Gospel for God’s Children by Linda Shields:
"How to Make God Happy"
Did you know there is something that we can do that makes God happy? We all want to make God happy, but we may not know just how to do that. In the Bible it tells us what he wants from us that makes him happy. In 1 Samuel 15 verse 21, Saul said he brought the plunder from battle to sacrifice to the Lord, but Samuel said in verse 22, " What is more pleasing to the Lord: your sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams."
In Psalms 51: 16 - 17, King David wrote, "You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God you will not despise." King David repented to the Lord after he sinned, and God forgave him.
In the book of Micah chapter 6: 8, "O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
God wants our faith in him. In the book of Hebrews chapter 11: 1, Faith is explained as this, " What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot get see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith."
In Hebrews 11: 6, " So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him just believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."
So what have we learned about what makes God happy ? It is for his children to have faith in his word, to obey his word, to do what is right, show love and mercy to others, and to " walk humbly with him" that is to have a relationship with God, pray, read his word and think and act on his word.
We have a new year, let us start the year off on the right foot by doing what pleases our Heavenly Father. Let us read his word, ask him to increase our faith, and to love one another.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love , your word, and especially for your son Jesus. It is our faith in him, how he came to earth to offer himself as a sacrifice for our wrong doing for the forgiveness of our sins, that pleases you. Help us to do what pleases you. In Jesus name, Amen.
God Bless