Pleasing God

We’ve been examining the names of God, hopefully realizing more deeply the security we have in Him. But what does God say about you – about me? Can God say about me as He said about Christ, “with you I am well pleased.” “…And a voice came from heaven: ‘"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’" Luke 3:22

That doesn’t necessarily mean that I have that favor or responsibility of being acclaimed by God, does it? Check with me at 1 Thessalonians 4.
“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”1 Thessalonians 4:1.

Ook oh! We are to please God. How do I accomplish that? The following verses of chapter four address the question. Characteristics of a person pleasing God as seen in 1 Thes.4.

2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified (set apart to God): that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Further characteristics of a person pleasing God
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 - NKJV
"If anyone is desiring to come after me as a follower of mine, let him at once begin to lose sight of himself and his own interests, and let him at once begin to take up his cross and carry it, and let him start taking the same road that I travel in company with me, and let him continue to do so moment by moment." Mark 8:34 - Wuest's Expanded Translation.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:3, 6.
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." Matthew 19:17
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
The Matthew 5 beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted because of righteousness, you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. All characteristics of one pleasing God.

Summary
Fully living out the challenge of PLEASING GOD involves “dying to self and living in Christ”, renewing your mind and being strengthened with might in your inner man by God's Spirit.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

Results
"When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7

This obviously is a skeleton presentation. May I encourage you to develop this theme with further study. I can't but believe that living in such a way that pleases God is a tremendous enhancer to one's self esteem.