Remorse is not repentance. Being sorry is not repentance. Repentance is not feeling "crummy" about yourself. Repentance is not feeling "crummy" about what you did. God may use all those to bring one to repentance, but they are not repentance.
"As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death" (2 Cor. 7:9-10)
Repentance requires re-direction of mind, heart, desires, and behavior. Repentance requires change--not perfectly, but truly. Repentance requires brokenness before God (Psalm 51). Repentance requires humility without defensiveness. Repentance requires taking responsibility without excuse or condition. Repentance requires absorbing the hurt your actions or attitude caused others.
Pray for repentance--for ourselves, those without Christ, and those believers who are living out of step with God's will in temporary rebellion.
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