The Modern Methodist

You cannot become more like Jesus without practicing vulnerability and confession. This is a bold statement, but it's true. When we keep the reality of our hearts hidden, those things will eventually be exposed in painful and unwelcome ways.

Think of Adam and Eve in the garden—their first instinct after sinning was to hide. That's our natural response too. But God calls us to a different way.

When we practice vulnerability and confession as part of our regular Christian life, we allow God to transform us into the image of Jesus without having everything we've built around us destroyed. It's a better way to grow.

The challenge is simple but profound: find a way to practice vulnerability and confession, not only with the Lord but with other believers as well.

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There are three key components to a healthy Scripture practice:

Acts 17:10-11 tells us about the Bereans who "received the Word in all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if things were so." They investigated and studied what was then Scripture (the Old Testament) to confirm what the apostles taught.

The church today, especially in the West, does well with studying. We have Bible studies, book clubs, and Sunday schools. We should be studying Scripture every day.

Psalm 119:10-11 says: "With my whole heart I seek you. Let me not wander from your commandments. I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

When we memorize Scripture, it gets locked into the recesses of not just our mind but our being. Some people memorize by book, chapter, and verse references. Others memorize through the narrative of what's happening in the passage. Find whatever method works for you.

Memorizing Scripture is the intentional practice of retaining truth so it's easily accessible in every moment of every day. When we stop thinking of it as text on a page and start seeing it as truth—even truth we don't fully understand—memorization becomes easier.

Psalm 1:1-2 says: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."

The Hebrew word for "meditate" is "hagah," which means to murmur, to utter softly, to ponder. It describes an animal chewing its prey—making an audible eating sound. It's about reveling in the truth and beauty of Scripture until it vibrates within us.

Meditating on Scripture is like savoring a perfect bite of cheesecake. You're not worried about anything else in that moment—you're just overwhelmed by the goodness.

1. Study Scripture Daily2. Memorize Scripture3. Meditate on Scripture

Have you ever thought about how automatic breathing is? Most of us don't consciously think about each breath we take. It just happens. Yet without it, we couldn't survive for more than a few minutes. In our spiritual lives, prayer functions much like breathing. It's not meant to be an occasional emergency measure when we're in trouble, but rather the constant, life-sustaining rhythm of our relationship with God. When God created Adam, He formed him from dust and then breathed life into him. That divine breath transformed lifeless clay into a living being. In a similar way, Jesus breathed on His disciples after His resurrection, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This wasn't just a symbolic gesture—it was the transfer of divine life. Just as we breathe automatically in our physical lives, prayer should become the natural rhythm of our spiritual lives. Not just formal prayers at designated times, but a continuous connection with the Spirit who dwells within us. Today, consider how often you're "breathing" spiritually. Are you waiting until you're spiritually gasping before you pray? Or is prayer becoming the natural rhythm of your life with God?

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God Uses What We Have to Provide What We Need

Throughout Scripture, we find countless stories of God doing the impossible with limited resources. From the widow's last portion of flour and oil that lasted for years, to another widow whose small amount of oil multiplied enough to pay off debts, to David defeating Goliath with just a sling and stones—God consistently uses very little to accomplish the extraordinary.

The story of five loaves and two fish in John 6 demonstrates this principle perfectly. When faced with feeding 5,000 people, the disciples calculated that even 200 denarii (equivalent to about $36,000 in today's money) wouldn't be enough to feed everyone. Yet Andrew brought forward a boy with just five loaves and two fish—clearly insufficient by human standards.

This pattern appears throughout Scripture, including in Gideon's story. God reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 men, then equipped them not with swords and shields, but with clay jars, torches, and trumpets. Through this unlikely strategy, God delivered victory.

What Does the Bible Teach About God's Provision?

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The most important thing to remember is that God loves you, and nothing can change that. This love is the foundation for everything else. From this place of security, consider these questions:

1. What is God asking of you right now? Be honest with yourself about whether you're being fully obedient - not giving a penny more (trying to make things happen in your own power) or a penny less (not trusting God fully).
2. Are you presenting yourself as more committed than you actually are? Remember, this isn't about impressing others but about your heart position before God.
3. Are you missing the joy of participation? Like the Ephraimites who flooded down to help, or like Succoth who refused, your response determines your experience of God's work.
4. What would it look like to be "all in" with what God is doing? Not out of obligation, but out of love and trust in a God who has proven faithful.

This week, commit to being honest with God about where you are. If you've been holding back, remember that His grace is sufficient. If you've been trying to do too much in your own strength, rest in His power. The goal isn't perfection but participation - joining God in what He's already doing, with a heart fully surrendered to Him.

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Have you ever noticed how we tend to define ourselves? We say things like "I'm a parent," "I'm a teacher," or "I'm a musician." These labels aren't wrong, but they only scratch the surface of who we truly are. In Judges 6, we find Gideon hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianites. He's afraid, insecure, and certainly not acting like a hero. Yet when God appears to him, He doesn't address Gideon based on what He sees. Instead, God says something remarkable: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." God didn't call Gideon by who he was in that moment, but by who he would become through God's power. This wasn't just a nice compliment—it was a divine declaration of Gideon's true identity. This pattern appears throughout Scripture. God doesn't wait for us to become something before He calls us by that name. He speaks our identity into existence, just as He spoke the universe into being. Today, consider what labels you've accepted as your identity. Are they based on your past mistakes, your job title, your relationship status, or your bank account? God wants to speak a new identity over you—one that isn't earned through performance but received through relationship with Him.

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The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resurrectiongmc.com

The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resurrectiongmc.com

This week, identify one area in your life where you've been relying on your own strength or resources rather than trusting God. It might be in your family, work, finances, or ministry. Take a deliberate step to surrender that area to God, acknowledging your limitations and inviting His power to work through your weakness. Journal about what changes in your perspective when you approach this situation with a 'Gideon spirit' - recognizing that when you are surrounded by challenges, God has the enemy right where He wants them.

Discover more at RGMCA.ORG

The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resurrectiongmc.com