Utmost: Classic Readings and Prayers from Oswald Chambers

by Oswald Chambers

A personal relationship with Christ is the most important aspect of living a Christian life. Utmost–Classic Readings and Prayers from Oswald Chambers offers a selection of inspiring devotional material drawn from My Utmost for His Highest to help readers take their relationship with God to the next level. This updated edition, written in contemporary language, provides thought-provoking meditations and daily prayers to encourage a closer walk with God. Utmost is also a great way to introduce readers to Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest .

112 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Oswald Chambers was born to devout parents in Aberdeen, Scotland. At age 16, Oswald Chambers was baptized and became a member of Rye Lane Baptist Chapel. Even as a teenager, Chambers was noted for his deep spirituality, and he participated in the evangelization of poor occupants of local lodging houses. Oswald married Gertrude in May 1910, and on May 24, 1913, Gertrude gave birth to their only child, Kathleen. In 1915, a year after the outbreak of World War I, Chambers was accepted as a YMCA chaplain. He was assigned to Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt, where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops, who later participated in the Battle of Gallipoli. Soon his wooden-framed "hut" was packed with hundreds of soldiers listening attentively to his messages. Confronted by a soldier who said, "I can't stand religious people," Chambers replied, "Neither can I." Chambers was stricken with appendicitis on October 17, 1917 but resisted going to a hospital on the grounds that the beds would be needed by men wounded in the long-expected Third Battle of Gaza. On October 29th, a surgeon performed an emergency appendectomy, but Chambers died November 15, 1917 from a hemorrhage of the lungs. He was buried in Cairo with full military honors. Gertrude, for the remainder of her life published books and articles for him edited from the notes she had taken in shorthand from his sermons. Most successful of the thirty books was, "My Utmost for His Highest", which has never been out of print and has been translated into 39 languages.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Oswald Chambers was a Scottish Baptist pastor. He was born in 1874, and died from complications after an appendectomy in 1917. He was a chaplain to British soldiers in Egypt during World War I.
Utmost Classic Readings and Prayers is a 90 day devotional. The devotionals cover topics such as yielding to God, the "call to serve," worry, loneliness, suffering, what it means to be a disciple, testing of our faith, and the salvation experience.

My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed reading this devotional. Often the day's reading is just what I needed to hear. Chambers words resonate in my heart and meet me at what I needed to learn. Reading a devotional book is not meant to be read in order to only glean knowledge. Devotionals are meant to cause the reader to ponder. They are meant to soothe, minister, and teach. They are meant to explain in brief a particular Bible verse. And they are meant to mature us in Christ Jesus.
Oswald Chambers was a thinking man, and I'm a thinking kind of gal. His devotions appeal to me, because I want my heart to melt, to be convicted, to be taught, and to be lifted-up.
Source: Free copy from Discovery House Publishers. I chose to read and review the book.
Rating: 5 stars for excellent.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utmost: Classic Readings and Prayers from Oswald Chambers was a rather soothing book. I found it to be extremely personal and entirely relatable. Filled with oddly familiar words that comforted just as much as they convicted, this book spoke volumes. I loved experiencing, if you will, the author's intimate encounters with the LORD. I felt that Chambers thoughts and prayers could have very well been my own. His reference to Scripture was insightful and clear; his command of it was useful.

I loved that this book read like a devotional. It was broken down in such a way that I could read it in several different ways - by subject matter, as a singular edition, or as a day by day reflective exercise. I could even extend the length of my personal devotion /meditation time if I desired and use it as a weekly reader.

I completely appreciated the richness of this collection, and I am certain that I will refer to it again and again.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes

I received a complimentary eARC of this title from Discovery House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

[Debbie .skylark. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely worth reading - it's one page a day - very thought provoking and encouraging. I appreciate reading works from other eras. It is refreshing and challenging.

[Renee Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional is something every person should own. The truths that Oswald Chambers recorded are thought provoking and life changing. To have his desire to be an obedient, ever-growing lover of Christ should be something we all strive to emulate. With a true heart and the help of the Holy Spirit, this book could be of great use to Christians.