10 Things People Who Love God Want to Do

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People who have new life in Christ have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. They are filled with gratitude for all God has done for them through the perfect work of Christ imputed to them by God’s grace alone through faith alone. They want to honor God in all things and love him wholeheartedly. Here are twelve things people who love God want to do, along with corresponding Bible verses (all Scripture quotations from the English Standard Version):

1. They want to worship him.

People who love God take the time to give God the worship he rightly deserves as their Creator and Savior, both as they gather with the saints for corporate worship and in their private devotions.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. (Ps. 29:2)

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” (Luke 4:8)

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23)

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:36)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Rom. 12:1)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb. 10:24-25)

2. They want to praise him.

People who love God cannot help but speak words of praise to him, rejoicing in his attributes and loving acts.

“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.” (Exod. 15:2)

My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. (Ps. 71:8)

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Ps. 150:6)

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. (Isa. 52:1)

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9)

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Heb. 13:15)

3. They want to pray to him.

People who love God know that he alone is sovereign over all things and that he wants them to come to him in prayer with all their petitions.

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. (Ps. 116:1-2)

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:6)

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Rom. 12:12)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil 4:6)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Col. 4:2)

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

4. They want to fear him.

People who love God fear him not with a sense of terror but rather with a sense of awe, respect, and reverence.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Eccl. 12:13)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Ps. 111:10)

“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50)

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Cor. 7:1)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. (Heb. 12:28)

4. They want him to forgive them.

People who love God want to ask his forgiveness for any sins they have committed against him and their neighbor.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. (Ps. 86:5)

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matt. 6:12)

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:13-14)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

5. They want to give thanks to him.

People who love God know that they are sinners who deserve God’s just punishment but instead are declared righteous in his sight through faith in Christ, and their hearts are overflowing with gratitude for all God mercies toward them.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Ps. 28:7)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

6. They want to trust him.

People who love God know that they can trust God, even when the circumstances of life don’t make any sense to them. They know God will bring his good plans to fruition in his perfect timing.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Ps. 9:10)

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Ps. 13:5-6)

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Ps. 62:8)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isa. 26:3)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Heb. 11:6)

7. They want to love his law.

People who love God want to uphold all of God’s moral law, for in doing so they fulfill their duty as his children and show love to him and his creation.

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways! (Ps. 119:1-3)

Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day. (Ps. 119:97)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31)

8. They want to know him.

People who love God enjoy learning all they can about him in both creation (God’s general revelation) and the Bible (God’s special revelation).

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;[b]
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4)

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Ps. 119:11)

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
    and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it. (Ps. 119:33-35)

My son, if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God. (Prov. 2:1-5)

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jer. 9:23-24)

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. (Phil. 3:10)

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

9. They want to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ with others.

People who love God want to share with others about all God has done for them in Jesus Christ and why there is no other way to be saved apart from faith in Christ.

“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:15-16)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rom. 1:16)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Rom. 10:13-14)

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. (1 Pet. 3:15)

10. They want to spend eternity with him.

People who love God want to be with him all the time and they look forward to the day they will be in his presence in eternal joy.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps. 16:11)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:16-18)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:3-4)

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