Painting Weathered Wood & Spiritual Applications

A summertime project high on our to-do list just got done before the snow flies in Minnesota. Procrastination is the culprit for not getting our very weathered porch railings painted earlier. My wife has gently hinted that we replace the wood railings with composite railings. Although paint is costly, composite railings are more so.
Two things came to my mind while we painted will wearing sweatshirts:
1. My wife is right. When the railings need painting again, we will replace them.
2. Painting over weathered, rotted wood is like confessing sin without turning away from the sin. 
The railings are going to need painting again quite soon because the wood is so bad. Painting does not fix the problem. 
Confessing sin does not fix the problem either. The sin is forgiven by the LORD, but the sin problem is not fixed and will reappear and need to be confessed again. 
The old wood of temptation needs to be replaced with new material; new patterns of behavior.
Paul writes to the believers in Philippi some new patterns:
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or heard from me or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.