Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
— Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
Have you ever wondered how to live a life that truly pleases God? I certainly have. Many times, I found myself striving to meet self-imposed standards, attempting to satisfy what I thought were divine requirements. Often, these standards stemmed from a misinterpretation of scripture. The result? I lived in constant tension, feeling pressured and unable to enjoy life to the fullest. Fearful, stressed, judgmental, and unhappy—I never seemed able to meet those expectations. No matter how far my human strength could take me, I always returned to the conclusion that I couldn’t do it on my own, which only led to frustration (James 2:10).
When you are characterized by strength and intelligence, it can be particularly difficult to accept your limitations in certain areas. Thankfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, when we acknowledge our weaknesses, He grants us His amazing strength (1 Corinthians 12:9-10).
The standard of holiness that God requires is so high that our human nature cannot meet it. However, this does not excuse us from striving to live up to that standard; God's expectations remain unchanged. That is why He sent Jesus—to pave the way for us to live a life that pleases Him.
Through Jesus, we have received the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us and guides us. He is the one who enables us to please the Father. The Holy Spirit is God tabernacled among us; this is why we are called the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19). He works within us, convicting us (John 16:8) and leading us toward the Word that transforms us (Romans 12:2). The Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing; as we hear the Word, our faith builds up and makes us willing to do what pleases God—the perfect and acceptable will of God.
A surrendered life allows us to relinquish everything to God so He can handle our challenges and work through them as the Author of all things. God desires for you to please Him, and He is actively working within you to make that happen. Accept this truth. Embrace the Word. Welcome the Holy Spirit and His work in your life.
It is important to note that the Holy Spirit is available only to those who have surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. While everyone can receive Him, it requires a genuine surrender. This is the essence of GRACE- divine enablement and help.
You may be reading this as someone already saved, someone considering salvation, or even someone who has never thought about it before. You might also feel as though you have backslidden. If so, please pray this prayer with me:
Heavenly Father,
I am grateful for life. Please have mercy on me. I accept Jesus this day as my Lord and personal Savior. Dear Holy Spirit, please work in me both to will and do of God's good pleasure. Have Your way. Please rule and reign in my life.
Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank YOU for the helping us to please you. What a privilege we have in YOU to be called YOUR own. Thank YOU for GRACE. In JESUS name.
