Maintaining spiritual virtues...

1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) 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. To maintain our muscle tone, we need to be involved in consistent exercise that stretches our muscles. If we fail to maintain regular exercise, our muscles start to lose their tone. Eventually we start to lose muscle mass and it starts being replaced by fat. In the same way, maintaining spiritual virtues and godly character requires focus, consistent spiritual disciplines and exercise. That is why we are urged to pursue! It requires some effort, some determination and some discipline. Even courage.

God is there with us. God is backing us. God provides us all that we need to pursue these virtues. God provides His grace to do so. We just have to apply it.