A Broken Life Mainspring. How Could I Fix It?

The story of how Jesus altered my mainspring

Updated 2021 first published 4 years ago: I read again a devotional by Oswald Chambers today about how Jesus resets my mainspring. I thought I would republish the post.

I have had the privilege of being a short-term missionary five times. This is my look back on how my life changed with Jesus and how He altered my mainspring of life.

As I look back 16 years to the day after I said, “Okay, Jesus, I will be Yours”, I can see great progress in my attitudes – particularly in my trust and patience.

I know that Jesus altered my mainspring that morning.

If I think of a computer when the CPU is not working effectively, the technician can tinker with it but until he does a complete overhaul to the main board, a restart, – it won’t work at top efficiency.

Jesus does not alter human nature: He alters its mainspring (Oswald Chambers, July 24).

Jesus had to restart my life – he left my personality, and my physical being the same.

But I became NEW with Jesus added to my life.

And when I think back, He even changed my physical being as I am no longer stiff and sore. I no longer have serious back issues or knee issues. My personality may be the same but He has added more self-control to my being.

I needed to be made NEW by the supernatural grace of God.

Jesus says – if you are My disciple you must be right not only in your living, but in your motives, in your dreams, the the recesses of your mind ( Oswald Chambers, July 24)”

The great marvel of Jesus Christ’s salvation is that He alters heredity. (Oswald Chambers, July 24)

Ponderings from my mission trips to Poland:

What did I learn personally?

• I don’t need so much social media.
• I need to interact with real people.
• God will give me everything I need in all situations.
• I can absorb criticism and not be personally hurt.
• I can rely totally on Jesus for my life.
• Listening to God is the very best!

What did I see?

• a team praying and working together
• peace in all situations
• laughter – grumpy faces turning into joyful faces
• hearts melted towards others and God
• lives open to the possibility of learning about God by reading the Bible themselves
• rainy weather forecasts turned aside – sun shone (after prayer)

Prayer:

Thanks for showing me how much people mean to me. Thanks for using me to reach out to others. Thanks for the strength to do more than I could normally do. Thanks for being my God. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Tweetable:

Jesus does not alter human nature; He alters the mainspring. (tweet this)

I know Jesus altered my mainspring that morning. (tweet this)

Visit my Bookstore.

You can also find me on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram.