Utmost Response: a Daily Reaction to My Utmost for His Highest

I wrote an “Utmost Response” every day from August 2017 to December 31, 2021.

What is an Utmost Response?

Exactly what it sounds like–a response to that day’s reading in My Utmost for His Highest.

The idea came one morning while praying. Many people told me that while they liked the idea of reading My Utmost for His Highest, it could be hard to understand.

As I thought about the problem, a question slipped through my brain:

“Why not write out a reaction to each day’s reading and post it somewhere for people to join you?

It sounded like an interesting idea.

Several days later, I read a request to discuss the day’s reading on a Facebook page devoted to My Utmost for His Highest. (No longer operating).

I liked the idea of minds sharpening minds while discussing Oswald Chambers‘ writing.

So I started writing my response–or explanation– each morning.

I posted it daily on Facebook for four years and have now retired from the day to day writing.

I send it to people on a monthly basis who are interested. Contact me if you are here.

The discipline of writing an Utmost Response.

I generally wrote my reaction every morning, first thing.

Some days the readings were really hard to figure out.

I sat with my cat curled on my lap clicking between the My Utmost for His Highest website and Facebook, trying to figure out what OC (my nickname for him) was saying.

I toggled between the classic version–which I read first since it was Biddy’s original compilation– and the revised version (done by James Reimann several years ago).

Between the two versions I could usually figure out what the reading said.

When I got stumped, I turned to A Daily Companion to My Utmost for His Highest by Drs. Jed and Cecilie Macosko. (You can read my interview with Jed Macosko here and here).

It usually helped.

Unique angle on the readings

I bring a unique angle to the readings since I’m Biddy’s biographer and know a lot about the Chambers’ lives.

Sometimes I put the readings into historical context, which can add poignancy regular devotional readers do not know.

I have access to photos and included them as made sense and I always included the link to that day’s reading.

The surprises to me

While I’ve been reading My Utmost for His Highest daily for more than 20 years, I haven’t always focused on understanding the reading.

They are not Scripture, but my reaction to the readings changes based on what I’m enduring in my life at a given time.

(That remains true even after four years of explaining what they mean!)

I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the wisdom–of both Oswald and Biddy putting together the devotional.

I am familiar with the sixteen main themes in the devotional, as explained by Dr. Ken Boa, but had never seen them in quite the same clarity before.

OC is very focused on our self-will. The subject comes up frequently.

I took apart the readings and focused on what struck me as important.

I’ll post one here and you can try it yourself.

An Utmost Response

Here are my thoughts for February 6:

The February 6 reading deals with the self-will.

OC challenges us on our self-will throughout My Utmost for His Highest. He believed self-will is a more pervasive influence in our lives than sin.

We sin when we decide (using our self-will) to do something no matter what God thinks/says.

Self-will, therefore, is an attitude of the heart.

You can see how seriously OC views it when he says

“You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents— burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose— the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God.”

I’m taking a deep breath reading this, how about you?

The first paragraph outlines what happens if we do not deal with our self-will, ending with the observation,

“If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.”

He warns, “See to it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins.”

We’re dealing with the Creator of the Universe. He knows our hearts, minds, souls and bodies to the marrow, to the mitochondria. We can’t hide anything from Him.

He also knows our weaknesses and frailties. We’re asked to be honest and open to where Jesus leads.

This is a sobering but necessary message.

https://utmost.org/are-you-ready-to-be-poured-out-as-an-offering-2/

What the point?

I started writing the Utmost Responses to spark discussion with others.

It turned into an excellent spiritual exercise for me.

If you’re interested in My Utmost for His Highest, why not join me?

I’d love to hear what other people think about these readings that have changed my life over the last 20 years.

Tweetables

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