I want to change.
That is, I feel like every couple of days I realize that I need to revise a part of myself or completely scrap it and start over. I am a sinful man to be sure. "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23 NLT).
Then in discouragement I go to God. I spend time in prayer, worship, and reading Scripture. I am eventually encouraged by my place as God's child through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" - John 3:16 (NASB).
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" - John 1:12-13 (NASB).

Yet I want more than to simply have eternal life. I want to live this eternal life to its fullest and serve God to the best of my ability.
Can you relate?
If you can there is an answer for us who want to change and become more like Christ TODAY.

"...we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" - Hebrews 10:10 (NASB).
First, brothers and sisters, if we desire to change we need to recognize that the power to be made more holy (sanctified) is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are both declared holy (justified) and made more holy (sanctified) through Jesus Christ.
But we work alongside of Jesus Christ's work in changing to be more like Him. We have the Holy Spirit to do His work and it is by His power that we work with Him. Secondly, we let our Heavenly Father's words transform our hearts and minds.
Jesus prayed to the Father "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17 NASB).
If you desire to become more like Jesus you need to spend time in Scripture and strive to understand Scripture.
Paul wrote "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV).
By soaking in Scripture we will be sanctified by the transforming of our minds.

It is my prayer that you and I can both say:
Yahweh, instead of meditating on my plans and regarding sinful ways "I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word." - Psalm 119:15-16 (NASB).
Lord, I want to press onward to know you more. I have been so distracted as of late and have not spent much time alone with You. Lord, I know I need You. I feel my need for You deep within the core of my being. My heart, soul, and mind crave and pant for you. I need you to survive so Lord I come to you now. I come to You not only because I love You but also because I need You and I need you to transform and CHANGE me.

Holy Father, sanctify me and my readers in Your truth.

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Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. 3rd ed. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.

The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.

     This summer is disappearing as fast as last summer did. School is looming ahead in only a couple of months. Yet, youth group is starting once more as well =). I am very excited for this year at PHILEO. I am not just excited about teaching; I am excited about hanging out with the high-schoolers, about going ice skating, about the high school retreat, about the Friday night worship, about evangelism... Oh goodness, I really am excited. I suppose what I am most excited about though is the chance you and I have to live out our faith in Jesus. The writer of Hebrews said it well:

 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’” (Hebrews 3:12-15 ESV).

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT).

    The man who wrote to the Hebrews was trying to get across that “Christians must… prove that their outward profession springs from inward reality” (Gundry). My faith is real! My faith in Jesus causes me to run from evil and to hold fast to Christ. My faith in Jesus causes me to hope and love. My faith in Jesus constructs a desire inside of me to encourage other Christians.
               Faith in action – that is what the Christian life is. PHILEO (“Pursuing Him In Life & Each Other”) is about faith in action as well. Our youth group is not only a hang out and fun time. Our youth group, PHILEO, is a place where you and I pursue Christ in our own lives and each other’s lives.

Works Cited
Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version", copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. eBook.