(Something I wrote in the past, so some of you may have seen it, but I thought it worth recycling.)

Plan Purposefully

Determine the specific steps you need to take, and plan a way to help you accomplish spiritual growth.

Prepare Prayerfully

Pray about what you need to do to prepare yourself, to be able to carry through despite your own personal weakness.

Proceed Positively

Carry out your plan to accomplish the goal, with the confidence that God will see you through and give you the strength to succeed.

Pursue Persistently

Don’t give up even if you fail.  Keep on even when it is hard.  If you have started and failed, you have at least started — so start again.  Never give up.