The different ways I read My Utmost for His Highest
Do you have trouble understanding the devotionals in My Utmost for His Highest?
If so, you’re not alone.
Many people have told me these types of things:
“That book always baffled and guilted me when I was young. Does R teach the context of its writing?”
“I never understand it.”
And a well-respected, multiple-degreed pastor of a large church told me he has trouble figuring out what Oswald Chambers says. He says he understands, better, Charles Spurgeon (whose daily devotional, Morning and Evening can be found here.).
What to do if you’re among them?
Try these four suggestions.
1. Cheat
My husband “gave” his Sunday school class directions on how to cheat when trying to figure out the latest devotional from My Utmost for His Highest. When he saw how his class struggled to understand, he finally confessed how he did it:
“I told them I was cheating. I don’t have any more idea than they do, I just ask Jesus to explain it to me and he does.”
2. Read with an open heart and mind and ask God to reveal where this particular devotional applies to you.
This is what I do.
I read the day’s devotion each morning on line at www.utmost.org
It’s only 350-500 words long and sometimes the concepts strike like an arrow to my heart.
Other times, it seems flat or too much spiritualization to wherever I am in my life on that given day.
And that’s key.
It may not apply to me that day. So, I read it, reflect on it and then move on to my Bible reading. I use My Utmost for His Highest to get the spiritual juices “flowing,” and then allow the real work to take place with the living Word of God.
(Which, Oswald would agree, is more important anyway).
Sometimes I read and reflect over and over, particularly as I pick apart gems that connect to me.
Yesterday’s devotional (as I write this), had my picture on it. I fell back in my chair shocked at the truth conveyed to me.
Today’s? Applicable, but not so shocking.
3. Engage with the devotional and ask yourself questions.
Sample page the Daily Companion
As I write, today’s devotional leads off with this statement:
“Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God.”
I read that and asked the Lord, “Am I seeking to be holy or to proclaim the Gospel? How would my life and behavior change if that point of view about my role altered?”
The answer is between me and Him, but it’s worth pondering for all.
Nearly every day, I ask myself a question from the reading.
Most of the devotionals had, as a basis, lectures Oswald Chambers gave at his Bible Training College in London, 1911-1914. Biddy reviewed her notes when she compiled My Utmost for His Highest, taking bits and pieces from as many as three different lectures. The BTC was aimed at preparing missionaries, so there is a missionary aspect to many of the devotionals.
As Christians, we are called to proclaim the good news to the world, so the devotionals are just as pertinent to our lives, our attitudes, our actions, as those devoted followers a century ago.
That’s where I, personally, often stumble.
So the readings are good for me to use as checks on my heart, spirit and mind. But I need to engage with the devotional to find out how and why.
4. Get help.
You can ask someone. I occasionally plead with my Facebook friends for help, but for those less vocal, try a companion guide.
Discovery House Publishers, the publisher for all the Oswald Chambers canon, recently published A Daily Companion to My Utmost for His Highest by Jed and Cecilie Makosco.
It’s a clear, concise guide that provides historical and biographical context to the daily readings, coupled with insight into the Bible passage. All on one page per devotional. (My Utmost for His Highest is not part of the book. The companion is also available as an ebook if you read the devotional on line like I do.)
Each day begins with a question and includes background, scriptural context and then asks what the devotional says.
It basically guides you through understanding the point. It ends with three questions that you can apply to yourself.
Very helpful.
I’m interesting in hearing how any of you use My Utmost for His Highest in your own life. If you would be willing to share or be interviewed, please let me know in the comments–or on my Facebook/Google/Twitter page or at my contact page via this website.
My Utmost for His Highest is among the books that have mean the most to my spiritual development as a Christian. I read it this morning. I’ll read it tomorrow.
The Lord is not finished with me yet, I know that, and I’m grateful for Biddy and Oswald Chambers for playing a part in my spiritual development.
How about you?
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