In Totality with Megan Ashley - Episode 61: God Exposed My Pride
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Introduction and Context
In Episode 61 of "In Totality with Megan Ashley," host Megan Ashley delves deep into her personal spiritual journey, focusing on the revelations and transformations experienced during her sabbatical. After taking time away to allow the Lord to work on her heart and soul, Megan returns with profound insights about pride, trust, and dependence on God.
Exposure of Pride Through Sabbatical and Fasting
Megan begins by reflecting on her recent sabbatical, initially filled with relaxation and leisure activities. However, the true purpose of her time away was to seek healing and deeper intimacy with God. During a period of fasting, she confronts her own pride, recognizing that her lack of reverence for God stemmed from not fully depending on Him.
Megan Ashley [10:30]: "When I was going on the fast, what it exposed a lot in me was how prideful I am. I pray that I am less prideful. I know I still have work to do."
She acknowledges that her focus had been more on "doing" rather than "being" with God, leading to a diminished sense of reverence and dependency.
Insights from Megan Fate Marshman's "Relax"
Megan introduces the transformative impact of Megan Fate Marshman's book, Relax, which challenges the culture of constant doing and striving. The book emphasizes that spiritual disciplines should cultivate intimacy with God rather than serve as tasks to be checked off.
Megan Ashley [20:15]: "Her book really taught me that spiritual disciplines should produce more intimacy and dependency on the Lord. It’s not about striving to do something, but about being with the Lord."
She underscores the importance of shifting from a productivity mindset to one of trust and reliance on God's sovereignty.
Analyzing Proverbs 3:5-6
A significant portion of the episode centers around Megan's exploration of Proverbs 3:5-6, dissecting its implications for her spiritual life.
Megan Ashley [25:45]: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
Megan breaks down the scripture into actionable components:
- Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart: Emphasizing complete reliance on God without reservation.
- Lean Not on Your Own Understanding: Encouraging believers to seek God's wisdom over their limited perspectives.
- Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways: Integrating God into every aspect of one's life.
She highlights the necessity of aligning one's role with God's, moving away from self-reliance.
Trusting God vs. Reliance on Self
Megan contrasts the prevalent cultural ethos of "doing more" with the biblical call to "trust more." She reflects on how societal pressures to achieve and perform can undermine one's faith and dependence on God.
Megan Ashley [30:20]: "We live in a culture that tells us to do more—more content, more grind, more fitness. But in our Christian walk, it's about doing more for God, not just doing for ourselves."
She emphasizes that true spiritual growth stems from cultivating a relationship with God rather than merely engaging in religious activities.
Spades Analogy for Trusting God
To illustrate her points, Megan shares an engaging analogy from her experiences playing spades. She likens trusting God to having a reliable partner in the game who always holds the high cards, allowing her to play with confidence and relaxation.
Megan Ashley [40:05]: "Trusting in the Lord is like having a spades partner who has all the high cards. You can be relaxed because they know you're going to win every book."
This analogy underscores the peace and assurance that comes from entrusting one's life to a sovereign and trustworthy God.
Biblical Examples of Trust and Faith
Megan references several biblical figures to illustrate consistent faith and trust in God:
- Abraham: His faith was "accounted to him" despite not having tangible assurances.
- David: Known for his heartfelt honesty and reliance on God.
- Paul: Demonstrated unwavering trust in God's plans despite challenges.
Megan Ashley [50:10]: "Abraham's faith was accounted to him, even without the history we have today. We have God's history in our hands, showing His consistent nature."
These examples serve to reinforce the message that trusting God leads to steadfast faith and divine support.
Encouragement to Trust and Depend on God
Megan offers heartfelt encouragement to listeners struggling with trust and faith. She advises believers to start by being honest with God about their doubts and fears, emphasizing that God welcomes genuine vulnerability.
Megan Ashley [55:30]: "You can even go to the Lord with the fact that you don't trust Him. Be honest with Him. He's not intimidated."
She reassures listeners of God's unwavering commitment to act on their behalf when they commit their ways to Him.
Megan Ashley [1:00:45]: "Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will act. He will do something, it may not be what you want, but He will act."
Practical Steps and Journaling Prompts
Towards the end of the episode, Megan provides practical advice for cultivating trust in God:
- Read Scripture Aloud: Engaging with God's Word verbally to internalize its truths.
- Journal Reflections: Encouraging listeners to document their experiences and revelations.
Megan Ashley [1:05:20]: "Read Psalms 37 out loud and journal what you experience as you read."
She also suggests a journal prompt for further reflection:
Journal Prompt: Why can I trust the Lord? What’s keeping me from trusting Him?
Conclusion and Final Encouragement
Megan wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of trusting God and understanding the distinct roles of believers and the Divine. She emphasizes that while humans have responsibilities, the heavy lifting of faith and trust is God's.
Megan Ashley [1:10:50]: "Trust him because he's the most trustworthy. Whether you believe it or not, his word is proven time and time again."
She urges listeners to focus on the basics of their faith—trusting, yielding, abiding, and committing their lives to God—thereby experiencing a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with Him.
Megan Ashley [1:12:30]: "We're stripping things back and going back to the simple things. Maybe we need to focus on the basics—trusting in the Lord, not sanctifying our own thoughts, yielding to Him, acknowledging Him, committing our way of life to Him."
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
On Pride Exposure:
"When I was going on the fast, what it exposed a lot in me was how prideful I am. I pray that I am less prideful. I know I still have work to do."
[10:30] -
On Spiritual Disciplines:
"Her book really taught me that spiritual disciplines should produce more intimacy and dependency on the Lord. It’s not about striving to do something, but about being with the Lord."
[20:15] -
On Proverbs 3:5-6 Breakdown:
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart... Lean not into your own understanding... He will make your path straight."
[25:45] -
On Cultural Pressures:
"We live in a culture that tells us to do more—more content, more grind, more fitness. But in our Christian walk, it's about doing more for God, not just doing for ourselves."
[30:20] -
On Trusting God Through Analogy:
"Trusting in the Lord is like having a spades partner who has all the high cards. You can be relaxed because they know you're going to win every book."
[40:05] -
On Biblical Faith:
"Abraham's faith was accounted to him, even without the history we have today. We have God's history in our hands, showing His consistent nature."
[50:10] -
On Honesty with God:
"You can even go to the Lord with the fact that you don't trust Him. Be honest with Him. He's not intimidated."
[55:30] -
On Commitment and Action:
"Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will act. He will do something, it may not be what you want, but He will act."
[1:00:45] -
On Practical Steps:
"Read Psalms 37 out loud and journal what you experience as you read."
[1:05:20] -
On Final Encouragement:
"Trust him because he's the most trustworthy. Whether you believe it or not, his word is proven time and time again."
[1:10:50]
Final Thoughts
In this episode, Megan Ashley offers a candid and introspective look into her struggle with pride and the journey toward deeper trust in God. Through personal anecdotes, biblical insights, and practical advice, she encourages listeners to realign their spiritual practices from mere actions to genuine dependence on the Divine. This episode serves as a meaningful guide for believers seeking to enhance their relationship with God by addressing internal barriers and fostering unwavering faith.