2 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 9-12 (NIV)
yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
No one enjoys feeling convicted. But when we accept it from God and genuinely want to change, we should be willing to show the evidence for that. We are meant to feel sorry for the wrong we have done, but we’re not to have a pity party and feel sorry for ourselves. In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist told the religious leaders who came to listen to him that they should produce good fruit in keeping with repentance. The Corinthians here obviously did. And God expects no less from us.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the forgiveness that we receive when our deeds don’t deserve it. Help me to therefore display the evidence of a changed, forgiven heart. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.