Episode 28 – More Than Willpower: Finding Freedom in Self-Control

Episode 28 – More Than Willpower: Finding Freedom in Self-Control

Self-control is one of the hardest fruits of the Spirit to talk about honestly . In this episode, Brian Myers and Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams welcome Rev. Magrey deVega, Senior Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, for a rich conversation about why willpower alone keeps failing us and what the Spirit offers instead. Drawing on Greek Stoicism, Wesley's Holy Club questions, and the psychology of self-differentiation, they explore self-control not as restriction or punishment, but as a gateway to the freedom of our truest selves. * 0:11 — Introduction and episode overview * 2:53 — Self-control as strength: unpacking the Greek root and Wesleyan agency * 12:19 — Romans 7 & 8, the sound mind, and wisdom through Scripture * 16:10 — Wesley's questions, self-awareness, and the inner work of triggers * 27:35 — Daily practices, the subconscious, and solvatur ambulando * 36:57 — Closing reflections and prayer For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org [http://awakentograce.org]. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

Episode 27 – Gentleness: Power Under Grace

Gentleness gets a bad reputation. It is often mistaken for passivity, timidity, or just being overly nice. In this episode, Brian Myers and Jenn Stiles Williams are joined by Rev. Will Newton to reclaim what Scripture actually teaches: gentleness as power under grace and strength directed by love toward restoration. From Psalm 23 to Matthew 18, they trace the biblical vision of the gentle shepherd, explore how gentleness disarms shame and fear, and offer practical norms for cultivating this often misunderstood fruit of the Spirit in our homes, churches, and public life. Show Notes * 00:30 — Gentleness introduced: strength, not weakness * 02:22 — Why gentleness is misunderstood today * 08:01 — A biblical vision of gentle power * 10:55 — Gentleness vs. mere politeness * 17:31 — How gentleness disarms shame and fear * 27:00 — Practical norms for cultivating gentleness For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org [http://awakentograce.org]. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

Episode 26 – A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: The Beauty of Faithfulness

What does it look like to live faithfully when life is hard, boring, or uncertain? In this episode, Brian and Derrick welcome Mirhonda Silva, Co-Lay Leader of the East Central District, for a rich conversation on faithfulness as both a spiritual discipline and a fruit of the Spirit. Together they explore how God's unchanging character becomes the foundation for our own steady trust, what it means to steward our time and gifts in the everyday moments, and how honest doubt can coexist with persevering faith. From a brewery to a flooded home, their stories illuminate how faithfulness is less about grand gestures and more about showing up, again and again, in the small and the ordinary. Show Notes * 0:30 — Faithfulness as a fruit, not a feeling * 3:01 — God's character as the ground of Christian identity * 9:22 — Time as our most sacred, irreplaceable resource * 15:06 — Ordinary spaces as mission fields * 23:08 — Normalizing doubt within community * 33:10 — Faithful endurance without performance anxiety For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org [http://awakentograce.org]. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

Laity Space: Interview with Brian Myers

Jessica Scott sits down with Brian Myers, North West District Co-Lay Leader, agricultural education professor, and host of the Awaken to Grace podcast. Their conversation included thoughts about the winding road of faith, the power of lay-clergy partnership, and what it actually looks like to sustain a spiritual life when you're juggling a full-time career, family, and church commitments. Brian shares how a frustration with research sitting on shelves sparked two podcasts, why the Wesleyan rhythm of seasons has reshaped his devotional practice, and why "not enough" might be the wrong frame entirely. Honest, practical, and full of grace. Timestamps * 05:59 — How a podcast became the excuse to ask better questions * 13:47 — Why rhythm and seasons matter to a spiritual life * 20:21 — Work, life, and faith aren't separate people * 27:50 — "Jan in the flower beds": why every act of service counts The Laity Space Podcast is presented by Florida Conference Board of Laity and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. For more information, go to laityspace.org [http://laityspace.org].

Episode 25 – The Power of Kindness and Goodness: Small Acts with Big Impact

In this episode, Brian Myers and Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams welcome Pastor Anil Singh of Trinity UMC Jensen Beach to explore what some might call twin fruits of the Spirit: kindness and goodness. These two aren't soft virtues — they're the strength of God's character made visible in everyday life. From a Wesley anecdote about a missed moment of grace to a hospital chaplaincy that left a lasting impression years later, the conversation uncovers how small, intentional acts reflect God's heart, become spiritually contagious, and ripple outward in ways we rarely get to see. The group also wrestles with social media's role in cultivating unkindness, the Wesleyan call to "do no harm," and the sometimes-surprising truth that real kindness includes speaking hard things with love. Show Notes * 0:30 — Introducing kindness and goodness as strength, not softness * 3:46 — Wesley's carriage, a poor stranger, and a missed moment * 11:23 — Hospital chaplaincy: the unseen ripple effect of kindness * 15:37 — Decentering self; kindness as spiritually contagious * 20:07 — "Do no harm": choosing goodness as a disciplined refusal * 25:00 — Clarity as kindness: truth-telling as an act of love For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org [http://awakentograce.org]. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.