Consider these verses that address the fact that believers can and do please God.
Psalms 51:17-19
(17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(18) Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
(19) Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Psalms 69:30-31
(30) I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
(31) This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Psalms 103:21
(21) Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Psalms 147:10-11
(10) He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
(11) The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Proverbs 16:6-7
(6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
(7) When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Ephesians 1:4-5
(4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Philippians 2:13
(13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Colossians 1:10-11
(10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Colossians 3:17-24
(17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
(18) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
(19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
(20) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
(21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
(22) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
(23) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
(24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
(1) Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
(3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
(4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Hebrews 11:5-6
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
Hebrews 13:15-16
(15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
(16) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1 John 3:22
(22) And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
(comment)
By connecting the basic thoughts from each passage, I wrote the following paragraph.
*Pleasing God begins with God, Who takes pleasure in doing good to His people. We respond to His kindness and goodness with brokenness, godly sorrow and repentance, which leads to a life of total and continuous, self denying sacrificial love, and this pleases God. *Our spiritual worship expresses itself through song and thanksgiving, which is more pleasing than ceremonial sacrifices. *Ministering to God and ministering for God, blessrd God and gives Him pleasure. *God is pleased when we trust Him, reverence Him and hope in His mercy. *The first step in living at peace with other people is to please God. *God’s chose us to be holy and without blame, and He is pleased when we live in concert with His plan. *However, it is not by our own power or goodness that we please Him, but rather because He lives in us. *Pleasing God is an ongoing walk of good works and personal awareness of God’s truth and presence. *We are able to please God in every arena of life, regardless of the role we fill, such as employees, employers, husbands, wives, parents or children. * Not only should we please God and continue to please God, we should increase in our ability to please Him throughout our lives. *We don’t please God only in the good times, the easy time, when it is convenient, we please God in the heat of battle, when we are involved in life and death struggles. *Faith is the essential factor in pleasing God, because without faith it is impossible to please Him. *Pleasing God involves the whole man. It is not just what we say, but what we do; it is not just what we do, it is what we say. Our words and walk should bring God glory and please Him. *When we are in a right relationship with God, we want what God wants us to want, and we pray for that which God wants us to pray, thus we receive our requests because we are pleasing God.
