Biddy Chambers (Wheaton College Special Collections Library)
The well-loved devotional My Utmost for His Highest was first published in 1927–and has never been out of print since.
Part 1 examined where the ideas and writing came from, but how was the devotional written if Oswald Chambers died in 1917?
Through the hard work of a devout and determined woman, of course.
After Oswald Chamber’s death in Egypt, Biddy and her pre-school-aged daughter Kathleen stayed on at the YMCA encampment at Zeitoun–to finish out the work Oswald began in 1915.
As noted in part 1, OC had always envisioned a literary partnership between his writing and his wife’s exemplary shorthand skills.
By the time of her return to England after WWI, Biddy already had been involved in a variety of projects using OC’s work. The first, Baffled to Fight Better, was provided to any who wanted it at YMCA canteens in Egypt and France.
OC’s thoughts on the book of Job found resonance in the hearts of soldiers battle weary and questioning the point of the ghastly war.
Biddy began to produce pamphlets of OC’s sermons on a monthly basis– always given away for free. Some 10,000 copies a month were produced by the end of the war.
The YMCA eventually took responsibility for the pamphlets–which were available in all the war theaters through the YMCA canteens.
England after WWI
Biddy and Kathleen returned home to England in the summer of 1919, following the conclusion of World War I. She had arranged for the publication of five books and many pamphlets of OC’s talks by that time.
In England, Biddy set to work transcribing her shorthanded notes into readable type. She entertained visitors who wanted her to continue publishing OC’s messages. Many sent monetary gifts, “for the work of the books.”
All the income for books sales rolled into the next book.
According to David McCasland in Oswald Chambers: Abandoned for God, Biddy took no payment for herself and Kathleen.
Biddy’s notebooks contained plenty of material to share. As Biddy wrote her sister, “I’ll never come to an end of my wealth of notes.”
They lived with family or friends and eventually moved to Oxford, England, where Biddy’s typing continued and Kathleen went to school.
Making do in Oxford
Biddy’s typewriter (Wheaton College Special Collections Library)
Biddy ran a boarding house for students, cared for her child, and typed in a basement room.
Once she escorted her school-aged daughter to class, Biddy ran errands and then returned home to work.
She had frequent visitors, and cheerfully made time to sit with each–brewing interminable pots of tea, Kathleen said.
Biddy paged through all her notes taken over seven years.
She read and reread, remembering the situations when she took them down in her own shorthand.
According to McCasland:
“It was a labor of love and she had no idea how it would be received. Why did she do it? Her prime motivation is likely revealed in her dedication of My Utmost, TO THE STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE TRAINING COLLEGE, “For His Name’s sake they went forth . . . to Witnesses unto Me . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
It took her three years to complete the book.
How did she put it together?
According to the original preface to My Utmost for His Highest:
“a large proportion of the readings have been chosen from the talks given during the devotional hour at the college [Bible Training College; London 1911-1915]–an hour which for many of the students marked an epoch in their life with God. . . .
“this book has been prepared, and it is sent out with the prayer that day by day the messages may continue to bring the quickening life and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
She signed the preface: “B.C.” rather than Gertrude Chambers.
Biddy produced some thirty volumes of OC’s teachings over the course of her life (she died in 1966), but never took credit for the work or signed her name.
Oswald Chambers’ name always went on the cover.
The first paragraph of the first reading, January 1 explains the title:
“We shall all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus on the point He has asked us to yield to Him. Paul says – “My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest.”
By 2015, countless editions of My Utmost for His Highest have been published (I have four editions in my office) into at least 30 languages.
I read it daily online at www.utmost.org
For a more detailed analysis of how Biddy compiled My Utmost for His Highest, check out Mrs. Oswald Chambers: The Woman Behind the World’s Best Selling Devotional.
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Wonderful to read of her dedication to the enormous project that has blessed so many people through the years. Thanks, Michelle!
I thought it important people know the modest woman behind the book. It would not have been written without her. A team effort!
Yes, a God-led team effort!
A friend gave me a copy of OC’s book, “Disciples Indeed,” in 1970 and I was hooked. That year was probably the most important of my Christian life. I will always revere the writings of Oswald Chambers, but I’ll likewise be grateful for skills and dedication of his wife, Biddy.
Thank you for fleshing out this background on the work of them both, Michelle. Truly inspiring!