Surrender: Dying to Yourself & Laying Down Idols

What if the very things you’re holding onto are the things holding you back?

In Week 4 of our Radical series, we’re diving into one of the hardest but most freeing parts of following Jesus: surrender. Radical faith isn’t just about passion or belief- it’s about laying down everything that competes with God for your heart.

Together, we unpack what it truly means to “die to yourself,” how to recognize the subtle idols we often justify (comfort, control, sexuality, attention), and why surrender- though scary- actually leads to deep freedom and transformation.

Through Scripture, honest conversation, and real-life stories, this episode will challenge you to examine your heart and ask a bold question:

What am I putting before God?

We’ll also reflect on this powerful truth: intimacy with God is the foundation for everything else.

In this episode:

• What “dying to yourself” actually looks like in everyday life
• How to identify when something has become an idol
• Why surrender feels costly—but leads to freedom
• Personal stories of laying things down and seeing God move

Radical Challenge:
Take time this week to ask the Holy Spirit:
“What idol do I need to lay down?”
…and be willing to respond.

This is your invitation to let go and make room for something greater.

In Week 3 of our Radical: Back to Your Roots series, we’re talking all things Scripture- because the truth is, you can’t live a radical Christian life without being rooted in the Word.

We unpack what it really means to have a Radical Bible Life- not just reading for information, but encountering God through His Word. From Psalm 119 to Hebrews 4:12, we talk about how Scripture shapes us, convicts us, and carries us through every season.

We also get real about why consistency is so hard in our generation, what happens when our Bible life gets weak, and how Jesus Himself used Scripture in the wilderness (Matthew 4) to fight the enemy.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay in the Word, felt disconnected from it, or didn’t know where to start—this episode is for you.

✨ In this episode:

• How to move from reading Scripture to encountering it
• Practical ways to memorize Scripture in your daily life
• Why the Word is called the “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6)
• Personal moments where Scripture became real and life-changing

📖 Resources & Bible Studies Mentioned:

• Seamless Bible Study: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/seamless-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005838474?CMPID=Adwords-sb-PLA-005838474&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=LW-Google-PMax-Sales-ShortTerm-Womens&utm_term=ShortTerm&utm_content=Womens&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23033066347&gbraid=0AAAAADG5DeszZ8cRXjmAPtQLeAIF7tDhj)
• The Bible Recap: https://www.target.com/p/the-bible-recap-by-tara-leigh-cobble-hardcover/-/A-81520141?sid=&TCID=PDS-230030809&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=230030809&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfagS9V2rBOmodRGUmgUBgqAi
• Change Your Life Daily Bible: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/change-your-life-daily-biblechange-your-life-daily-journal-new-living-translation_becky-tirabassi/28133395/item/24184717/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_high_vol_scarce_%2410_%2450_17400876848&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17400878123&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45iBklAnhduArcJSnLhm-PUFr#idiq=24184717&edition=15123384

📚 More Bible Study Resources & Commentaries:
We put together a full list of Bible studies, commentaries, and tools to help you go deeper in Scripture:
👉 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1378u41XMe66BkxAemv-xDpgptKFcQL7DApeBErdr9zw/edit?usp=drivesdk

(There are tons of study tools out there—from commentaries to verse-by-verse breakdowns and topical studies that help you understand Scripture more deeply .)

🎯 Radical Challenge:
Memorize ONE verse this week. Just one. Let it sink deep (Psalm 119:11).

Because Scripture isn’t just something we read- it’s our life!

Radical: Back to Your Roots — Week 2 | The Secret Place: Where Radical Begins

Before radical obedience… there is radical intimacy.

In Week 2 of the Radical: Back to Your Roots series, Emma is joined by her best friend Brooke for an honest conversation about the secret place — the quiet place where our faith is actually formed. Inspired by scriptures like Mark 1:35, Psalm 91:1, Matthew 6:6, and the Road to Emmaus story in Luke 24, this episode explores what it truly means to run to God rather than just talk about Him.

Together they unpack:
• What the “secret place” really is (and what it isn’t)
• The first moments they personally encountered Jesus in intimacy
• Why spiritual highs from camps, conferences, or retreats often fade
• The real barriers to intimacy — hurry, distraction, numbness, and noise
• Practical ways to build rhythms of solitude and meet with God daily

If your faith feels dry, distracted, or distant… this episode is an invitation to come back. Because the radical life doesn’t start on a stage, in a church service, or in a big moment — it starts alone with Jesus.

Come rediscover the place where hearts burn again.

Radical: Back to Your Roots – A New Series from The Hod PodChristian culture has grown comfortable. We’ve grown comfortable.Have you ever felt like you’re just coasting in your walk with Jesus? Wake up, read the Word, go to work, hit the gym, dinner with friends… repeat. The fire you once had feels dim. The hunger feels distant. And somewhere along the way, faith became routine instead of radical. If that’s you, you’re in the right place! Launching March 1st, Radical: Back to Your Roots is a brand new series from The Hod Pod inspired by Psalm 1:1–3- a call to become deeply rooted in Scripture, planted by living water, and unshaken in a world of compromise. Hosted by best friends Emma Reavis and Brooke Popadic, this series was born out of an honest conversation between two newlyweds who realized they missed the way they once chased after God. The late-night prayers. The dorm room worship. The desperate hunger. The bold faith. The Acts-style community that marked their college years.Somewhere between wedding planning, busyness, finances, schedules, and the everyday hustle of adulthood, they felt the drift.So they asked the question:How do we live radically for Jesus again?In this series, we’re diving into:• Building consistency in Scripture• Spending real, unhurried time with God• Following Him when you don’t “feel” Him• Living out the Gospel in everyday life — not just on a stage or in ministry• Cultivating deep roots that produce lasting fruitThis isn’t about hype.It’s about roots.Because consistency is powerful and radical faith is built underground before it’s ever seen above.If you’re longing for more…If you miss your first love…If you’re ready to stop coasting and start burning again…Radical: Back to Your Roots drops March 1st.Let’s go back to the beginning. 🌿🩷#christianpodcast #faithjourney #radicalfaith #thehodpod #backtoyourroots

In this powerful mother–daughter conversation, we talk through my mom’s honest journey from pride to humility, from finding her identity in motherhood to finding her true identity in Jesus.She opens up about the season when pride pulled her away from being present with her family, the loneliness that followed, and how God gently rebuilt her heart, her home, and her community.We talk about:• What happens when pride becomes your identity• How motherhood can unintentionally replace intimacy with God• The emotional impact of losing community and feeling spiritually stuck• How God restored her faith, marriage, and relationships• Building healthy community again through BSF and small groups• Practical, hopeful steps for women feeling lonely or disconnectedAt the end, we pray specifically for women who feel:• stuck in their relationship with God• lonely or without a strong community• weighed down by unhealthy family dynamics• unsure how to rebuild their faith or find supportThis episode is for any woman longing for healing, humility, real community, and a deeper walk with God.

In this episode, I sit down for an honest conversation with my best friend, Brooke, about what godly friendship really looks like. From rooting our relationships in Jesus, to walking through conflict, to supporting each other in the hard seasons, we open up about our own struggles and growth as best friends. If you’ve ever longed for deeper, Christ-centered community, this episode will encourage you, challenge you, and remind you that friendship is one of God’s sweetest gifts.

Welcome back to The Heaven One Day Podcast! 💌

Today we’re diving into a big one — Christian dating!! We’re talking all things boundaries: physical, emotional, and spiritual. What does “too far” really mean? How do you date with a heart that honors God while still being human — with real feelings, real chemistry, and real questions? We also talk about purity culture and how boundaries change in engagement!

This episode is an honest Q+A on dating as a Christian — from heart posture to holiness, from confusion to clarity. Let’s talk about grace, conviction, and the beauty of walking with Jesus even in the world of dating.

xx

Emma & Evan

Welcome back to The Heaven One Day Podcast! 🌤️

When you get to heaven, have you just given grace or told the truth? The truth is that Jesus died, He was in the grave for three days, and He rose again. Every single thing you’ve ever walked through, Jesus has taken on. You no longer have to live in sin — you can confess, accept God’s righteousness on your behalf, repent, and walk with Him.

So where in your life can you tell the truth this week?

Chosen Video: https://youtu.be/ordhsDeAt60
Scripture References: Ephesians 6, Ephesians 3, Philippians 3:18–19, John 18:37–38

🎙️ Welcome back to The Heaven One Day Podcast — aka The HOD Pod!Today I’ve got my bestie, Anna Dudley, on the mic!! Y’all… I love Anna’s story, and I’m so pumped for you to hear it. We dive into legalism, growing up in religion, wrestling with doubt, hating God, healing, Anna’s vocal injury, and her season in NYC — all the raw, real stuff that makes faith feel human.This one’s full of honesty, laughter, and a whole lot of grace. You don’t wanna miss it. 💛

Hi friend! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. On this episode I sit down (smoothie in hand) and talk honestly about marriage, faith, and all the messy, beautiful parts in between. I share what I’m learning from Revelation 2 about returning to my first love (Jesus), the ups and downs of being a wife, and even the not-so-pretty parts — like realizing how selfish I can be. It’s not polished or perfect, just real conversation about what it’s actually like. Grab your coffee and let’s chat!xxEmma