Progress...Regress...Confusion

I have not made it secretive that what seems to always be on my mind is my shortcomings. My inability to carry out the right I know. My many nights of great triumph and fleeting feelings of happiness. My many nights of distress and second-guessing.

I think it's safe to say that you're not that far off from me. How are your relationships going? How is your relationship with your parents? Close friends? How are you doing with that ego of yours? What about that one thing that keeps getting to you, that if people found out...

For those of you whom placed their entire hope on Jesus, did you know the Bible says that your life should be changed?

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
(Romans 6:12-14 ESV)

It even goes on to say...

"No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him." 1 John 3:6

Doesn't that scare you? For me, I can't get these words out of my head. Because the very nature of going from darkness to light IS life change.

You being changed is NOT a result of your hard work, or you're striving. It is a direct of result of God bring you back from the dead. (Ephesians 2)

To continue with the dead to life analogy. A dead man that has been revived to life experiences drastic change. In a sense that he was once lifeless and now sees, hears, smells and taste. So it is with you. When God calls your name and says, "Wake up!" You experience drastic change like the dead man rising from the grave. Maybe this is what Jesus was talking about when he said, "By their fruits you shall know them."

I am not saying that a good personality, or doing charitable things is what brings you close to God. I am saying that your not drawn near God without having your life completely altered.

In other words... no one encounters a lion in their room and then goes to bed like it's nothing.

To finish on a topic that's immeasurably large...

I offer hope to you, Christian, who is struggling right now. To you who is wondering when you'll finally "get it." Know that... "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. 1:6

God, who breathed life into your lifeless existence, is not finished with you yet. Let go. Now that you're loved right now, not when you try your hardest to clean up your mess.

God doesn't love some future better version of you... He loves you. Right now. With your shortcomings and all...