He Has Made Me Glad

By Ben Patterson

Book Overview

The Christian gospel is about grace.The Christian life is about gratitude and joy.Scripture characterizes joy as what you experience when you are grateful for the grace that's been given you. But joy is not simply described in the Bible; it is prescribed. We are called to be joyful, to give thanks in all circumstances, to embrace grace.Still, there's plenty going on in the world and in our own lives to make joy seem impractical, gratitude unnecessary and grace perplexing. We who have been given every reason to be joyful can nevertheless be joyless. How can we begin to live in the truth that our God has made us to be glad?With gleeful exuberance, Ben Patterson submits his compelling case for joy. His winsome stories and thoughtful reflections show how even traditional disciplines such as (yawn) churchgoing and (gulp!) tithing can be hilariously fulfilling when lived out of gratitude for God's gracious gifts. Once we start to think about all that God has done for us, our thoughts turn inevitably to gratitude and ultimately to gladness. And that is only appropriate, for he has made us to be glad.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830817433
• ISBN13: 9780830817436
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

He Has Made Me Glad

This book is definitely meant for Christians. As a family and individual psychotherapist, I would recommend it for anyone who has suffered from a chronic, mild depression. It takes a very positive approach to empowering yourself through a transformative faith focus. The change dynamic is more than clinical, but if you change your cognitions, you can change your feelings.

God's joy IS your strength

Ben Patterson writes that gratitude for God's grace gives birth to spiritual joy: "You feel joy when you are grateful for the grace that has been given you." "Christian joy is anchored in the facts of faith, to be trusted no matter the circumstances." "God commands joy because he has given us reason to be grateful." "We forget the astonishing mercy of forgiveness and come to think of our salvation as our right, God's obligation to us. But every breath we take is because of his mercy." "Grace does not come from an indulgent tolerance in the divine character; it comes at a great price--the blood of Christ his Son." I agree with the reviewers above: this is an excellent read for the spiritual seeker searching for God's peace, God's joy. You will not be disappointed and should you not just READ this book, but REFLECT on Patterson's words (and the many Biblical verses on joy he quotes), your gratefulness to God and the resultant joy will deepen and grow your spirit.

An engaging and whimsical look at Christian life

This book is a sheer delight --- a whimsical look at the Christian life that lives up to the appointed title: HE HAS MADE ME GLAD ("he" being God). At the beginning of an introductory chapter titled "We Are Far Too Easily Pleased," author Ben Patterson quotes C. S. Lewis: "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us." Then comes Patterson's first paragraph: "A poll conducted by the George Barna organization a few years ago discovered that the number one desire of most Americans was to be thinner. Number two was to be richer." That opening sets up Patterson's engaging style --- providing meaty content, including biblical exposition, literary quotes, and historical insight, in an anecdotal context. He sets up a thirst for joy and then walks you through the satisfaction of responding to God in a way that engenders joy. HE HAS MADE ME GLAD would be appropriate to give to a non-Christian who is curious about the Christian faith. In early chapters Patterson lays out the basics of the gospel message. What's so amazing about grace? He clearly answers the question and, further, explains that if we really understand it, our response is one of gratitude. He quotes theologian Karl Barth: "Gratitude follows grace like thunder lightning." But the book also has much to offer a seasoned Christian, especially in an early chapter titled "Joy Busters," gently reminding us that past disappointments, myopia, and fear of losing control can block the joy God wants to give us. And also in the six chapters describing "habits of joy" --- these habits being compared to "the ways we spread our sails" to catch the "wind" of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the "gift" of joy. The habits? Gratitude in all things. Awareness of God's presence and love. Participation in a church community. Sabbath rest. Conversation that builds up rather than tears down. Generosity. In terms of personal anecdote, Patterson, a former pastor and now college chaplain (and a husband and father of four grown children), admits to rare moments of dancing for joy around the living room. "Sometimes joy sweeps me off my feet, but more often," he continues, "it courts me and asks for a decision" --- a choice to raise one of the habitual sails. The book is a bit repetitious --- Pascal's ecstatic conversion account being quoted twice, for example, and the last chapter being a partial reprise of the first --- but one hardly notices. I, for one, was turning pages and turning to prayer, allowing my spirit to reach toward heaven. And now I turn to my bookcase: For probably 10 years Patterson's early book, WAITING: FINDING HOPE WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT, has been nestled, unread, on a crowded shelf in my living room. Maybe it's time I picked it up. --- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

worthwhile read

He Has Made Me Glad: Enjoying God's Goodness with Reckless Abandon by Ben Patterson Ben Patterson's He Has Made Me Glad is about the power of joy. Asserting that joy is the natural byproduct of knowing God, Patterson makes a compelling argument. Pastor, Teacher, Contemplative, Ben Patterson is a regular contributor to Leadership Journal and Chaplain of Westmont College. With the skill of a man learned in the scriptures he leads readers through many scriptures detailing joy and the Christian experience. Revealing his own trials and triumphs, without demeaning readers but coming alongside them as mentor and friend, Patterson's appealing prose is not meant to be rushed through but rather, savored. Often in the course of this book his provoking thoughts caused me to gaze off into contemplation of what I had just read. This is on the level with Brennan Manning and John Piper, a great fusing of their particular strengths--mystically theological. Where I normally pick up a book and finish it in a day or two tops, this book demanded my attention. I had to engage in Patterson's assertions, and having done so, ventured off into many of my own creative rabbit trails. Weaving poetry, scripture, the works of Christian luminaries such as G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, George Hebert and many others, these pages are packed full of wisdom. The only blemish was the early synonymous use of happy and joy. Apparently, Müeller and Charlie Brown have similar diction. Precious few contemporary books are keepers. This one is a keeper. I highly recommend it to contemplatives, mystics and lookers for true joy. (...)