I got hooked on horse racing gambling at the tender age of nine and eventually became a compulsive gambler. I stole money from my parents and sister to feed my habit. I was also addicted to pornography. These addictions continued even after I was married and had kids.

I treated my wife and kids harshly and would shout at them for no reason at all. But even though I was very rude to my wife, she was kind toward me and would invite me to attend church. I went irregularly and it was after a year or so that I was born again.

The church I attended preached a mixed message of law and grace. I was a Christian who had no assurance of the gift of salvation purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ for me and believed I was often in and out of fellowship with God. I accepted everything that the church taught, believing that I was receiving the truth.

I was taught to search my heart for any unconfessed sin, especially before going to sleep. But the more I searched my heart, the more sin-conscious I became. I kept on confessing my sins so many times that I had headaches. And my addictions to gambling and pornography worsened!

Then one day, as I was surfing television channels, I chanced upon Pastor Prince’s preaching. I was “magnetized” to what he was saying. To cut a long story short, by the superabounding grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, I was set free from more than thirty years of bondage to compulsive gambling and pornography.

Now, whenever I’m surfing the Internet and a picture of a scantily clad woman appears, I just confess that I am God’s dearly beloved and that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Immediately, the temptation melts away like butter on a hot, sunny day.

Today, by the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am facilitating a small Bible study group that expounds on the beauty of our Lord and loving Savior, Jesus Christ. All praises be to His wonderful name. Amen.

The writer has requested to remain anonymous | Philippines