If our hearts are still easily swayed by worldly matters, we will never experience godly sorrow. This kind of sorrow is found only in those whose hearts are sensitive to sin and who long for holiness. It means that when we do something that does not meet God’s standard of holiness, our hearts grieve, regret, and even cry out, “Why did I do this?” We become deeply disturbed by our own actions. When such feelings are nurtured within spiritual awareness, we begin to grow and mature in the presence of God.
As we approach the end of 2025, many people will naturally offer words of thanksgiving. Yet we must ask ourselves: for what are we giving thanks? Are we grateful merely for the days that God has given, or for how we have lived those days? If the days we have spent were filled with deeds that displeased God, isn’t it ironic—even wrong—to give thanks for them? It is far better to come before God with a broken heart, confessing our sins and failures, and seeking His forgiveness. Let us repent until we experience godly sorrow—a sorrow that comes from realizing that our condition is still far from what God desires.
Those who possess this kind of sorrow will become people increasingly pleasing to God. The Lord, who examines the hearts of all, will reveal our actual condition before Him. And as long as we are willing to open our hearts and repent, God’s grace will never run out. How tragic it is when someone refuses to repent simply because they are unwilling to relinquish worldly pleasures. Leaving the world behind can indeed be difficult, but once we take that step, we will find that it is not impossible—it is, in fact, inevitable for those who genuinely love God.
We can change, because God sees the sincerity of our hearts, even if we have not yet entirely changed. Transformation does not occur instantly; it unfolds over a gradual process. But the desire and determination to change are proof that we love God. For when we sincerely commit to living rightly, God works in all things for our good.
Therefore, as this year draws to a close, let us set our lives right before the Lord. Let us sincerely say, “Lord, forgive all my sins, my mistakes, my indecent acts, and my wrong decisions. Forgive me.” Yet our plea for forgiveness must be accompanied by a deep awareness of our corruption and a firm commitment to change. Without commitment, confession becomes nothing more than an empty ritual. How ironic it is to see many people who claim to believe in Jesus, yet are unwilling to follow Him. They know the truth but refuse to live by it. True faith is always marked by a commitment to live in accordance with the truth we already know.
In his cunning, the devil leads many Christians to live like Peter did when he fell—careless, unguarded, and feeling secure. They fail to realize that life is a spiritual battlefield. They do not seriously examine whether their actions, decisions, and life choices align with the Father’s will or not.
Remember: for believers, there is never a truce with the forces of darkness. There is no neutral ground in the spiritual life. Every moment is a time of warfare—between God’s will and the temptations of the world. Therefore, do not let your guard down! Stay alert, so that your sorrow is not over the loss of worldly things, but because you have grieved the heart of God. For from such sorrow comes true repentance, and from true repentance arises genuine thanksgiving before the Lord.