13 NLT).
Pleasing God Requires Faith
Pleasing God starts with faith. According to Hebrews 11:6, it’s impossible to please Him without it. Faith begins where the will of God is known. We can’t effectively please the Lord if we don’t know what His will is.
God’s plans for us usually require a sacrifice. No sacrifice is too great, however, when we develop a desire to do His will. He will be faithful to equip us and give us grace. Any desire we have, whether it’s for a ministry, a spouse, or a house, means nothing if it’s greater than our desire to please God. As we develop a relentless desire to live in a way that pleases the Lord, no matter what, He will set his favor upon us and open doors we’ve never dreamed of.
Author
Bill Ray
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