My face is in the carpet. Again.

“God! Why won’t you help? How do you expect me to stop if you don’t help?”

I love you.

There it is. He always says that. That wasn’t my question.

“You’re avoiding my question. I know you love me, that wasn’t what I asked. Are you going to answer my question?”

That is the answer.

Great. More cryptic, off-hand, simple answers.

“But I can’t do this on my own strength!”

I love you.

Okay. This is going nowhere fast. New tactic.

“But I don’t feel it!”

You’re not praising Me.

Oh, come on!

“I do praise you! I know you’re worthy of more praise than I could even give.”

No. Until you stop worrying about how you’re going to quit sinning, and start focusing on me, nothing is going to change because you’re still focused on the sin. You’re just waiting for another opportunity to sin, so you can try and show how strong you are, or show the Enemy how strong you are. You will alwalys follow what you’re looking at.

Well, yeah, but…

“But how am I supposed to be wary and watch out and make sure I’m not sinning if I’m not paying attention?”

It’s not a question of paying attention, son, but what are you paying attention to.

That’s when it hit me. I’d been watching the wrong ball. Running the wrong race. Hitting the wrong nail. I don’t need to go looking for trouble. Satan will find me. When he does, I’ll be praising. God will be waiting.