Those moments in life always come, particularly when you're doing your best to do good, and that's when you realize you're not making it. What? Give it another chance? You try harder, but that doesn't work any better. Granted, we're all sinners, but is it anywhere in the realm of possibility that a sinner can do better than sin?  
 
Well, as a matter of fact, it is possible, but not for a sinner attempting it on their own. So how can it happen?
 
Have you been studying the Sabbath School lesson lately? Lesson 10 goes into the subject of the Covenant and the Blueprint. One of the passages studied in that lesson has some things to say about sinners doing good, and I think what it says makes a lot of good sense.  
 
The passage? Ezekiel 36 comes just before Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones in chapter 37, which speaks of the nation of Israel being restored through two things: 1) prophecy (the Word), and 2) the Breath (or Spirit). The last verse in that chapter speaks of the Lord making Israel holy by removing all their spiritual uncleanness. Seems to me that's the only way any one of us will ever become holy—if God makes us holy.  
 
Ezekiel 36 has two basic thoughts: 1) hope for the mountains of Israel, and 2) Israel's restoration is assured. If you've read much about Israel's history, you know that no matter what God did, they always reverted to the ways of the heathen who lived around them. God said (v. 22) that it wasn't for the people's sake he would do some things, but rather for the sake of his great name that they had profaned. When he did what he was planning to do, the nations would know He was the Sovereign Lord and that He was holy. 
 
V. 24-25: "I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols."
 
V. 26: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." V. 27: "And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Although He doesn't use the word "holy," it's relatively clear that it will result from all He was about to do. Note: HE was the One doing the doing.  
 
A text in Paul's writings says it very simply: Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Instead of trying your best to do good and not sin, look to Jesus and put your faith in Him to create a new, clean heart that does good, not wrong. He'll be delighted to use you to bring honor to His name.