The following represent my own thoughts on this issue.

1. The place of Discipline, self control and training

   Look up each of the following verses and write your thoughts on the importance of having a life-style which is focused on the diligent pursuit of Christ.

   • 1 PE 3:15
     In this verse, I am told to decide to set Christ as Lord in my life. I am told to always be prepared to answer the questions people have about why I follow Christ. This means that I need to have some level of understanding. I need to know and understand God's word. I need to be able to answer questions and objections. I need to have thought through a personal testimony of what God has done for me and my family. Therefore, to know God's word is essential.

   • 1 Tim 4:7-8
     train myself to be godly (exercise myself). Work at it and practice and train myself until I am godly. This naturally involves discipline and planned out routines. It needs a regular premeditated effort. This is my responsibility. It will not happen by itself. Godliness has eternal value.

   • 2 Pe 1:5
     In this verse I am instructed that I need to apply zealous effort to fill any empty spots in my life with all sorts of godly behaviour. I am told to go out and get goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. I am further promised that if i do these things, I will never fall and I will enjoy fruitfulness.

   • 2 Tim 2:4-5
     My focus. I should decide to submit myself to Jesus, my commanding officer. This should be my purpose. And, as an athlete must work hard and play by the rules if he is to win, then so must I.

   • Philippians 3:12-14
     Paul describes how his purpose is to always press onward towards the goal of Christian maturity. He says he forgets what is behind and strains on to what is ahead. This pressing and straining is far from our lifestyle of relaxing and watching TV.

   • Heb 3:14
     I must holf firmly to what I know to be true and make sure that I always submit myself to God's promptings.

   • 2 Tim 2:15
     Here I am told to study and work hard to have a accurate and sound working knowledge of the word of God so that I will be able to handle teaching and such correctly.

   • 1 Cor 9:24-27
     Paul had a concern that he would accidentally waste his opportunity to have a fruitful and productive Christian life. Therefore, he uses as an example the neccessary self-controlled life-style and habits of one who wants to compete in 'the games'. In light of this, Paul tells us that he carefully plans his actions and the usage of his time and resources so he does not appear as one who runs without purpose or fights like someone punching the air madly.

   • Read psalm 119 and make a note of the verse numbers which illustrate David's desire to know and internalize God's law. (This question should be done at the same time as the first question in section 2 below)

     2 8 9-10a 11 15 20 30-32 44 46-48 55-56 57-58 59 60-63 71 78b 88b 93 94 97 99 101 106 119 120 127-8 129 139 147 148 153 159 161 164 166,7 168 169-172

2. Our dependence on God. He provides and protects

   Look up each of the following verses and make some notes on why we are fully dependent on the grace God gives us.

   • Read psalm 119 and make a note of the verse numbers which illustrate David's dependence on God in his desire to know and obey his laws. (This question should be done at the same time as the last question in section 1 above)

     10b, 17-19 25-29 33-40 43 49-50 58b 64 65-68 71 73 76 77 80 81 82 88a 90 92 93 94 105 107 108 114 116-117 121 124,5 126 130 132 144 149 153,4 156 159 165 169 173 175 176

   • 2 Pe 1:3,4
     God has given us every resource we need for godly living. These resources are delivered to us through our knowledge of God. This knowledge is contained in his word. We depend on this knowledge to escape evil and to grow closer to God.

   • James 1:5
     God supplies us with wisdom and he gives his wisdom to all his children only because they ask for it. Further, he gives it generously without being critical.

   • 1 Pe 1:5
     God acts as a shield to his children, protecting them from falling from the faith

   • Rom 8:28-39
     God protects us from attach. He has arranged time itself and everything that happens to us to ensure that we arrive. God, who is the judge and jury is also the one who is protecting us. Nothing can pry us from God. Nothing in/on/under or above the Earth, or any sort of being or event can rob us of our inheritance as God's children.

3. Conclusion

   These things can be applied to many aspects of our Christian life. Spend some time and write a paragraph on how what you have learned applies to the memorization and study of God's word.

   
   Simply put, God will see to it that we arrive safely in his arms. But, we are told that we must dedicate ourselves (as best we are able), to the diligent pursuit of godliness. So much depends on our knowledge of God and our obedience to his word. We simply have to spend as much time as we are able learning about his word. A structured routine of scripture memorization, study, meditation and obedience seem manditory.