Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

If You Will Ask: Reflections on the Power of Prayer by Oswald Chambers is a 1963 publication.

This is a thin volume focused on prayer written by Oswald Chambers who is best known for his devotional book, “My Utmost for His Highest”.

While not very long, the book really packs a punch. I've never read a book solely devoted to prayer, and Chambers brings out some truths that I’d never really considered before.

The reason I mention that is because, though I pray often, but I’ve never thought about how I approached it or what it cost God for me to pray- making me realize what a privilege it is to pray.

Chambers, though, well versed on the subject- with only a few exceptions, is mostly down to earth enough for anyone, no matter where they may be on their spiritual journey to understand his message.

There were a couple of passages in which I’d have to respectfully disagree, but overall, this is a very good place to start if you want to learn about prayer and its extreme importance in your daily walk with the Lord.

4 stars

*Very old book, but amazingly, it is available at a reasonable price in the Amazon Kindle store- at this writing.… (altro)

Works which reach the status of “classics” in the canon of literature generally do so for good reasons; they stand the test of time and have something compelling about them. And so it is for Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest.

One can find this devotional in almost any format; this one (galley received as part of early review program) is published as a hardcover by Our Daily Bread and is intended to serve as a gift edition.

Oswald Chambers was a child of the fin de siècle who was raised a Scottish Baptist but joined the Holiness movement and participated in early Pentecostalism. He died while ministering to soldiers during World War I. Most of his works, including My Utmost for His Highest, were based on the transcription of notes his widow had taken during his messages at the Bible Training College he had founded. The original version was formatted for 366 devotionals; this edition was modified to cover them in 90 days.

Most devotional works these days attempt to somehow replicate Chambers in some way or another, and most fall short. He is not prepossessing; he does not wade into anything remotely controversial; and yet the substance of his messages remain profound. It truly is all about devoting oneself to God and His purposes and turning away from the impulses of self and the world.

It is best to take one’s time with a devotional such as this and meditate on each one. Highly recommended.… (altro)