CONVICTION BUILDS OUR CHARACTER

2 Corinthians 7:9-10  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us. Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly sorrow produces death.

Godly grief gives us the conviction that defines who we are; it is the building block of our character. People without conviction neither know Christ nor themselves; our conviction only happens when we understand who Jesus is in us.

Father, when we claim to be Christian and live in darkness, we do not know Christ. Father, none of us are perfect, and we all fall short. Still, we see the difference between stumbling unintentionally living in habitual, continual sin without any pangs of conscience, guilt, or remorse. Lord, create in us a clean heart; please remove all that is not of You, especially the sins that separate us from You.  Father, give us godly grief for our sins, so we will repent and turn away from our iniquities. Lord, open our hearts and minds, fill us with Your Spirit; so we will be compelled to obey and do good work, in Jesus' name, Amen