2 Corinthians 7.8–13

⁸ Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ 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. ¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³ By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

A prayer:

I ask You, O Lord, to keep me from willfully sinning. For I know these sins scar Your son and defile my preparation for the kingdom. But if I do sin, chasten me as You would one of Your dear children. Teach me and instruct me so that I am not led down that path again. Bring me to repentance by striking my heart with guilt over disobeying Your righteous command. May tears flood my bed at night in hope that Your everlasting love would forgive me. Let me not sorrow as the world, for the world sorrows at the mere consequences of sin rather than sin itself. The ugliness of sin is revealed when it is understood that it is a direct violation of Your very Personhood. I’m sorry for hurting You, Father, by adding to my Lord’s pain, but forgive me and renew my heart in purity so that I mat once again seek Your everlasting ways.