The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (Pure Gold Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Every Christian should read this book!
Review: A great book for any Christian who desires a closer walk with God. The central theme that runs throughout the book is one of "Trust, "Obediance," and "Devotion." Written with such simplicity and clarity. Truly a life-changing book!

Rating:
Summary: Hope for the Discouraged Christian
Review: Are you at the point where you are ready to give up on ever being able to live a life that is pleasing to God? I think many Christains are struggling with the difficulty of behaving in ways that are godly. I wanted to be "a good Christian" but found myself in continual failure, I could not speak words of love, I could not give selflessly, or serve selflessly. This book opened my eyes and taught me how to live that life of holiness that God has called me to. It is God who leads us in the paths of righteousness and it is for His namesake (Psalm 23). We cannot do this in our own power! This book holds so many answers to the problems facing many Christains, please take the time to read it!

Rating:
Summary: Very encouraging book
Review: I highly recommend this book. I read it while stationed in Iraq and it encouraged me very much in that situation. It is thoroughly orthodox in its theology and praxis and has nothing to do with modern "psycho-babble" as one other reviewer mistakenly suggested. The book was written over 100 years ago. If it was written today the author most likely would use the term "joyful life" in the title rather than "happy life", but it's clear that her meaning is a happiness that comes from the Lord and is not based on circumstances (which nowadays we would probably call "joy"). Mrs. Smith's secrets to the happy/joyful Christian life are: surrendering all to the Lord, trusting implicitly in the Lord, and immediate obedience to Him. Hard to be more orthodox than that. She gives many anecdotal stories to help the reader understand how much God loves us and how surrender, trust, and obedience result in our abiding more deeply in Christ and consequently having joy in all circumstances.

Rating:
Summary: A Christian Classic
Review: Smith has written a classic that will continue to bless long after her passing. The book is divided into three main parts:

1. The Life (how to enter into the Christ life).
2. Difficulties concerning: faith, the will, guidance, doubts, temptation, failures).
3. Results of the Christ-life (growth, service, joy of obedience, practical results in everyday life, etc.).

Written by a Quaker, the book will encourage Christians of all denominations. Read, enjoy, and be encouraged in the Lord.

Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Very encouraging book
Review: This book has been blessing people for 130 years - there is a reason for that. The reason this book is so great is that it focuses upon the only 2 essential practices for Christian growth and strength: Surrender and Faith. Everything in the book teaches us how to maintain absolute surrender to and total trust in God, how to overcome difficulties so that faith and trust remain steadfast, all mingled with many words of encouragement telling of the peace and joy such a life produces.

The one negative review in this list claims the book is terrible because we should seek holiness, not happiness. Clearly 100% surrender to God's will and 100% faith in God are holiness defined - and that expresses the entire thrust of the book. It is very unlikely that reviewer even read the book beyond the title - ignore them. Jesus wants our joy to be full, He tells us steps to take "so that your joy may be full"....but we better not tell this lone reviewer that Jesus recommends we seek joy - they might give HIM a bad review!

Do what this book says to do and find God waiting there to bless you abundantly with Christ-likeness.....with the natural result being great happiness! I agree with what one review said, if I had to choose only 2 books, they would be the Bible and The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life.

Rating:
Summary: Hope for the Discouraged Christian
Review: This book says too much for me to be able to express it here. I have been so excited in my spirit because of what this book teaches. Contrary to what a previous reviewer thought, this book does teach happiness through holiness, but not just holiness that comes from imitation of holy standards, but by having truth faith in the One who changes us. It teaches holiness by the power of holy grace, by trusting the Spirit of Christ in complete faith, without works. For one is not saved by works, and as Gal. 3 teaches, one is not perfected nor kept secure in the faith by works. All, and I mean ALL, spiritual growth in holiness comes through what 2 Peter 1 refers to as partaking of the divine nature through knowing God more, and this knowledge is not textbook knowledge. No, it's knowledge that comes from gazing at the glory of God in the face of Christ. HOliness comes from gazing at Christ Jesus and "falling in love" with His inexpressible beauty, not by listing the rules of Christian living and trying to build good habits. That's just psychological law and is contrary to grace.

When you read this book, you will much better understand what power for holiness-based happiness is available for the believer even here on earth. This book teaches correctly that Christian mediocrity is an oxymoron. God intends for His people to live powerfully holy lives even before getting to heaven.

Rating:
Summary: Life Changing
Review: This is a must read for all Christians. It is Biblically sound and will change the way you live. Instead of having to try to perform all the time, we must learn to have faith and let God take over. Ignore the one bad review, the reviewer missed the boat on what Hannah Smith was saying.

Rating:
Summary: A very unhappy volume, I'm afraid...
Review: This unhappy volume -- which has led many to the brink of despair -- poses the question, "What must the Christian DO in his quest for VICTORY?" The answer lies in one word--- NOTHING. For sheer distortion of scripture, Hannah Whitall Smith's teaching surely takes some beating. (Incidently, it is well known that she died in great misery.)

The very title of the book in itself betrays a fundamental misconception. God calls Christians, not to happiness, but to holiness. Of course, to be holy is of necessity also to be happy, but we are to seek after holiness.

This is all so typical of the man-centered and subjective age in which we live. We are all self-centered by nature and and it even infects our Christianity. We are not excited by teaching that centers on the glory of God or the call to godly living. But people flock in great numbers to hear about "Victory for me", "How to succeed in my life" and a host of other forms of self-help psychobabel offered up as "Christianity."...