Paul said it.  I believe it. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (she) is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (II Cor. 5:17).
Peter said it.  I believe it. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue”(II Peter 1:2-3).
Even more remarkably, Paul said it, and I believe it, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Cor. 3:17-18).
Holiness is something we expect to happen.  Scripture says it is supposed to happen.  Christ commands that it happens.  But what happens when it doesn’t seem to happen? How exactly do pilgrims best progress?  Might I suggest three things (beyond the basic (and non-negotiable) essentials of Bible reading and study, prayer, and regular attendance and involvement in a local body of believers).  How about meaningful connection to friends (at least one) who has more faith than you?  It’s easier to build your faith when you are in the company of people who trust Christ.  Imitating Christ is a commendable objective (and a necessary one), but we need to witness Christlikeness in others near to us to help us get it right.  To progress in our faith we must progress in our meaningful connections of those of faith.
Secondly, do some spiritual “Spring cleaning,” in JANUARY!  Clear the clutter of things doubtful in your life.  Put in the trash bin defiling entertainments that deplete your soul at the expense of fulfilling your flesh.  Paul reminds us, “If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (II Timothy 2:21).  We think this way about shedding unwanted fat from our bodies.  Why not shed some pounds in the area of our spiritual development?  Practice purity.  Elevate beliefs.  Confirm Biblical convictions.
Finally, to make progress as pilgrims of Christ, we should consider putting a lid on our lips.  We talk about so many things being essential to our spiritual formation.  Few recognize that our talk is what gets us into so much of our trouble.  The Lord liked this advice so much that He put this in both the Old and New Testaments: “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit” (Ps. 34:12-13; I Peter 3:10).
Journalist Andree Seu put it like this in an interesting remark that I would apply to the year 2012, “(This year) is a woman on the birthing stool, and we don’t know what’s in there yet: weal or woe; the sun rising or the sun setting on our nation; the beginning of the end times or the end times in earnest.”  In any case, whatever God births for us in this New Year, we can be certain that we have a hand in its outcomes by the choices we make as pilgrims of faith in Him. I expect great things through Him and for Him.  How about you?