Psalm 119:11 says ‘Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee’.

DAILY READING – Luke 4:31-44; Ezekiel 46-47; Isaiah 65

Mauricio was still young when his parents got divorced. Afterwards, he took to the streets selling pop bottles, old newspapers and cardboard. He also began to join some children to steal toys from department stores.
At 11-years-old, Mauricio began to experiment with illegal drugs. As he got older he joined a street gang, and began injecting heroin into his veins.
One day, he got involved in a robbery that resulted in his murdering a person.
In May 1966 he was arraigned for robbery and murder. Though he should have faced the death penalty, by the grace and mercy of God he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
While in prison, he hated and even viciously attacked Christians who attempted to witness to him in his cell. Despite this hatred for Christians, during his somewhat frequent trips to solitary confinement, the guards often left a Bible in his cell. He started reading the Bible to pass the time, but little did he realize that God, in His great love, was slowly planting His Word in his heart.
Years later, in 1978, he attended a prison evangelistic meeting for the first time, where a minister preached on Saul of Tarsus persecuting Christians and about his subsequent conversion. After leaving the meeting Edward went to his prison cell, got on his knees, and asked God to forgive Him and surrendered his life to Christ. Four years later, by God’s grace, he received a reprieve. He was paroled and soon released. He became a committed Christian, who eventually became a minister of the Gospel, preaching in many nations of the world. Today, Edward Salazar Mauricio is a prominent pastor in Mexico. He is known for his far-reaching efforts in preaching the Gospel and winning souls into God’s kingdom.

It is indeed amazing how God could take a murderer and turn him into a missionary.
In Luke 19:1-10, we find the story of a sinner whose life was dramatically transformed by an encounter with Jesus.
Zaccheus was Chief among the tax-collectors. The Jews hated these dreaded tax-collectors, for extortion and making illegal profits for themselves. The Jews regarded them as great sinners, wicked and oppressive.
When Jesus chose to come to Zaccheus’ house, He didn’t say a word to him about his sinful life, yet Zaccheus became so convicted that he willingly decided to make a change instantly. He said “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
Jesus then said, “This day is salvation come to this house.”
A true encounter with Christ will indeed change anyone!
Sometimes people attempt to change sinful habits by their own willpower, only to find themselves back in the same old rut they were in before.
There is a spiritual force behind sin, and it takes a spiritual approach to gain real victory over it. Overcoming sin comes through faith in God’s Word which is the victory that overcomes the world.
Psalm 119:11 says ‘Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee’.
It is by hiding God’s Word in our heart that we can stand strong in the face of sin and temptation.
Psalm 119;9 says ‘Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.’
The Word of God has the power to cleanse and sanctify us from all impurities and unrighteousness.
John 17:17 says ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth’ and John 15:3 says ‘Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you’

Also the entrance of God’s Word gives us the light we need to break every hold of darkness in any area of our lives. On the road to Damascus, the life of Saul the murderer was completely and forever changed by the light from Heaven.
Jesus is the light of the world. John 1:4-5 says ‘ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’
Today, in any area where you desire a change, you can experience it by sitting down with the Word and allowing the light from Heaven to flood your heart. As you do, you will find victory, power, new strength and grace to triumphantly run the race of destiny and finish well.

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to meditate constantly on Your Word so that my mind can be insulated from sin. Thank You Lord for the grace to live as a shining example to the world around me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE:
Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222