seeds of sin

The battle against sin is won or lost before I have even moved to act. Even if I do not "commit" the sin, if a temptation enters my mind and I do not immediately give it a swift kick out the door then I am in sin. I am in sin because I have allowed myself, even for a moment, to consider something other than obedience. I may have not committed adultery with the charistmatic stranger who came to the door, but I stood in the doorway chatting with him and maybe even invited him in for tea. May it never be so. I can't flirt with Satan and expect to get away with my heart and marriage intact.

Lord, is it right to pray that You answer the door when the devil comes calling?