Is it hard to please God? What does it take?
Is it even possible for us to do so, given that we each have so many weaknesses, failures, and imperfections?
The Bible tells us that it is not too hard to do so. God even tells us how to do it.
First, through faith in Christ, we are given the gift of righteousness – that certainly pleases God. The Lord imparts His goodness and purity into us through our faith in the death and resurrection power of Jesus. Such faith brings a pleasing sacrificial aroma before the Father.
Going a step further, what thoughts, attitudes and actions on our part might bring Him pleasure? To clear up some possible misconceptions, there are some things that people do that will NOT bring pleasure to God:
First, despite all of our unholy shortcomings, God is not looking for us to put ourselves down, hate or belittle ourselves. He created us. And put us here. Of course, God wants us to humbly remember that He is above us, and also that we are not above the people around us. But it does not bring the Lord delight to regard ourselves as having a low worth. He paid the highest price possible for our redemption – Christ’s death on the cross. He loves us deeply and treasures us as having a great value.
How about self-torture or self-punishment as a penance for our misdeeds? No, Christ took all the penalty for our sins, and would not gain any pleasure or joy from seeing that. It implies that His sacrifice on the cross was not enough to atone for our sins.
What if we deny ourselves the enjoyments of life or healthy, wholesome pleasures, would that type of thing be pleasing to Him? In general, no. God created the heavens and the earth for us to enjoy in His presence. For us not to do so with gratitude would be disrespectful to the Creator. We are to receive and enjoy all the good gifts He gives us, seasoning them with our prayers and thanksgiving.
What about fasting – TEMPORARILY denying ourselves food, drink, or other pleasures or conveniences for a brief season, to focus more on Him and His goodness? Would that please God?
In some cases, yes, there may be times to fast as the Spirit leads us. Fasting is sometimes done to show God that we are serious about Him. Jesus did refer to fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. This is a personal decision between us and God.
But through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord has also given us an exact prescription for a type of fast that will definitely bring Him pleasure.
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ Isaiah 58:6-9a (NKJV)
Through the prophet Isaiah, God presents a different type of fast that we can do in His Name – Loose the bonds of wickedness and the burdens that are holding people down and keeping them in a yoke of oppression.
Now that type of fast is a tall order. Releasing people from bondage, physical or spiritual, is something we can assist with, but the main work can only be done in the power of God.
There are so many types of bondage and burden that people suffer from: drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling addictions, sex addiction, poverty, injustice, prejudice, lack of clean water, lack of education, abuse, violence, depression, loneliness, anxiety, human trafficking, thoughts of suicide – the list goes on and on.
How can we possibly do anything about any of these, especially when so many of them have a spiritual dimension, far beyond the strength of human willpower to overcome. We need the power of God to break these chains and yokes of despair.
What can I do about it? First and foremost, pray. Be a listening ear. Call on God to provide the power, direction, and hope in each situation. Share our recovery stories. Give a ride. Lend a hand. Show support and love. Share our food and clothing with the poor and hungry. Help people to get proper shelter. Be generous and loving with our own families, as well. Pray some more.
God asks us to do this. It pleases Him when we do it. And it releases His divine, creative power to reach into someone’s life to help turn it around from the disastrous direction that they are headed.
When Jesus encountered a naked homeless man raging and terrorizing the countryside and living among the tombs, the first thing He did was to drive the demons out of him. Jesus began with spiritual healing. Soon afterwards, the man was found clothed and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus’ feet.
When the spiritual problem is solved, the rest will fall into place. A hopeless alcoholic or drug addict first needs to be freed of their spiritual bondage before the rest of their mental and physical problems can be solved. When we call upon God to help us to address these issues, He is pleased. When we do our part in faith, we trust that He will do His part, and we leave the ultimate results up to Him.
When we take such an approach, Isaiah tells us the things that God will do for us. He will light up our life like a morning sunrise. He will speed up our healing. He will guide us on the road before us and defend us from enemies behind. He will hear our prayers and answer us directly, telling us, “I am here!”
This is a very good deal that He is offering us. Lord, help us to do so, to live out the kind of fast that brings You pleasure. May it bring pleasure to You, and help to save a soul or two, or two hundred, from a path of destruction along the way.
Reflection
What can I do to help live out God’s prescribed fasting in my life?
Father God, teach us to do the things for others that are pleasing to You. What more could we want than to bring joy to the Creator of the universe, and to bless those in desperate need who You have placed on our path? Show us what to do and grant us the divine power to accomplish it. We are totally dependent upon You and Your strength to help us succeed. May You be glorified with such “fasting”. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a beautiful, blessed day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 