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

PRAISE FOR THE HAPPY CHRISTIAN

Happy is a cheap word nowadays, hardly strong enough to describe the realistic, joyful, triumphant Christian life into which David Murray labors to lead us. His book overflows with earthy, deep-rooted biblical wisdom that many miss but all of us need.

J. I. PACKER, PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY, REGENT COLLEGE, VANCOUVER, CANADA, AND AUTHOR OF KNOWING GOD

Christians and non-Christians alike are besieged by bad news and a world of difficulty. Christians, though, should respond in a way that reflects the hope they have found in Christ. In The Happy Christian, David Murray instructs us on how to face the challenges of this cynical age with a rooted joy and a resounding happiness. The Happy Christian will instruct, inspire, and encourage believers to live our their faith with true joy.

ED STETZER, PRESIDENT OF LIFEWAY RESEARCH DIVISION, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR FOR CHRISTIANITY TODAY

If anyone else had written a book with this title I wouldnt have picked it up. The fact that it was written by Dr. David Murray made me not only pick it up but study it in depth. This is not a feel good book but a book about the genuine joy and happiness that we can know as beloved followers of Christ in a broken world.

SHEILA WALSH, AUTHOR OF LOVED BACK TO LIFE

David Murray has written a timely corrective to both the excesses of the prosperity gospel and the gloomy spirit that overcomes so many Christians. Biblically compelling and pastorally encouraging, this easy-to-read book makes an important point that Christians need to hear. Read The Happy Christian and remember that through the love of Christ you are blessed by God!

DR. RICHARD PHILLIPS, SENIOR MINISTER OF SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA; AUTHOR OF JESUS THE EVANGELIST; BOARD MEMBER, ALLIANCE OF CONFESSING EVANGELICALS

David Murray insists that Christians not only can but must be happy. And surely he is right! A word of caution, though. Murray is both a biblical scholar and pastorand he knows all too well that trite fix-it approaches fall apart all too easily. The Happy Christian is a robust and welcome defense of how the gospel acts (should act, I dare say) in the lives of those who have been transformed by it. A great readtransforming and uplifting.

DEREK W. H. THOMAS, ROBERT STRONG PROFESSOR OF SYSTEMATIC AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY (RTS ATLANTA); SENIOR MINISTER, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA

This is one shockingly and happifyingly helpful book! With winning honesty, tenderness, and grace, David Murray gives the recipe for sturdy, God-grounded happiness. Many of us have seen how hollow is the common, self-hypnotizing idea of positive thinking and grown understandably cynical; David Murray shows us a far better way, a way that is biblical, beautiful, and built to last.

MICHAEL REEVES, AUTHOR OF DELIGHTING IN THE TRINITY; DIRECTOR OF UNION AND SENIOR LECTURER, WALES EVANGELICAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

Theres a sort of gloom and doom in the air. You dont have to go far to get a whiff of it, as matter of fact, you probably know it well. David Murray understands that there is a problem when our hearts and minds are set on the negative things of this world and he has a wonderful solution: the Bible. The Bible has an uplifting and positive message, he says. And he is right. Jesus leads us through the dark valleys and beside green pastures. If we set our minds on all we have in Christ, how could one not be filled with the joy of the Lord? With a fascinating mixture of science and biblical truth, Murray sets out to help us see how we practically seek the joy found in Christ. The Happy Christian reminds me that the joy of the Lord truly is my strength.

TRILLIA NEWBELL, AUTHOR OF UNITED: CAPTURED BY GODS VISION FOR DIVERSITY AND FEAR AND FAITH: FINDING THE PEACE YOUR HEART CRAVES

While interacting with secular researchers, popular authors, and theologians both ancient and modern, in his newest book David Murray opens up the Scriptures and offers immensely practical means for cultivating the abundant life Jesus promises to his people. Thankfully, I can also attest that David not only teaches these truths, but lives them, which causes their authenticity to ring through the pages.

PASTOR BARRY YORK, RPTS PROFESSOR OF PASTORAL THEOLOGY

Our culture of negativity, cynicism, and skepticism has poisoned millions, including many in the church, producing a dark and joyless spirit. Thankfully, Dr. Murrays gospel-rich, biblically driven, practical, and pointed book is medicine for the soul that guides the reader into the joy of the Lord in all spheres of life.

JOE THORN, AUTHOR, LEAD PASTOR OF REDEEMER FELLOWSHIP IN ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS

David Murray here opens out ten arguments to show how a Christians gloom may be converted into happiness. Believers will welcome this practical guidance on how our feelings may, by biblical discipline, become increasingly joyful. This book is good medicine for sad saints.

MAURICE ROBERTS, RETIRED PASTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE HAPPINESS OF HEAVEN

I am so very happy to commend my friend David Murrays new book on happiness. David follows in a long line of Reformed experiential theology and Christian living, which is a rich inheritance to draw from in contemporary pastoral ministry. Saturated in Scripture, guided by history, and sensitive to the insights of contemporary psychological and physiological research, David offers a care for souls that is so needed by believers today.

REV. DANIEL R. HYDE, PASTOR OF OCEANSIDE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, CARLSBAD / OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA

What does it mean to be happy? The light of nature allows us to observe, desire, and appreciate the benefits of certain kinds of happiness. Only the light of Scripture enables us properly to define, obtain, and cultivate true and lasting happiness. David Murrays difficult task in this genuinely stimulating and sometimes provocative book is to accept and acknowledge the former source of illumination while being governed by and relying upon the latter. He has no appetite for the fixed grin and glassy stare of a carnally manufactured positivity. Instead, David seeks to train our hearts in Christian cheerfulness, genuine gladness, and believing hopefulness, to enjoy and employ the solid joys and lasting treasures of the true children of God. Some might take issue with the balance of his foundations and the choice or proportion of his materials, but all Christians would do well to consider the structure and style of the building David erects. It is a good and bright place to live, and many of us need to start construction.

PASTOR JEREMY WALKER, AUTHOR OF THE BROKEN-HEARTED EVANGELIST

Jesus came to give abundant life and his own joy to his people. I praise God for David Murray, and I pray the Christlike happiness taught in this book will be your way of life.

DR. JIM HAMILTON, PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL THEOLOGY, SOUTHERN SEMINARY

A happy countenance is a good thing but is too often lacking in Christian lives. The Happy Christian is a book that addresses this present need. Without minimizing the trials of this life or their significance, David Murray challenges the dour, downcast, and joyless Christian to change their thoughts and feelings by the power of the Spirit and a little effort. This is an incredibly practical book, filled with the truth of Scripture, which helpfully and happily encourages and exhorts readers to renew their minds in the pursuit of Christ.

JASON HELOPOULOS, ASSISTANT PASTOR, UNIVERSITY REFORMED CHURCH, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN; AUTHOR OF