As I grew up in church, I heard many influential words like justification, rapture, sanctification, tribulation, and others. They sounded weighty, very grown-up, and challenging to understand. As I have advanced in age and faith, I now realize their significance and why they bless me.
One of these words is sanctification, which in its verb form means “to set apart for special use or purpose.” This definition refers to “the process of being set apart or made holy, filled with the Holy Spirit of God.”
To a young boy and later a young man, I imagined God would open up my head and pour the Holy Spirit into me until I started to overflow. Then He’d put the top of my head back on. Looking back, I believe that would be the more straightforward way to help us understand this process. I think we have all had those thoughts, but it doesn’t work quite like that, does it?
I recently heard a song by Zach Williams about sanctification; the process everyone begins when we accept Jesus Christ as savior. This song takes this big adult word and explains it so everyone can understand it. Zach sings it so well in his song “Less of me.” Here is just a part of that song.

Yeah, there’s no denying I have changed
 ‘Cause I’ve been saved from who I used to be
 But even at my best, I must confess
 I still need help to see the way You see

 Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped
 Somebody with a hand that I could have held
 When I just can’t see past myself
 Oh Lord, help me be

 A little more like mercy, a little more like grace
 A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
 A little more like patience, a little more like peace
 A little more like Jesus, a little less like me

This lyric reminds me of my best friend, Eric Howard. I was there when he came off the streets, a worn-out crack addict who had used up every last resource at his disposal. He had burned up all his friendships, family, money, and second chances. He joined the Victory Acres program and was removed for using drugs and alcohol several times. Before he left the last time, he had turned the corner with Jesus. He gave his life and his will to Jesus, which is what God wants us all to do. When we get to see it up close in person, we have a front-row seat view of the beautiful process of sanctification at its best.
Eric is just one of many walking-breathing miracles I have had the privilege to know personally. Currently, he pastors a church and helps run a Rescue Mission in Fort Dodge, Iowa. His family is loving and his life is in Jesus. In fact, you can’t talk to Eric for very long before you hear about Jesus – because that is who Eric has become.
That is who he is, and his process is still moving forward every time I talk with him. I am always amazed at what he is letting God do in his life! I can look in the mirror and see another example of this godly process of sanctification, and I pray you can say the same thing about yourself.
We have the privilege of watching our men, women, and each other - in all different stages of this process. We are right there walking with them as we journey together.
We want to follow the scripture which says in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your interests but also to the interest of others.”
Thank you for your support of PRM as we can walk with so many people through this life and eternity-changing process. I would like to invite you to our HopeRising event in the late Fall, so that I may introduce you to some of our walking, breathing miracles that live and work here at PRM. Over 60 % of our men’s ministry staff are miracles from our ministry.
I look forward to meeting you, and would appreciate it if you would choose to support us and pray with us as we all together, become “a little more like Jesus and a little less like me!”

Lee Burnham
Senior Director of Men’s Ministries