Led by His Spiritಮಾದರಿ

When Ira Stanphill was pastoring a church in Fort Worth, Texas, he drove home one day and on the radio heard an ad for “happy hour” at a local bar. Contrasting the pleasures offered by the world with those offered by Christ, Stanphill began composing music and lyrics for a new song even before he got home. We know the song today as “Happiness Is the Lord.”

Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,
No matter if the teardrops start,
I’ve found the secret,
It’s Jesus in my heart.

The pleasures offered by the world are at best temporary, and they come at a heavy price. Yet too often God’s people yield to the temptation to seek those pleasures rather than turning to Him for what only He can provide. It is in the working of the Holy Spirit that we experience the blessing of joy. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:22). The joy that Christ brings can reach our hearts even during times of great sorrow. This is why Paul could say he was “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Rather than seeking illicit pleasures, we simply need to take advantage of the close relationship with God He offers to us as His children.