Godly Training: A Spiritual Workout

I am old and out of shape. Activities which I enjoyed and was pleasantly challenged by when I was young now leave me exhausted. This is true of both my physical and spiritual training. I have, over the course of the years, designed training programs in order to run faster, swim longer distances, lose weight, or be stronger on the rugby field.
The one thing that all of these physical training programs had in common was a goal-something that I was working towards. I can not expect results in physical training by simply deciding “I would like to start exercising.” There needs to be focus on a specific type of exercise – one that will be beneficial. Progress must also be measurable.
It must be the same with spiritual exercise.
I find that Lent is a good time of year to think about these things, mostly because I am terrible at it. Quite undisciplined and prone to temptation. My attempt at fasting is similar to my second-year university attempt at dieting.
I set out with the idea that I should lose ten pounds, and decided that I would accomplish this with the avoidance of dessert and a daily jogging session. This, of course, lasted a few days before work started and daily jogging became weekly jogging and “dessert” no longer applied to anything which contained a fruit or vegetable, regardless of the amount of pastry or ice cream it may have contained. It won’t hurt. I’ll just make up for it tomorrow with jogging and swimming, and maybe I’ll only eat vegetables.
So it is with the daily scripture memorizing session. I can wake up in the morning and recite “Romans 12:17-18. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, um, as far as something, then live in peace I think…” But then I realize that memorizing scripture (or failing to memorize) kinda hurts my head. That and I don’t need to fast in order to pray. I can’t focus anyway. I needed that coffee. God will forgive me for being terrible at this. Maybe I’ll make up for it tomorrow.
So staying on track is a problem whenever I attempt to apply any kind of discipline.
Perhaps I simply need the correct motivation.
In order to motivate myself in my sport-related training, I have always desired an end result – something that will make me a better athlete and lead to a reward on the playing field.
God’s glory and presence in one’s life is definitely rewarding. More so than a goal in soccer or a six-minute mile. So how will I achieve my spiritual goals? I suppose I should start by setting a measurable, attainable, specific goal in an area where I see a need to improve.

My ultimate goal, at present, is to be able to memorize scripture with ease, understand it, and apply it to my daily life and, through words and written devotions and the occasional uplifting sentence in a conversation, be able to encourage and build up others.

But how should I begin?
How does one design a spiritual training program with the end result of being able to discern, memorize, understand, and utilize the word of God?

Tools at my disposal (My spiritual “Gymnasium”)
-Daily reading of scripture
-Daily attempts and practice at memorization
-Daily prayer
-Fasting
-Singing praise
-Quiet time

Perhaps the council of a “personal trainer” ie a pastor or priest, a friend from small group, or anyone I look up to who can help me to design such a program.
Because really, who is ever successful in going to the gym for the first time and correctly using the equipment in a sensible and useful manner?

Maybe a group of workout buddies can also help me to stay motivated.
Keeping a journal to monitor my progress could also help me.

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.”