Would you define yourself as a person who is or wants to please God? And before you say that this isn’t possible, or that everyone would want to do and be this, or how do we know how to please God, or any other response… I would say that we should all have this as a goal and that we all have a book that tells us how (in any situation). I would also quickly add that this is not the simplest or easiest path to walk.
HOWEVER, it is also possible for us to be a God pleaser. And how I know this is based on a number of factors (in no particular order):
1. We are told to renew our mind
2. We have a helper
3. We have a model
I would argue that the primary reason to renew is found in 2Corinthians 10:4-5 because we are in a battle. We are a target to the devil, who wants to cause us to fail or, not believe we have been saved so we are totally ineffective. It is critical, I believe, to realize and believe that there is a battle to weaken us, or cause us to fail, or become totally ineffective. Though we may be saved, our testimony is what the devil is seeking to eradicate from us so that our message is at least garbled.
The battle is for the mind. We all engage in battles, often with ourselves, in our mind. Who, what wins? The only way to develop the right/proper mindset is to renew our minds. When we accept Jesus as our Lord, we are made a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17…) and this means that we need to renew our minds as well. There are over 15 verses in the Bible that exhort us to renew, example:
*And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:23)
*For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. (2Corinthians 4:16)
*For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; (2Corinthians 10:4-5)
*Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
*And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
*Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
One encouragement is that we need to also realize we aren’t in this battle alone. First, the Father prepared armor for us to walk in (Ephesians 6:10-18). Duly note, though, that it is we who put the armor on, we are the ones in the battle so that it is we who need protecting. We do have defensive weapons – the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit. But again, we are the ones who use the weapons.
The second point also speaks to the battle and our effectiveness – The Holy Spirit. He has been sent to be with us, prepare us, help us in this battle. Never forget Jesus’ words that define what the Holy Spirit is and does: (John 14:16 AMP) – Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby – the Spirit of Truth. We are equipped in every area of our lives to be effective and successful.
In terms of the 3rd point, Jesus was sent as our example, our model. Paul exhorts us to mimic him as he mimics the Lord. With Jesus as our example, we can act accordingly. In this we can be a God pleaser. The one verse that would exhort me and provide a standard in order to achieve is found in Hebrews 4 (AMP):
“For he who has once entered (God’s) rest also has ceased from
Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive
diligently to enter that rest (of God, to know and experience
it for ourselves…” (v.11)
The goal is hearing Matthew 25:23 spoken to us –
“Well done, good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your lord.”
