Romans 7

9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.
We should be grateful for God making His law known, for His law points out our sin. However I should not put my worth in keeping the law, because although my actions may be pure, the mind is perverted and rebellious thus I am still tainted with sin. His law reminds me that I am a sinner doomed to die, yet it can't offer any help. It is only through his son that I'm given salvation, I can never earn it from good morals or accomplishments.

 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
This reassures that i'm not the only one who feels this way. I often find that I indulge myself in sin most when I am lacking in prayer. More than I should (which should be never) I attempt to overcome sin in my own way by superficial promises or overestimating my self control. It is unwise to rely on my own ability because my sinful inheritance from Adam  causes my intentions to result as something unreliable and ineffective.