The Bridge Between Wanting Change and Becoming New

Blaine Bartel is in the trenches with people who feel like it’s breakthrough or bust. People who are desperate for real change.
But one thing becomes clear over and over again:
Desire alone isn’t enough.

Most of us know the moment of inspiration well.
“I want to change.”
“I can’t keep living like this.”
“Something has to be different.”

But inspiration, on its own, doesn’t carry us very far.

Practices Are the Bridge

As Blaine was making his way out of addiction, there were specific practices—small, repeatable rhythms—he began to implement. They weren’t flashy or dramatic. But they were faithful.

Practices are the bridge between inspiration and transformation.

They take what we long for internally and give it a pathway to become embodied in real life. Rituals and routines—daily, weekly, yearly—quietly shape who we’re becoming.

And whether we acknowledge it or not, your life is already a product of your practices.

If you want to change the outcome, you have to change the input.

Desire Is the Starting Point

Change doesn’t begin with willpower. It begins with desire.

But it has to be more than “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Avoidance isn’t enough to sustain transformation.

You need a positive vision—something you’re actually moving toward.

Whatever vision you spend the most time considering is what will ultimately pull you. We live steeped in the language of self-actualization, but Jesus offers something deeper—not becoming your “best self,” but becoming like Him.

There may be healing from your past that needs to happen—but there’s also a future version of you that Jesus is inviting you toward.

Formation Is Always Happening

There is no such thing as neutral.

You are always being formed—by your family of origin, your habits, your schedule, your media diet, your city, your culture. You can’t expect to be formed into the image of Christ if you spend no time considering who He is or walking in His ways.

That’s why spiritual practices feel resistant.
They are counter-formation.

Every spiritual discipline pushes back against the default current of the world. And that resistance doesn’t mean something is wrong—it often means something important is happening.

Discipline is hard.
Slow is frustrating.
Hidden work feels inefficient.

But fruit comes in seasons.

Practices Shape Body, Mind, and Soul

Jesus doesn’t just care about your beliefs—He cares about your embodied life.

Practices aimed at Christlike character touch all of us:

• how we think

• how we feel

• how we live in our bodies

• how we relate to others

There’s a cumulative effect to repeatable behaviors. Over time, they train our desires. They rewire our reflexes. They teach us what to reach for when pressure comes.

And while it’s easy to turn practices into the goal, they are always just the means; the end is becoming more like Christ.

Don’t Do This Alone

There is power in involving other people.

Ask trusted voices:

• What deficiencies do you see in me?

• Where do you notice immaturity or resistance?

• What practices might help shape what’s lacking?

We are formed in community, not isolation.

And ultimately, we won’t find Jesus beautiful until we understand what He has rescued us from. Grace becomes precious when we grasp the depth of our need.

Where Do You Start?

Maybe you’re stuck in a specific struggle.
Maybe your life just feels shallow or unexamined.
Maybe there’s a practice you’ve been avoiding—because you already know it would confront something in you.

Start there.

You’re capable of more than you think.

It may feel awkward. It may feel like nothing is happening. That doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

We live in an instant-gratification culture—but the work of God is often slow, quiet, and deeply faithful.

And over time, those small practices become a bridge—from wanting change
to becoming new.