Demons make three pitfalls for us whenever we try to please God.

First, they fight to prevent us from doing good. 

Secondly, when they are defeated in this first attempt, they try to make sure that what we have done is not according to God’s will. 

If they fail to succeed in this intention, then they quietly come to our soul and pamper us as though we were living in harmony with everything that God wants. 

The first temptation is resisted by the carefulness and care of death; the second by obedience and humiliation; and the third by the constant self-abasement. 

This work is before us, until we go into the sanctuary of God (cf. Psalm 73:17). Then we shall no longer suffer the violence of evil habits; for our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) and He consumes every burning and movement of lust, every bad habit, every bitterness and wickedness, both inner and outer, visible and conceivable.

- Saint John Climacus https://image.nostr.build/8a8de740ea38a33659015d6f277d8f3f7e8e81b22cf967a984fa87ca61d98dea.jpg