Rating: 
Summary: Get this devotional for next year
Review: First, I must admit that I am not a big fan of devotionals. The few I have used before picking up "My Utmost for His Highest" have been rather shallow, and almost had a hallmark quality to them (easy verse, followed by flowery discussion, ending with God loves you). So, I was hesitant to spend a year going through Oswald Chambers book when it was recommended to me by a friend.I am certainly glad that I did because it far exceeeded my expectations. Over the last year, Oswald Chambers has challenged me to pick up my cross daily, and follow Christ with reckless abandon. Chambers does not pull any punches, and he speaks plainly about the sacrifice that is required when we make the daily decision to follow Christ, no matter what the consequences. At times you may question the intensity of the faith Chambers is describing - does God really expect "My utmost for His highest" on a daily basis? But, in the end I think you will become convinced God is always looking for our obedience, and willingness to fight the good fight for His kingdom. If you spend a year going through this book, I think that you will be blessed, and more importantly, challenged to take your faith to a higher level. Therefore, I recommend this devotional for any Christian looking for a resource which can make a daily impact on your Christian perspective, and outlook on life. I now understand why this book is consider a classic devotional by many in the Christian community.
Rating:
Summary: Get this devotional for next year
Review: First, I must admit that I am not a big fan of devotionals. The few I have used before picking up "My Utmost for His Highest" have been rather shallow, and almost had a hallmark quality to them (easy verse, followed by flowery discussion, ending with God loves you). So, I was hesitant to spend a year going through Oswald Chambers book when it was recommended to me by a friend. I am certainly glad that I did because it far exceeeded my expectations. Over the last year, Oswald Chambers has challenged me to pick up my cross daily, and follow Christ with reckless abandon. Chambers does not pull any punches, and he speaks plainly about the sacrifice that is required when we make the daily decision to follow Christ, no matter what the consequences. At times you may question the intensity of the faith Chambers is describing - does God really expect "My utmost for His highest" on a daily basis? But, in the end I think you will become convinced God is always looking for our obedience, and willingness to fight the good fight for His kingdom. If you spend a year going through this book, I think that you will be blessed, and more importantly, challenged to take your faith to a higher level. Therefore, I recommend this devotional for any Christian looking for a resource which can make a daily impact on your Christian perspective, and outlook on life. I now understand why this book is consider a classic devotional by many in the Christian community.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest devotional ever
Review: For those of us who like profound insight into everyday Christianity (along the line of C. S. Lewis), My Utmost For His Highest is a must. I now see why the typical reader of this Oswald Chamber's classic continue to read it for the rest of their lives. There are 365 devotionals about a page each (small pages too). Very quick reads for those of us who don't have time for the longer devotional books. Buy it...what'd'ya got to lose? Note: I believe this is an updated version where the language is revised for the modern reader. I prefer the classic edition to see exactly how Chamber's wrote these devotionals, so you might want to search around for the original edition (though, the language can be a little King James-ish)
Rating:
Summary: A very insightful way to start the morning.
Review: Helpful for any and all Christians. It has really helped me in my search for the simple, difficult truth of God. Everyday Chambers chooses a verse and expounds on a few key truths he can draw from it. I've bought one for all my Christian friends!
Rating:
Summary: A Pearl of Great Price
Review: I am an avid reader of devotional guides, and even something of a collector of them; I have works from the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions. All have something valuable to offer but none have offered so much to me as this one. Whenever your faith seems tepid and the church seems heavy on rules and devoid of zeal, let this book remind you to turn your face to God, trust in his Son, and receive his Spirit. If there could be no Bible, this book alone could teach the world faith. If anything seems to be absent from Chambers, it is what we might call "practical" or "concrete" guidance to life in the world. But that is because he expects God will reveal such things to you in His time, and for him to provide specific counsel, which may not be correct for you in your circumstances, would be rash. Please accept my recommendation that you avoid the so-called updated edition and get an edition of this book with Chambers' unaltered words. Chambers wrote with a clear, strong voice, filled with encouragement and benevolence. He was a man sure of the message he had to preach, and thus spoke free of artifice and affectation, yet with precision and warmth and eloquence. Struggle a little with his elegant diction and older turns of phrase rather than let his jewel be dimmed.
Rating:
Summary: Blew Me Out of the Water!
Review: I am not a fan of devotional books, since I believe that we shouldn't drink below the horses. I am smart enough to read and understand the Bible on my own, and I don't want to get caught in any intellectual ruts. Moreover, most devotional books seem like mere mush or breadcrumbs when compared to the Bread of Life. However, this little devotional book by Oswald Chambers absolutely blew me out of the water! He has a piercing intellect and power of expression that man, indeed, most preacher lack. So much of the pap, tripe, and mushy "Godtalk" that makes up the spiritual feasts chokes and gags me. This book, on the other hand, gets to the heart and core of serious discipleship. Discipline is the essence of discipleship. Although this isn't a quote book per se, but it has great thought gems: "You could read volumes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when five minutes of total, uncompromising obedience would make things as clear as sunlight." (10 October) "If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything." (25 April) I think one of the deepest quotes is: "If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. . . If we obey God, it will mean that other people's plans are upset" (11 January) Admittedly, Chambers is British, so the wording can seem more like a contraption than clear conviction, but I think all good things are worth working for. By the way, the Briticisms are great in understanding Shakespeare. The British have better diction, pronunciation, and far more wit than we Americans. This book is also commendable for having a leap-day entry. Most devotionals skip the skipping day. I think this one detail illustrates the care that the editors have given this book.
Rating:
Summary: profound insights and guidance
Review: I find there is no better way to start the day than with the wisdom in this magnificent devotional; these profound thoughts were given by Oswald Chambers while at the Bible Training College in England, during the years of 1911 through 1914, and after his death in 1917 (while serving in Egypt during World War I) were edited by his wife, and later updated into modern English by James Reimann, who says in his introduction that the book is the "culmination of approximately 1800 hours of research and editing", and the end result are words that flow and feed and sometimes pierce the soul with remarkable accuracy, to remind one of the way Jesus intended us to live. This book, in conjunction with the Bible (Reimann recommends one to read this with one hand and the Bible in the other) are guideposts for a meaningful life.
Not a "God loves you and all is well" type of book, there are many passages of tough love, that keep one on the right track, and I often have the experience of it answering a question that is on my mind. Each day under the header, is a relevant Bible quote, and underneath Chambers' teaching on the subject, in the 250 word range in length. There are various editions to chose from, and mine is a small leather-bound volume using the NKJV for its Bible quotes, with a foreword by Charles Stanley, who as Reimann's pastor, was the one who recommended the original Chambers work to him.
The back of the book has two useful sections, a Subject Index, and a Scripture Index.
As the end of the year approaches, I'm looking forward to reading this on a daily basis for the second time, and every year thereafter; its teachings are invaluable, and I believe this is a truly inspired work, that will guide and nurture all who read its truth.
Rating:
Summary: Essential companion to Bible
Review: I had heard of this book so many times that I felt the Lord leading me to get a copy. Oh how He has blessed me through the daily readings. The somewhat archaic language and deep concepts forced me to truly meditate on the truths and dig deeper into the Bible to begin to comprehend. I am reading it for the third time and seeing things that I missed in the first two readings. God really uses the book in my daily quiet time to reach into my heart.
Rating:
Summary: I love this devotional!
Review: I have been using this book for a couple of years now every morning. I would highly suggest getting a copy for yourself!
It's a great way to start off the day. Everyday is something different and has a good word for the day. A lot of times the devotion had to do with something I was going through that day.
It proved to be a great source of uplift and help.
I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Brought me back to my Lord
Review: I have never been a fan of "daily devotionals" but I needed a kick in the butt in my life. I have been slacking in my Mass attendance and had trouble finding 'Christ in me'. No matter how hard I tried and prayed, I found God to be someone up there, not someone in my life. I was the type to look up canon law when I had a question and obey the commandments because I am supposed to. I wanted to know God was in my life but could never grasp it. This book was able to do this for me. My life has changed in one week. I now enjoy attending daily Mass, looking forward to it, and receiving knowledge and guidance from it. I am learning to know God and actually mark my calendar to find time to quietly read and meditate on the daily reading in My Utmost for His Highest. I only wish I had known of this book earlier. I have never found a book that has changed my life as much as this one has.
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