In the Gospel of John, chapter 16, Jesus said to his disciples, "...ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." God's Word has much to say about joy and how God wants his people to be joyous.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Jesus told his followers in John 15:11, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." How's your joy today?

There are three things you'll always find in the life of any truly joyful person.

They've learned that contentment comes from within. It was after he'd been beaten, whipped, stoned, starved, and betrayed, that Paul wrote, "...for I have learned to be content in all circumstances." (Philippians 4:11) Real contentment is often learned in storms, not sunshine. It's impossible to alter every situation to fit your life, but by God's grace, you can alter your attitudes to fit any situation. Listen: "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3) Joy comes not from new cars, homes, large bank accounts and more stuff. Joy comes from within.

They've also discovered that there's no healing in blame! Don't be like the man who had an accident, jumped out of his car, and shouted, "These drivers are all crazy! This is the fourth car I've hit today!" We may smile at that but until we learn to accept responsibility for ourselves, we will never have real joy. Accusations never bring solutions; only forgiveness does.

Finally, they always think of others ahead of themselves. Paul says, "Even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good..." (1 Cor. 10:33) Christians who don't have a cause greater than themselves have less joy than non-Christians who do!

Think about that. Your joy multiplies only when you divide it with others. We sang a little song in Sunday School when I was a child, called "J-O-Y." The words went, "Jesus, and Others, and You. What a wonderful way to spell joy. J is for Jesus for he has first place. O is for others you meet face to face. Y is for You and whatever you do. Put yourself third, and spell JOY."

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15:13)