Oswald Chambers was born on July 24, 1874, in Aberdeen, Scotland, to devout parents. At the young age of 16, he was baptized and became a member of Rye Lane Baptist Chapel. Notably spiritual even as a teenager, he actively participated in the evangelization of the impoverished residents of local lodging houses.

In May 1910, Oswald married Gertrude, and they welcomed their only child, Kathleen, on May 24, 1913. Following the outbreak of World War I, Chambers became a YMCA chaplain in 1915, serving in Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt. There, he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops involved in the Battle of Gallipoli. His "hut," a simple wooden-framed structure, quickly became a gathering point for hundreds of soldiers who listened attentively to his teachings.

Chambers is best remembered as an early-twentieth-century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher, closely aligned with the Holiness Movement. His most renowned work, the daily devotional My Utmost for His Highest, continues to inspire and guide people worldwide. After his death on November 15, 1917, his wife played a pivotal role in publishing his teachings and writings, which were compiled from notes she took during his sermons and talks.

The legacy of Oswald Chambers is preserved through the Oswald Chambers Publications Association, a Registered British Charity established in 1942. Its primary aim is to make My Utmost for His Highest and Chambers' other works accessible globally. Today, My Utmost is available in over forty languages, testament to Chambers' enduring impact on Christian literature.