Godly sorrow

This post was prompted by a little Facebook interaction there when someone posted this verse:

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV)

 ¹⁰For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹ For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

What a great text with clear guidelines so we can tell whether the sorrow we feel is actually towards true repentance (changed attitude of mind and heart leading to changed behavior which conforms to the ways of God) or whether we are just feeling sorry for a particular consequence, sorry for being caught, sorry because we feel bad:

• diligence
• transparency
• indignation
• fear
• vehement desire
• zeal

We need to use this checklist to assess 'sorrow' over sins we've committed. How encouraging to note that this type of godly sorrow leads to salvation! And if you realize you don't truly hate your sin as you should, that you're open to committing it again (and saying 'sorry' again), then cry out to God for a repentant heart of godly sorrow. Seek His ways, His mind, His holiness and He will answer!