"I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy" (Psalm 43:4).

Every serious believer is often involved in things they later hate. The habitual issues that we battle with—those stronghold areas that are our greatest struggle—are our dilemma. After indulgence we ask ourselves, "Why in the world did I do that? I know better!" Or, "Why do I keep returning to that when I know it's not right?"

It's because of joy.

We are designed for it. God has hardwired us for pleasure. Placed deep within us is a drive for delight. And there's nothing wrong with this desire. In fact, it is eternally right and spiritually essential.

The Enemy of our souls knows this and uses it against us. Satan is always tempting us to fulfill legitimate desires in illegitimate ways. It was his first ploy with our garden ancestors.

When Eve saw that the fruit on the forbidden tree was "good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable" (Genesis 3:6), it intrigued her and called her name. She wanted the joy that she assumed would be hers with the partaking of this restricted fruit.

And the Enemy has not needed to change his methods. If you look closely at every temptation you wrestle with, you will see at its root a call to joy. We are deceived; we vainly believe that, in that moment, that particular vice will bring us the delight we long for.

God knows this better than we do, of course. And He knows exactly what will bring us exceeding joy. If you will listen quietly to our Father, you will hear Him ask this question: "Do you not think I know what will bring you joy?"

God desires our pleasure. As the perfect Father, He is thrilled when we are thrilled. He delights in our delight. And He knows that it is found in one place alone.

"In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever" (Psalm 16:11).

"I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy" (Psalm 43:4).

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).

"They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of your delights. For with You is the fountain of life" (Psalm 36:8).

Our problem, as always, is one of unbelief. Faced with the physical pleasure that we're able to control and access quickly versus the spiritual ecstasy of God's presence, we choose the immediate. We don't really believe that God knows what will bring us joy. We indulge in the temporary delight, only to discover long-term guilt and shame and sadness. Our unbelief always leads to a loss of the "exceeding joy" that is found only in intimacy with Him.

We will never be happy—genuinely joyful—until we go to the altar of God, to God our exceeding joy. He has made it that way to help us to Him. Every other route will leave the acidic taste of paradise lost in our mouth and the nagging realization that we have just missed what matters most—the one thing that will bring us true delight.