“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17, NIV).
What does it mean to give God glory?
The word “glory” bears with it the idea of the greatness and splendor of God as it pertains to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the word “glory” is translated to mean “honor, dignity, worship, and praise.” When we put the two together, we see that glorifying God means acknowledging His greatness and giving Him all the worship, honor, and thanksgiving in all that we do and say. God’s glory is the essence of His nature- we bring Him glory when we revel in His divine essence.
How often are we so consumed by the mundane activities that we forget who we are doing them for? I believe if we lose the motivation that we are doing it to glorify God, we are prone to grumbling and complaining, much like the children of Israel. We become ungrateful, and our hearts begin to grow hard and cold towards God. We begin to “go through the motions” in life, and soon we look to other things to satisfy a longing in our souls that only a God-glorifying life can satisfy. We were made to worship God, and He gave us the gifts and abilities in which to do that every day.
In Colossians 3:17, the apostle Paul sends an encouragement in his letter to the Church at Colossae:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (NIV).
He was reminding the Colossians that their ultimate purpose on this earth was to give God glory by showing God’s love, walking in peace with one another, and doing all things with a heart full of gratitude and worship unto the Lord.
Worship means “ascribing worth.” It is what/who you give your time, your devotion, your affection, your finances, your heart, your praise, and thanksgiving to. I believe we have all been created to worship. Ultimately, our Creator, but since the fall, many people worship creation and/or themselves. This is idolatry, which is sinful. Worship is not just singing to the Lord or playing music unto Him (although that's important); It is making it a priority in our lives to spend time with Him in the Word and in prayer daily. Worship is denying yourself and saying "yes" to God every single moment of your life- walking in obedience by God’s grace through the power of the Holy Spirit. Every time we obey God and say "yes" to Him, we give Him glory. When we love God with all that we are, our hearts can't help but overflow with His love for others, leading us to share the Gospel with them or point them to His truth so they can know Him more. Worship is a daily lifestyle. We can worship God in the simplest ways, just by doing whatever it is, just for Him, and with a good attitude. Let us ask the Lord to help us daily have a heart full of worship so that He may receive all the glory through our lives.
It is easy to get stuck in the routine of life and forget why we are here on this earth or who we are living for. Our flesh wants us to walk in pride and boast of our own strength and abilities, but we know that God is the One who gives us the breath in our lungs and our talents and abilities. We must stay humble and ask the Lord to stir our hearts to point others with our words and deeds. Do you need to ask the Holly Spirit to fill your heart with gratitude so that you can give the Lord the worship He deserves? We all struggle with gazing upon our own lives, but we must gaze upon the only One who is worthy. God will help you to glorify Him in all things. Let us embrace the “less of me and more of You” mentality and walk in obedience daily, by God’s grace, so that others may give Him worship He deserves.
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/ Shaun Frankland
Related Resource: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)
When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.
This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
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