Training is a pretty spiritual time for me.  That's probably why I like training alone and in the quiet so much.  That is usually the time when I feel closest to God and best able to feel His influence on my life.

We all have our ups and downs as far as spiritual connection with God.  The past week or two has been one of the downs.  Nothing bad has happened -- quite the opposite; things were running smoothly.  And for some reason I just kind of grew content with where I was spiritually.  I didn't even really notice it.  It just kind of happened.  But my wife noticed it (thankfully) and pointed it out to me.  Now, this sort of gap is never something that you want.  I certainly didn't want it.  And it was uncomfortable to confront.  Kind of like how some overweight people are in denial about their problems as well.

Anyway, today while I was training, I was loading the bar between sets and reflecting briefly on this.  Then it occurred to me... I had been praying for God to fix this spiritual contentment, but that wasn't the right prayer.  God wants to be proud of us and in this situation, God would rather see what I can do to fix it rather than do it Himself.  He has given me the tools I need and it's up to me to use them -- with discipline.  It's kind of like training -- the weights are there, but they won't lift themselves.  I have to diligently -- but more important, ACTIVELY pursue my relationship with Christ just as I have to diligently and actively pursue strength.

So this effectively changed my perspective.  I am not passively waiting for the problem to get fixed.  I have to seek in order to find.  I know that this is nothing new.  It wasn't really news to me, either.  But epiphanies don't have to be something we didn't know before -- just an enhanced awareness of them.  Anyway, that's my random thought for today.  God Bless!

I think one still has to be careful to acknowledge that Christ is the one who most actively pursues us (boy is this true in my life!).  Otherwise it seems one could fall into a sort of self-righteous trap where one's self is the primary actor.

But, it's like you said, it's so easy just to cruise control and to let other things cloud one's vision instead of actively making Christ the singular joy of our lives.  That sort of idolatry is harmful not just in the sense of "oh, it's idolatry, that's bad, God doesn't like that" but also because it denies us the BEST thing...and that's fullness of joy in Jesus Christ!

 Also, it's great to hear that you have a helpmate who is willing to call you out and strengthen your relationship with God (the lack of that probably falls into the top 10 of why I shouldn't have been dating that girl! haha)

Good points, Misha.  I am looking forward to these kinds of discussions.  As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

I've been thinking about this from time to time and in my own study it seems to pop up from time to time.  I think your statement below is more profound than I originally gave credit for.  I'm still mulling things over in my head a bit, but I'll probably have more discussion on it before everything is finished.

Hey  Mike,

I'm new here, but I am so thankful that I have found your forum.  I am a big proponent of block training and am glad to finally see it applied to strength training. 

I spent some time looking around for bible passages to provide encouragement, and after much frustration, I have found what I was looking for:

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." - Romans 10:17

Everyday, the flesh, Satan, and the world fill us with lies, and we need to read the Word of God everyday and pray to God truths written in the Word to renew our faith.  Oftentimes, when we’re in a rut spiritually, it’s because we’re not renewing our faith and our minds consistently.  The things of God do not come to us naturally in our sinful state:  

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

But Mike, it’s not us as believers who act first, it’s God who acts first.  We cannot go to God unless He first comes to us:   “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." - John 6:44

We cannot even repent unless God grants it to us.  The Puritans and other church fathers used to call it “gift of repentance” or “gift of tears”:

“…God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth…” - 2 Timothy 2:25

“When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.’" – Acts 11:18

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10

So Mike, I end with this verse and a couple links I pray you will find most helpful:

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." - 1 Timothy 6:11-12

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2067_one_of_the_most_important_principles_in_reading_the_bible/

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1539_How_Shall_We_Fight_for_Joy/