Philippians 3:12 makes it clear that your spiritual transformation requires a kind of partnership between you and God.  It is both something you take hold of and something that takes hold of you.  Of course God does the heavy lifting.  No matter how hard you try, you cannot engineer your own righteousness.  Only God can change you and make you like Him.  But you have an active role to play.  You don't just sit around and hope God waves a magic wand and makes you suddenly Christlike.  You must "press on" and "take hold of" what God is offering you.  You must actively cooperate with Him as he works to transform you.  You must take steps to place yourself in His hands so He can shape you.  You must pursue Him as He pursues you.