S2E4: From Shame to Strength, Anger in Fatherhood + Practices for Giving Your Life Away

Oct 28, 2025

Explore the transformative power of self-emptying in fatherhood through spiritual, physical, and joy-filled practices. Discover how to cultivate daily prayer and gratitude, even in a busy life, while embracing exercise as a pathway from shame to strength. The conversation highlights the importance of processing anger and balancing fasting with joyful feasting as acts of resistance. Plus, learn the significance of dating your spouse and sharing joyful meals with friends, all aimed at fostering deeper connections and a life lived open-handedly.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Root Rhythms Over Rigid Rules

Build rooted rhythms, not rigid rules, for prayer and Scripture in daily life.
Prioritize consistency over legalism and adapt practices to your season and capacity.

ANECDOTE

A Morning Anchored By Psalm 23 And Coffee

Brook Mosser described her morning routine: quoting Psalm 23, making strong French-press coffee, then prayer, Scripture, and spiritual reading.
She typically starts around 6:00 AM and spends about 45–60 minutes processing the prior day and preparing for the day ahead.

ADVICE

Scripture Before Phone, Even Short Sessions

Listen to Scripture and spiritual reading when time is tight; aim for short daily habits like 8–20 minutes.
Keep 'scripture before phone' and alternate Bible reading with spiritual writers to stay steeped in truth.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Following last week’s conversation about giving your life away, this episode dives into the everyday practices that help us live that out — even in the middle of our busy, overwhelmed lives. We’re talking about what it looks like to lean into the self-emptying way of Jesus — the way that actually leads to life to the full, both for us and for those we love.

We explore what this looks like through three key areas: spiritual disciplines, physical disciplines, and gratitude and joy. In the first, we talk about how to lean in and experience the God who gave His life for you — looking at Jesus’ rhythm of withdrawing to pray, and how to build our own patterns of prayer, reading Scripture, and experiencing silence that are rooted, not rigid, and focused on rhythms rather than rules.

In the second, we focus on physical disciplines like exercise and fasting, learning to embrace self-emptying as a way of finding true fulfillment. We discuss the spiritual and even scientific connection between movement, anger, and formation — how exercise can move from vanity to love, and from shame to strength.

Finally, we talk about gratitude and joy, remembering that our story doesn’t end in sacrifice and struggle, but in holiness, happiness, and celebration. We reflect on dating our wives, feasting with friends, and practicing joy and gratitude as an act of resistance in the midst of life’s demands.

This conversation is an invitation to live open-handedly — to let go so you can truly live the full and abundant life God designed you for as a father.

Intentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CA

Family Age Chart PDF Download

Scripture Mentioned: Luke 5:16, Psalm 23, Ephesians 4:26 + Matthew 6:9-13

Books Mentioned: Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser, Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster, Sacred Fire by Ronald Rolheiser + You Are the Beloved by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Previous Episode Mentioned: S1E3 - Habits, Rhythms, and Spiritual Disciplines for Intentional Fatherhood (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)

Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to hello@intentionalfatherhood.org, mentioning your name and where you’re from.