Are you trying, or are you training? Our pastor made us think about this last weekend, comparing physical training to spiritual growth. If you're curious how prayer, Bible study, and fellowship can be more like training for godliness than just trying to be good, you might find some inspiration from 1 Timothy 4:8.
"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."