10 Ways to Live Your Life for God

Learn how to honor the Lord each and every day

Co-authored by Olivia Woodford and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: January 27, 2025 Fact Checked

Christians are called to live for Jesus and follow in His footsteps. But what exactly does that mean, and how do you do it? Living for Jesus or the Lord is to live a life the Son and Father would be proud of. Abiding by God’s rules and listening to His word are the first steps to living a Christian life. We spoke with Bible expert Olivia Woodford to bring you the best advice on how to live for Jesus, so keep reading to learn 10 real-world steps you can take today.

1

Spend time praying each day.

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Set aside a quiet time for prayer. Woodford explains that prayer is the first line of communication to God and “the foundation for any religious practice.” ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Olivia Woodford
Holy Bible Expert

Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.} Pray about anything, from your troubles and sins to things you're excited about. Think of prayer like texting or calling up the Lord—what will you tell Him? ^{[2]
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- There are several times when the Bible describes Jesus going to a quiet place to pray. If the Son of God needed prayer as part of His spiritual life, imagine how important it is for you. Follow Jesus' example and make it a priority to spend some time each day talking to God and listening for His guidance.

2

Serve others.

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Honor Jesus by giving your time and energy to other people. Even though He was God's Son, Jesus didn't come here and demand that others bow down and wait on His every need. He fed people who were hungry, healed people who were sick, and even humbled Himself enough to wash someone's feet. If you want to live your life for Him, treat others the way He did—by helping them when they're in need, forgiving them when they do things wrong, and loving them no matter what. ^{[3]
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- Try volunteering your time helping people in need in your community, like working at a soup kitchen or organizing a clothing drive.
- You can also serve people in a less formal way, like buying a sandwich for someone who's hungry or listening to a friend who's having a hard time.
- As Mark 10:43-45 states, “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

3

Share God's word with other people.

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Tell people about God's love and Jesus' sacrifice. You're usually excited to tell your friends when you see a cool movie or eat at an awesome new restaurant, right? Well, in the same way, the best way to honor the amazing gift of Jesus is to share it with others. When you're spreading that love, you're truly living for Jesus and making Him the biggest priority in your life. ^{[4]
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- Try joining an outreach ministry in your church to spread the message of Jesus while helping people in need.
- In Matthew 5:14, the Bible says, “You are the light of the world.” This means you have the power to share the light and hope of God's word with everyone around you. ^{[5]
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4

Have loving relationships with everybody.

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Spread love to live a life Jesus would be proud of. God loves all people, no matter their sins or their beliefs. Follow in His footsteps by doing the same—love all your neighbors! Show Jesus' love by encouraging and motivating others instead of criticizing them or putting them down. Be someone people can rely on, not someone who scrutinizes. ^{[6]
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- As Leviticus 19:18 states, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.” ^{[7]
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- Jesus commands in John 13:24, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” ^{[8]
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5

Spend time with other believers.

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Lean on other Christians for support when you need it. Jesus was the perfect Son of God, but He surrounded Himself with companions—not just to teach them about God, but to help support Him. In Matthew 26:38, as Jesus was facing death, He asked His friends Peter, James, and John to join Him as He prayed: “Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’” ^{[9]
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Research source} Even Jesus needed support; there’s no shame in asking for help.
- Ask your friends to join you in prayer or read Scripture together. A faithful fellowship can help you all grow as you follow Jesus.
EXPERT TIP

Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert
Mark Russell is a Christian Theology Expert based in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He is a Senior High School Youth Pastor at Gathering Point Church of the Nazarene, and has held this post for over nine years. He is the director of the Next Gen programs at the church, managing all youth education programs. Through this role, he also leads a team of adult youth leaders and completes preaching duties. Prior to working at Gathering Point, he worked as Assistant Principal at Grove City Christian School and was a Youth Pastor at Grove City Church of the Nazarene. He received a BA in Elementary Education and Teaching from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert

Sharing the gospel is an intimate experience. If you want to share God’s word with a non-believer, you first have to earn the right. It’s a deep, intimate conversation that requires a strong connection.

6

Resist temptation.

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Pray that God will help you be strong against sin. Being a Christian doesn't mean you'll never be tempted to sin. Everyone faces temptation, but you have the power through Christ to fight it. Lean on God’s word and His love for you when in doubt. Your faith makes you stronger than you think. ^{[10]
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- In Matthew 6:13, Jesus prayed, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” You can use this same prayer when asking God for help to avoid sin. ^{[11]
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- In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible promises that you have the strength to overcome the urge to sin: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.”

7

Avoid valuing material things.

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Put too much faith in objects, and you may lose sight of God. Woodford reminds us that when you're living for Jesus, remember that your goal is ultimately to join God and do as much as possible to serve Him. ^{[12]
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Expert Source

Olivia Woodford
Holy Bible Expert

Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.} In other words, what's waiting in heaven is more important than on earth. Avoid focusing too much on obtaining money or your possessions. ^{[13]
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- You can have nice things and enjoy them—they're blessings from God, after all! Just don't let the pursuit of them distract you from serving God .
- In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells a rich man, “If you would be perfect, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” ^{[14]
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8

Put God first.

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Make the Lord the most important thing in your life. God's very first commandment is not to put any other gods higher than Him. However, it's more than just not following another religion—it means not having anything in your life that's more important than God. Ask yourself, “Where do I turn when I’m upset? What makes me the most excited in life? Do these things glorify God?” By putting your faith first, you’re living for the Lord. ^{[15]
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- In Ezekiel 14:3, the Bible describes idols as “things that will make [you] fall into sin,” or something that distracts you from God’s word. Idols can include harmful habits and substances, but they can also be things like your career, friends, video games, or sports.
- If you're willing to lie, steal, or cheat to accomplish or obtain something, it's almost certainly an idol. The sin might be more subtle, like getting angry or being jealous of someone else if you can't have it. ^{[16]
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9

Study the Bible.

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Make time to analyze and understand God’s word. To live for and like Jesus, it’s important to know what He was like. The first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell us about Jesus' life and the lessons He taught. This is a great place to start studying God's word, but don't stop there! Jesus instructed us to “keep the commandments” in Matthew 19:17, making it clear that it's important to understand all of God's law in order to really live like Him. ^{[17]
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- Woodford recommends setting aside a little time each day to read your Bible. Even 5-10 minutes can help you understand the love of Jesus. It can help to do this at the same time every day, like as soon as you wake up, on your lunch break, or before you go to bed. ^{[18]
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  Expert Source
  
  Olivia Woodford
  Holy Bible Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.}
- If you're not sure where to start reading, buy a devotional book or sign up for a daily newsletter from a local church. These will give you a specific Scripture to meditate on each day.
EXPERT TIP

Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert
Mark Russell is a Christian Theology Expert based in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He is a Senior High School Youth Pastor at Gathering Point Church of the Nazarene, and has held this post for over nine years. He is the director of the Next Gen programs at the church, managing all youth education programs. Through this role, he also leads a team of adult youth leaders and completes preaching duties. Prior to working at Gathering Point, he worked as Assistant Principal at Grove City Christian School and was a Youth Pastor at Grove City Church of the Nazarene. He received a BA in Elementary Education and Teaching from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert

The Bible App is a great resource to use when studying the Bible. You can look up Bible verses, view study plans, and access different translations. With this app, the Bible is in your pocket at all times.

10

Trust God's plan.

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Look to Him for guidance even when times are hard. In Romans 8:28, the Bible promises that everything you go through is part of God's plan for you: “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good.” This is true even when you're faced with struggles or hardships. Have patience and know that the Lord always has a plan for you; you just have to have faith . ^{[19]
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- In Matthew 22:39, Jesus prayed that God would help Him avoid being crucified. And yet, He still acknowledged the perfectness of God's plan when He said, “Not as I will, but as you will.”

Expert Q&A

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Question

Why do adults get baptized?

Zachary Rainey
Ordained Minister
Rev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

Zachary Rainey

Ordained Minister

Expert Answer

Adults who participate in a “believer’s baptism” may decide to be baptized in water because they desire to identify with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. Baptism by immersion is a picture of being buried with Christ and rising to live a new life. Baptism tells everyone, “I no longer live to myself, I live a new life in Christ.” The Christian Scriptures exhort every follower of Jesus to “die” to selfish, sinful ways and to “live” in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

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Question

What does it mean living for Jesus?

Olivia Woodford
Holy Bible Expert
Olivia Woodford is a Holy Bible Expert and the Founder of Bible Women Speak. Olivia has been teaching biblical stories of women through theater since 1992. She is a member of Biblical Storytellers International and has performed at and hosted learning retreats with churches, schools, and women's groups of all denominations throughout the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. Olivia has a BFA in Theater Arts from Boston University.

Olivia Woodford

Holy Bible Expert

Expert Answer

For me, it would mean to embody Jesus' teachings. To love your neighbor as yourself, to have compassion for all those around you, rather than judging or ridiculing them. Make sure to love everything that comes into your presence.

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I am discouraged by people who profess to be Christians who are really angry, nasty, gossipers. It upsets me that they will probably go to heaven. What can I do?

Community Answer

It is not up to us to judge anyone or determine who is or is not going to heaven, that is up to God. Just focus on yourself and living up to the standards of your own faith. Avoid these people when possible, or calmly suggest to them that Jesus would not approve of their behavior.

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10 Ways to Live Your Life for God

Steps

Spend time praying each day.

Serve others.

Share God's word with other people.

Have loving relationships with everybody.

Spend time with other believers.

Resist temptation.

Avoid valuing material things.

Put God first.

Study the Bible.

Trust God's plan.

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