Podcast Summary: "EP 88: God Requires Everything From Us"
Podcast: In Totality with Megan Ashley
Host: Megan Ashley
Date: September 16, 2025
Overview
In this rich and vulnerable episode, Megan Ashley revisits her heartfelt talk from a women's conference in Kingston, Jamaica. She explores what it means for Christians to fully devote their hearts to God, drawing on personal testimonies and biblical truths. With honesty and passion, Megan discusses faith, obedience, surrender, and the cost—and miracle—of living for God "in totality," urging listeners to examine their own hearts and affections.
Key Topics & Insights
1. Returning Fully to God
Referenced Scripture: Psalm 119:10-12 [02:38]
- Megan reads Psalm 119, focusing on seeking God with all her heart and storing up His Word.
- She challenges listeners to consider: “Does the Lord have all of your affections? Are there areas where you’ve treated Him as common?” [03:40]
2. Vulnerability as a Foundation
[06:39]
- Megan shares that vulnerability comes naturally, shaped by her upbringing, and has opened others up to be real with God.
- Quote: “Vulnerability just kind of came natural for me… with my platform, I’ve noticed how much it’s opened up people’s hearts to be vulnerable with the Lord.” [06:39, Megan Ashley]
3. Motherhood, Special Needs, and Surrender
[07:30–12:38]
- She details her journey as a mother to three boys, including Caleb, who has autism and Fragile X syndrome.
- Megan shares how her expectations for her child shifted to grief—and how it led to deeper spiritual surrender.
- Quote: “You are thrust into grief. And so a lot of times people think that you can only grieve something that is dead. Well, guess what? What you imagined in your head is dead.” [12:38, Megan Ashley]
4. The Test of Faith and the Cost of Disappointment
[12:38–15:44]
- Megan and her mother’s stories highlight the ultimate question: If God says "no" to your greatest desire, will you still serve Him?
- Memorable Analogy: She asks listeners to imagine God saying no to their deepest desire and then asking, “Will you still serve Me?” [12:38]
- Quote: “What happens is it reveals your heart… The heart is deceitful above all, who can know it but God? Your heart hides from you.” [14:43, Megan Ashley]
5. Heart Examination and Consecration
[17:51–25:44]
- She urges vigilance in letting God search the heart.
- Describes her experience with fasting and consecration, learning that posture in prayer (physical submission) deepens spiritual intimacy.
- Quote: “The degree of what you need Me for is the degree of how you need to seek Me… The severity of what you need Me for is the severity of how you need to fast and pray this time.” [18:53, Megan Ashley]
- On God’s Holiness: “When you treat it as common, you’ll live common. But when you realize that He’s holy, holy, holy…” [21:00, Megan Ashley]
6. The Greatest Miracle
[22:56–25:44]
- Megan testifies the greatest miracle is not external change, but God transforming her own heart.
- Quote: “The greatest miracle I have ever seen? It’s me. A holy God changed me.” [23:59, Megan Ashley]
7. Impact and the Cost of Vulnerability
[26:53–28:17]
- Megan reflects on the privilege and fear of her platform, acknowledging the weight of responsibility: “To whom much is given, much is required.”
- Quote: “There is a cost… God requires everything. He comes after everything.” [28:17, Megan Ashley]
8. Living Sacrifice and Complete Obedience
[30:55–38:29]
- Romans 12 becomes Megan's blueprint: presenting oneself as a living sacrifice is “true worship” and “the least you can do.”
- She cautions against partial obedience and treating God as common.
- Quote: “You are either going to deal with your heart now in mercy or you deal with it later in judgment.” [32:51, Megan Ashley]
- Uses the Airbnb analogy: many let God into some “rooms” of their hearts, but keep others locked away.
9. Practical Forgiveness and Confession
[39:18–43:03, 52:52–54:35]
- Megan emphasizes that forgiveness is impossible in our own strength; it begins by confessing, “Lord, I am holding on to unforgiveness, help me forgive.”
- Quote: “Unforgiveness is too big for you, so allow Him to do it for you… Your confession will unlock the freedom.” [41:38, Megan Ashley]
- On reconciliation: forgiving does not mean remaining in fellowship; wisdom and boundaries are sometimes needed.
10. Community & Trusting God to Provide
[43:03–47:29]
- Shared the importance of godly community: “I wasn't seeking friendship. I was seeking God. And in seeking Him, He brought and sustained such a beautiful community in my life.” [46:15, Megan Ashley]
- Quote: “I don’t trust myself… That’s why the Bible says trust in the Lord… He never tells us to trust ourselves.” [44:01, Megan Ashley]
11. Rest, Intimacy, and Content Creation
[47:39–51:40]
- Megan identifies the danger of seeking God just for content, sharing a personal conviction from the Holy Spirit to prioritize intimacy over productivity.
- Quote: “This is not intimacy. You’re using Me for content. This is no longer intimate.” [48:34, Megan Ashley]
12. Audience Q&A Highlights
[52:18–61:41]
- On forgiveness: “Forgiving does not always mean fellowship. I can forgive you and not be close, but it means I don’t harbor ill will.” [54:52, Megan Ashley]
- On surrendering her children: “You were entrusted to steward their lives, but they are not yours… I’m entrusting myself fully to Him to allow me to be the mother I need to be.” [57:47, Megan Ashley]
- Meghan recounts her "porch" moment—an anxiety-filled night when, after great personal loss, she earnestly cried out to God, encountered His real presence, and never looked back. [59:26]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "If God says no [to your greatest desire], will you still serve Me?"
– Megan Ashley, [12:38], recurring anchor for self-examination - "The greatest miracle I have ever seen? It’s me. A holy God changed me."
– Megan Ashley, [23:59] - "You treat Him as common because you forget that He’s holy."
– Megan Ashley, [32:20] - "Your confession will unlock the freedom."
– Megan Ashley, [41:38] - "I don’t trust myself… That’s why the Bible says trust in the Lord… He never tells us to trust ourselves."
– Megan Ashley, [44:01] - "Everything that He shares with you, you do not need to share with everybody… Some stuff is sacred."
– Megan Ashley, [55:31] - "I wasn’t even thinking about anything else… He [God] was in front of me and that was the only thing that mattered."
– Megan Ashley, [60:20]
Key Timestamps
- Scripture Reading (Psalm 119): 02:38
- Vulnerability & Motherhood: 06:39–09:17
- Personal Testimony (Caleb & Surrender): 09:17–15:44
- Fasting, Posture, & Consecration: 18:22–25:44
- Greatest Miracle is Heart Change: 23:59–25:44
- Romans 12 & Living Sacrifice: 30:55–32:51
- Partial Obedience & Airbnb Analogy: 34:55–38:29
- Forgiveness & Confession: 39:18–43:03, 52:52–54:35
- Community & Loss: 43:03–47:29
- Content Creation vs. Intimacy: 47:39–51:40
- Q&A (Forgiveness, Children, Porch): 52:18–61:41
Final Thoughts
This episode is a powerful call for Christians to surrender every area of their lives to God—not just outward actions, but inner affections, and every “room” of the heart. Megan models radical honesty and deep obedience, reminding listeners that the greatest evidence of God’s work is a changed heart. Her vulnerability, scriptural grounding, and practical wisdom invite listeners at every stage of faith to examine what they are holding back, and to step forward into a holistic, fully surrendered relationship with God.
For reflection:
"Have I given God every part of my heart, or are some rooms still locked?"