WHAT PLEASES GOD?

Psalm 51:18-19

We can live to please ourselves. We can live to please others. But above
all we should live to please the Lord. David closes his prayer of
confession, "Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of
righteousness" (v. 19). Everything we do should please the Lord.

A. W. Tozer used to say, "God is not hard to get along with." And this is
true. One day David said, "Let [me] fall into the hand of the Lord, for
His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man" (II
Sam. 24:14). God knows us, loves us and is patient with us. Everything He
plans for us is for our good, our enjoyment and His glory. So what pleases
Him the most? An obedient walk, not sacrifices. David says, "If I brought
sacrifices without repentance, You wouldn't accept them. But if I repent
and bring you a broken and a contrite heart, then you will accept my
sacrifice and my service."

It's interesting how David ends this psalm. "Do good in Your good pleasure
to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem" (v. 18). David in his sin had been
tearing down, not building up. He had given opportunity to the enemies of
Israel to blaspheme God. The word got out. Soon everyone knew what David
had done. So he says, "O God, when I was sinning, I was tearing down. I
was not pleasing You. Now I want to please You. And because I'm pleasing
You, I will be building up. And the walls of Jerusalem, walls of
protection, will be strong." Are you tearing down or building up?

God plans everything for your good, your enjoyment and His glory. As His
child, strive to please and honor Him in all you do. Is your walk with God
one of obedience? Make your life the kind that pleases Him.