The Happy Christian: Ten Ways to Be a Joyful Believer in a Gloomy World

I have always battled discouragement and depression as a Christian since I was a young boy. As a pastor for close to 30 years I still battle discouragement and depression to varying degrees. Therefore, I am always on the look out for anything that can help me in the process of becoming happier and more joyful. Even when I find myself being happy and full of joy I'm often around people in my church and the world that are struggling with depression and discouragement. Therefore, I am glad that David Murray - a pastor-theologian has written and given this wonderful resource for me personally to increase my own happiness, and to help others pursue happiness in a gloomy and dreary land.Murray tackles ten specific areas that can increase our happiness in the chapters that make up this book. In a nutshell here's what he tells the reader to focus on: The first thing we need to do is change the way we think. Oftentimes we can't change our circumstances, but we can change what and how we think about them. Murray says that 40% of our happiness (he gives research evidence to back up this statistic) depends on how we think about things. Murray states, "Our hopes of living positive lives depend largely on getting our thoughts about the facts right. Most unhappy people are unhappy not because of their situation but because they let their feelings rule their thoughts, or they think about things in the wrong way." Murray goes on to explain how the Psalmist changed his mood in Psalm 77 by honing in on proper facts, leading to right thoughts, resulting in positive feelings. He delineates the steps we can take in this process for any feeling or thought we encounter. I found chapter One to be immensely helpful. He gives four fundamentals for getting our thinking right: (1) Prioritize the facts; (2) Gather the facts; (3) Interpret the facts; and (4) Use the facts. "Ninety percent of your long term happiness is predicted not by your external world , but the way your brain processes the world.In subsequent chapters Murray shares how to control your exposure to the media (which is largely negative); how are salvation is based on what Jesus has done for us (not on what we can do for Him); How Christ - not other believers should be our focus; how to focus more on the future than on our past; how to see grace everywhere; how to become more of a praiser than a criticizer; how giving increase happiness more than getting; and how both work and being around racial diversity lead to tremendous fulfillment.I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is chalk full of statistics, psychological studies, case studies, great quotes, illustrations, examples, and practical ways to be proactive in becoming a happier Christian. Murray defines Christian happiness as "a God-centered, God-glorifying, and God-given sense of God's love that is produced by a right relationship to God in Christ and that produces loving service to God and others." He demonstrates from Scripture and through a deep theological understanding that "Christianity doesn't deny the difficult and painful reality of sin and suffering that runs through our lives, but with one vertical line from heaven to earth, with the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, Christianity promises to change the equation of our lives into a positive result."Murray's book is wider, more theologically deep, and biblically accurate tun other books of this ilk - which tend to be shallow and thus unhelpful. Therefore, Murray has done a great service in writing a book that gives Christians foundational resources based on theological sound bedrock truths that can help one withstand the storms of life. I find myself at least 40% happier since I've read and applied some of the principles of this book. I believe that any Christian will be happier, and more useful in helping others be more like Jesus as a result of reading and applying the principles of this fantastic resource. Most importantly, God is glorified when we delight in Him and His creation - we were made to delight in the One who delights in us.

Such a helpful book. Parts have been reread and implemented which have definitely changed my life. I've purchased additional copies for friends and family members as well. Such a blessing!

Ever wondered what would happen if a Christian with a high view of the Bible, and fully abreast of scientific research on what makes us happy, decided to write a book about the subject? Now you can find out.Great book for people who find Paul appealing but Peale appalling.

As Christ-followers, we are supposed to be filled with joy. Why then are Christians depicted as stoic, or even angry. This book died a fabulous job at changing the focus of Christian life in practical ways. Be a happy Christian; read the book.

THOROUGHLY delightful. It was so good that I had to lay it down and think about it for a few weeks before finishing it. Too much good stuff. I'm pretty tuned in to joy, but this book took me to a new level. Biblical, reality-based, scientifically aware, and down to earth. I cannot endorse it highly enough. Read it.

Excellent book! I must admit the first chapter had me laughing to tears! It was so right on! Dr Murray does an excellent job in focusing our attention to what really matters! Great book! I have given three away to my adult children already!

I've just read David Murray's The Happy Christian: Ten Ways to be a Joyful Believer in a Gloomy World. Dr. Murray is professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and pastor of the Free Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI. He is the author of Christians Get Depressed Too. He says in his introduction to his new book that he thought of calling it, Christians Can Be Happy Too! Dr. Murray's expressed intent in writing The Happy Christian is "to help you live a powerfully optimistic and meaningful life in an increasingly pessimistic culture." I think he succeeds. This book arrived at a providentially good time. I've just begun preaching through Job which focuses on perspectives for sufferers. It's a book that is needful yet sobering to study and to preach. In addition, circumstances around me and in my family were weighing heavily. I lost sight of the joy of which Scripture so often speaks. Dr. Murray's book is like cool water on an August day in Georgia. Let me be clear, Dr. Murray has no patience with a prosperity gospel approach. This is not Pollyanna Christianity. This is realistic optimism rooted in God's truth. His premise is "Christian happiness is a God-centered, God-glorifying, and God-given sense of God's love that is produced by a right relationship to God in Christ and that produces loving service to God and others." What Dr. Murray offers is true practical theology. This is a book that teaches Biblical truth and draws from the common grace insights of others. He does a great job of making the case for happy Christians with a sound theological approach for how we can get there. At the risk of over the top hyperbole, I will say this is one of the most helpful books I've ever read. I recommend it highly. I plan to encourage all of our church family to read and discuss this book. It's that good.

Doesn't pull any punches or play any tricks. Based solidly on the Bible and corroborated by science. I found myself convicted, challenged, and happier!

David Murray's book 'The Happy Christian: 10 ways to be a joyful believer in a gloomy world' caught my eye when it was first published, but then a friend's recommendation convinced me to order it and start reading. This is the first David Murray book I've read and I will be tracking down others as I found his style engaging and also thought provoking, there are lasting lessons that I have learned from this book.The book begins by examining the connection between what we think and believe about God, ourselves, others, our problems, and the world and our happiness, relationships, creativity and health. Murray's book is a synergy of psychology and Biblical reasoning, using modern medical and research discoveries as support to his arguments from the Bible. The opening chapters 'Happy Facts' and 'Happy Media' are two of the most helpful in the book as they help us think through how we see the world through the filters of our thinking and the media. But also challenge us to be aware and thinking about the diet of criticism we consume and how that shapes us in our interactions with others.The book gives us 10 formula's to apply to life and then in the conclusion Murray seeks to balance all this and look at the reality of living as a joy filled believer in a broken world. I've mentioned the first two chapters as highlight but there are others. His chapter on Happy Church was one which I found helpful, especially his exhortation to try to see Christ in all believers, to pray for hypocrites, to give time to the inconsistent, be patient, and speak positively of other believers. Happy Praise, however, was probably the chapter I found most convicting and challenging and was the best chapter in a book full of good material. The call to be an encourager is a timely one to the church in the UK and to me as a pastor, it's something I've left the book determined to pursue. As was the critique of our sandwich praise methodology (Praise:Criticism:Praise) which makes the listener view the praise as insincere and merely a preface softening someone up for critique.In the UK we need to read this book and learn it's lessons, we are more prone to critic, criticism and a can't do attitude than most nations, it robs us of joy and weakens our faith. A great book I would recommend.

After reading the last page I found myself asking the pivotal question "Am I any happier after reading the book?"It's a hard question to answer initially but thankfully I believe I can reply in the affirmative. Yes, I am a little happier! It's important to realise we are to cultivate happiness in our daily lives, and that's what Mr Murray exhorts us to do. Don't make the mistake of thinking once you've read the book your "inner happiness switch" will flicker on. No. He encourages us to think long and hard about how we can implement these solutions ourselves, and he does so warmly and winsomely - and we achieve this, principally, by meditating on the great promises of Scripture and filling our minds with the Word. Other reviews already deal with the basic content and structure of the book, so I won't waste time treading over the same ground. But I really enjoyed the book. Mr Murray writes clearly, passionately, persuasively and humbly. His use of secular research to confirm Biblical truth is both refreshing and inviting, and I particularly loved his conclusion in which he tied all the loose bits of string together and presented a beautiful bow. There were some outstanding chapters that really challenged me, particularly "Happy Facts", "Happy Media", "Happy World", "Happy Giving" and especially "Happy Differences" - this last chapter is energetic and powerful in its quest to reach out to churches whose members have a different colour / culture- albeit, thankfully, not at the expense of compromising the Truth.It's very important that we as Christians remember we are battling a "roaring lion". Satan and his minions are ever seeking to bring The Lord's People into doubt, depression and temptation and planting negative and destructive thoughts into our lives. C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters" for instance provides a tremendous insight into how prone we are to listening to the Evil One, and I suppose I wish Mr Murray had been a little stronger on making us realise how susceptible we are to his influence. As I remember hearing once, "the greatest trick the devil has ever pulled is convincing the world he doesn't exist". And I strongly believe a key factor to boosting our happiness is to resist the wiles of the Devil, for does he not tempt us into thinking the world is doom and gloom? Does he not excite and fuel the media's appetite for relishing in bad news? Does he not want us to be more selfish and to give less? So whilst the book overall is a very good, refreshing read I suppose I personally would have liked to have seen a stronger emphasis on us battling the devil as a key drive in our desire to lead spiritually healthier and happier lives. But let me be clear - this should not detract from the outstanding use of secular research to bolster the truths of Scripture. I frequent Mr Murray's blog daily (I even recognised some of the content from past posts made their way into the book) and I find him an excellent writer and warm speaker and this book is written in that same spirit. Yes, read it!

Everyone should read this book! It covers everything we experience in our lives. It turns us, by and through the lens of Holy Scripture to our Author, Maker and Creator - Our Father who art in Heaven..... Praise God and thankyou David for such a vital and encouraging work which is current and relevant to us today.

As expected

Not completed it yet but definitely makes you think about the path you want to be on

Delighted with this read.

Brought as a present, very happy with the item

Very happy!