True spiritual mourning for sin comes from the Spirit of God. Repentance is a rare flower not found in human nature. Pearls might form naturally in oysters, but penitence only appears in sinners when God's grace makes it possible. If you have even a hint of true hatred for sin, it is a gift from God, for human nature never produces it on its own. "What is born of the flesh is flesh." Real repentance looks directly to the Savior. When we repent, we should see both our sin and the cross, or better yet, focus on Christ and see our sins through His love.

True sorrow for sin is practical. No one can claim to hate sin while continuing to live in it. Repentance makes us aware of sin's evil, not just in theory but in experience—like a child who fears fire after being burned. We'll be as cautious of sin as someone who’s been robbed fears highway thieves and we'll avoid it in everything, big and small, like avoiding both little snakes and large ones. True mourning over sin makes us careful about our words, so we don't speak wrongfully.

We watch over our actions daily, fearing to offend. Each night, we confess our shortcomings, and each morning, we pray for God's help to avoid sin. Sincere repentance is ongoing. Believers keep repenting until the day they die. This well of repentance never runs dry. While other sorrows fade with time, this sorrow grows with us. It's a bittersweetness we thank God for, one we experience until we enter eternal rest.