The Virtuous Life – Day 227 – 2 Corinthians 7-10-11 – We Never Regret – Growing AS Disciples
Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (MSG)
Turned You Around
What turned you around? What changed the entire course of your life? You were headed one way, then you came to a complete stop, turned around, and started walking in the opposite direction. What happened to you? You happened to me. You turned my life around. You helped me to see the error of my ways. You helped me to realize that I was living and walking on a path that led away from you. You helped me to see that I was living a sinful life that was not pleasing to you. I was in deep distress. I was in great pain. I did not know it then, but I know it now. I was in distress and great pain because of the emptiness of my life. There was a hole in my life that only you could fill. Sin was separating me from you. That brought Godly sorrow into my life. I felt Godly sorrow over my sins. I felt Godly sorrow about you not being in my life, at the very center, of all my thoughts and words and actions. You however, got my attention. Yes, I did. All my pain and emptiness drew me to you. I had a choice to make. Would I keep walking on the path that led away from you? Or would I turn around and turn my life over to you? It would be foolish, in a sense, to say that I chose you. You chose me, there is no doubt about that. But I was not only seeking comfort for my distress or relief of my pain. Somehow, as dense as I was, you helped me to know that I wanted and needed you. I wanted the new life of salvation that you were ready, willing, and able to give me as a free gift. All that was needed was for me to confess and turn from my sins and begin to love and follow and serve you. That is where Godly sorrow led me. Godly sorrow turned my life around and started me on a new course of loving, following, and serving you. I will never regret feeling Godly sorrow. Godly sorrow helped me, and will continue to help me, to live in an intimate relationship with you. Godly sorrow will give passion to my prayers. Godly sorrow will cause me to continually rely on you. Why is that someone might ask? I am still a sinner. I still need forgiveness. I still need you to help me to keep on loving, following, and serving you with all that is within me. So, keep on using Godly sorrow to purify my life. Use Godly sorrow to bring hope and peace into my life and fill my heart with joy. Use Godly sorrow to draw me closer and closer to you until the day I come to see you face to face. That I will do. That you can count on. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, thank you for using Godly sorrow to turn my life around so I could begin to love and follow and serve you. Thank you that Godly sorrow has drawn me into an intimate and passionate relationship with you. I will never regret your using Godly sorrow in my life. Amen
Key Question… How has Godly sorrow turned your life around so that you could love, follow, and serve God?
Living It Out… Allow Godly sorrow to turn your life around and draw you ever closer to God as you love, follow, and serve Him.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will never regret the work that Godly sorrow will do in your heart, and mind, and life.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how Godly sorrow has and still is doing a great work in you.
Prayer To Bless Others… May Godly sorrow turn your life around and cause you to passionately love, follow, and serve the Lord.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
The Virtuous Life – Day 227 – 2 Corinthians 7-10-11 – We Never Regret – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide
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