The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life [Paperback]

Hannah Whitall Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1968

This is not a theological book. I frankly confess that I have not been trained in theological schools, and do not understand their methods nor their terms. But the lord has taught me experiementally and practically certain lessons out of his Word, which have greatly helped me in my Christian life, and have made it a very happy one. And I want to tell my secret, in the best way I can, in order that some others may be helped into a happy life also.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Hannah Whitall Smith's devotional classic is practical, personal, and powerful -- an invitation to live life to its fullest and most blessed. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

More than a century after its first publication, this small treasure is an uplifting guide to the true meaning of the Bible's message:
We have all been endowed by our Creator with the strength and spirit to move beyond life's difficulties and attain the shining happiness that is Christianity's promise. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Reprint. edition (January 1968)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800780078
• ISBN-13: 978-0800780074
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,903,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very encouraging book, February 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Christians Secret to a Happy Life is a Christian Classic, April 29, 2000

By 

Richard Goodrich (Cash, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (Paperback)

I read it 22 years ago in my first Sunday School class after becoming a Christian. Now, I am using it to teach an adult Sunday School Class. My son, a Bible student at Criswell in Dallas has also found it to be extremely accurate doctrinally. It is an inspiring book that SHOWS us that the "deeper walk" is simply the walk God intended for His children to have in the first place. The chapters on the WILL and avoiding LEGALISM are wonderful in guiding God's children into the wonderful truth in God's Word. Serving and knowing God as H.W.S. indicates is a liberting experience! Matt 11:28-30

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Devotional Classics of Christianity, March 29, 1999

By 

Cameron B. Clark (Bristow, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (Paperback)

I've read Hannah's book twice and the chapter "Is God in Everything?" several more times. This book is thoroughly biblical, very helpful, and highly recommended for new Christians. She wisely distinguishes between internal temptations and sin (something I remember struggling with as a new Christian - and I didn't have this book, unfortunately) and shares with the greatest of Christian mystics the truth revealed in the chapter "Is God In Everything?" I put this book right up there with "Abandonment to Divine Providence" by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, "Centuries of Meditations" by Thomas Traherne, and "A Testament of Devotion" by Thomas Kelly. The latter book is another Quaker classic. - Brad Clark