Do we want God more than we want anything else? Today, Emma Dotter walks us through Psalm 63 where David sees his need for God, his dependence on Him and the provision He provides. From the moment David’s day begins, he thirsts for God as if he is in a desert with no water. When we sense that longing for something more, may we be reminded that Jesus Christ is the only one who can satisfy our souls. May we follow David’s example with praise as the mechanism for a heart of contentment in Christ. A...
Jul 30, 2024•9 min
What is the importance of waiting in silence before the Lord? In Psalm 62, David is placing his trust in God while facing hardship and problems in his life. Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark staff member Melissa Miller point out that instead of trying to fix it himself or ignore his issues, he chooses to listen to God and sit before the Lord in silence. Just like David, we are called by God to slow down to catch up to the pace of God. Additional Scripture mentioned in the passage: Colossians 3:...
Jul 29, 2024•16 min
Do we say vows to God today? Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk through Psalm 61 and how we can use David’s words as a model for our prayers daily. David’s desire is for God to hear him and allow him to be in God’s presence. His vows to God are not something required for God to hear us today. For those in Christ, we can pray to God with confidence that He hears us. Take a few minutes today to pray through Psalm 61 as David teaches us what a prayer of dependen...
Jul 26, 2024•14 min
What is a didactic psalm? Today, Emma Dotter teaches through Psalm 60, where David is lamenting the costliness of Israel’s victory and teaching hearers to trust the Lord when they encounter similar difficulties. David understood that God is the ultimate deliverer of the people. Our victory comes through Christ, and we will reign with Him, the ultimate Victor, in the end. Take some time to remind yourself of the truth of victory in Christ. Listen in for a study trick on how to remember key events...
Jul 25, 2024•11 min
How can we suffer well on this side of heaven? In today’s episode, Parker Primrose fills in for Emma Dotter as he and faithful Watermark member Bentley Borrego discuss how David combats suffering, distress, and persecution in a biblical way. Bentley points out how, when suffering, David cries out to God in dependance, submits in faith, seeks His’s glory, and chooses to praise Him. Interested in Watermark’s healing and discipleship program? Check out the link for Re:Generation below! https://www....
Jul 24, 2024•11 min
Today, Emma Dotter walks us through Psalm 58 and answers the question, “Why do we need righteous judges?” Imagine if you were on trial and you didn’t have a fair, moral judge. In this Psalm, David is crying out for God’s justice on unjust judges or rulers who don’t make wise decisions. We can draw from David’s response as we consider how we respond to injustice or unrighteous rulers. David understood that all authority resides under God’s ultimate authority, and he ran to God with his concerns a...
Jul 23, 2024•10 min
How can we remain steadfast in the Lord no matter what comes our way or how we feel? In Psalm 57, while David is running from King Saul, he chooses to turn to God and place his confidence in Him. Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Collin Fletcher encourage readers to remind themselves of the heart of God and His protection, providence, and presence. Check out Collin Fletcher’s past episode! https://open.spotify.com/episode/7sH9058tHmtq0aAc2it8vD?si=2e5500d9e8104657 Interested in Watermark...
Jul 22, 2024•9 min
Why does God keep my tears in a bottle? What does that even mean? Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark staff member Wes Butler in today’s episode talk about the historical significance of people using bottles to catch tears and how God never lets our sorrow go to waste. Wes also points out that in Psalm 56, David is an example of how laments are a prayer in pain that leads to faith because knowing God’s faithfulness leads us to hope in Christ. Additional Resource mentioned in the episode: Dark Clo...
Jul 19, 2024•13 min
Where is God when we are experiencing betrayal? In today’s episode, Parker Primrose fills in for Emma Dotter as he and faithful Watermark member Nate Alvis talk about how David wrestles through the betrayal of a dear friend. Nate recounts how David walks through fear, fury, and faith and how he places his trust in God despite his circumstances. Additional Scripture mentioned in the podcast: 2 Samuel 11-12, David’s betrayal of a friend and his punishment 1 Peter 5:7, “…casting all your anxieties ...
Jul 18, 2024•11 min
What is a freewill offering and what does it have to do with gratitude? In today’s episode covering Psalm 54, Emma Dotter asks us about what our natural response to God is and whether we are moved to gratitude when we think about Him. In the Old Testament, a freewill offering was a voluntary offering to God as God moved the hearts of the people, while today, as believers, it more looks like noticing and obeying when the Holy Spirit moves us to honor God out of a heart posture of gratitude. Addit...
Jul 17, 2024•9 min
Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter is joined by new Join The Journey Volunteer Admin, Lauren Atkinson, to discuss what David means in Psalm 53 when he says “there is none who does good.” David defines a fool not by someone’s intellectual capacity but by their spiritual state. Fools reject God in their hearts, and that is all of us before Christ. David cries out to God for salvation to come out of Zion. We know now the answer to David’s prayer. A Savior has come out of Zion, and His Name is Jesus ...
Jul 16, 2024•11 min
Who are we trying to promote in our lives, us or God? In this episode, Emma Dotter points out man’s tendency to lean toward temporary gratification in seeking praise, but that those who choose to be rooted deep in the house of God shine for Christ, not themselves. As believers, we are ambassadors for Christ and witnesses to all people, and we are left with the choice whether to glorify Him and trust in His steadfast love and power in our lives. Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode: Isai...
Jul 15, 2024•8 min
Can God take the Holy Spirit away from us? Today, Emma Dotter unpacks Psalm 49, where David is begging God to not remove the Holy Spirit from him after he committed a grievous sin. Thankfully, as believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we are saved and cannot have Him removed from us. While we may experience consequences for our actions, we can find freedom in confessing our sins and comfort knowing that our standing with God is dependent on Jesus’ merit, not ours. Additional Scriptur...
Jul 12, 2024•9 min
Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member Alexia Voltzow to talk through Psalm 50 where God judges the moralists and the wicked. All of creation belongs to God, so He does not need burnt offerings or our performance. There is good news for the people of God – in Christ the ultimate sacrifice has been provided. God desires our hearts, and our thanksgiving honors Him. Listen through the end to hear Alexia’s advice for cultivating a heart of thanksgiving every day. Grab a NEW Join T...
Jul 11, 2024•10 min
What happens when we trust in money? In Psalm 49, the psalmists lay out how wealth gives us a false sense of security because temporal solutions cannot solve eternal problems. In this episode, Emma Dotter recognizes the contrast between the shepherd of those who trust in wealth with those who trust in God and leaves us with an encouragement of how God rescued us from death and a challenge of how to combat the problem of placing our identity in things that do not last. Additional Scripture mentio...
Jul 10, 2024•11 min
All throughout the Bible, we see God’s love and protection of His people even when they don’t deserve it. Today, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Jamie Morrison discuss Psalm 48 and how we can experience God firsthand through Jesus, rest in the fact that God loves and protects His people, and learn from the big view of God that is presented at the end of this psalm. Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode: Revelation 21, God is among us, and we get to experience Him firsthand thro...
Jul 09, 2024•12 min
Is it okay to move around in worship? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark staff member and singer Davy Leffall (new last name alert!) talk about how being informed by God’s Word helps us to distinguish between objective truth and subjective opinions. Davy then goes on to show how Psalm 47 is about recognizing God’s presence and character and responding rightly to Him. Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024: https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Jour...
Jul 08, 2024•21 min
Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark Institute fellow Hannah Staubs as Hannah wraps up her time in the Institute and walks through Psalm 46. In a broken world, tragedy is going to happen. As believers, we find comfort knowing that Christ has entered into our brokenness. He is our refuge and help. The Lord of Hosts is not far off, but near and powerful. He is the God of Jacob, who always has been faithful and always will be faithful. Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024: https://a.co...
Jul 05, 2024•11 min
Through what lens should we view Scripture? Today, Parker Primrose fills in for Emma Dotter as he and faithful Watermark member Tip Housewright discuss how Psalm 45 captures the lavish picture of the beauty and majesty of God and our relationship with Him. Tip shows how this psalm points to Christ and His bride, the church, and explains why it is so important to see the Old Testament through the lens of the gospel and how this psalm inspires him to live for eternity and love what lasts. Grab a N...
Jul 04, 2024•9 min
Where is God in our suffering? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter unpacks Psalm 44 and how we should respond when bad things continue to happen in our lives. Even when we are faithful in pursuing God and obeying Him, life may still not go our way. At the end of the episode, Emma draws hope from Paul in Romans 8, when he references this psalm to encourage believers that in Christ and His love, we are secure and will see ultimate victory. Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode: Romans 8:31-39,...
Jul 03, 2024•11 min
What does it look like to desire God like a deer pants for water? In Psalms 42-43, we see a sweet picture of the psalmists’ dependency on God and their hope in Him. Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Kathy Cox encourage listeners to come to God in honesty, praise in the waiting, and remembrance of His past faithfulness. Want to listen to Shane and Shane’s song about Psalm 42? Check out the link to Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise) below! https://open.spotify.com/track/6x8yjJaCVAzjoSCD3MEOaJ?si=62...
Jul 02, 2024•11 min
What if God doesn’t restore me to full health? Emma Dotter today chats with faithful Watermark staff member Shane Rasch about Psalm 41, where David is in a low point of his life but chooses to entrust himself to the faithfulness of God while suffering. Shane explores how David recognizes God sustaining and upholding him and points how our final and eternal hope for restoration is in Christ. Want to lead a Merge group? Check out the link below! https://www.watermark.org/ministries/merge Check out...
Jul 01, 2024•9 min
What does it look like to wait patiently for God in the midst of suffering and trials? In today’s episode, faithful Watermark member Anthony Anderson and Emma Dotter talk about what it looks like to trust in God and His deliverance. Anthony points to the example of David to see how we can be transparent about where we are and how God reaches through the darkness we face and overcomes the circumstances we find ourselves in. Additional Scriptures in the Episode: 2 Peter 3:8-9, “With the Lord a day...
Jun 28, 2024•9 min
Why does God care about us if we have such short lives? Today Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark staff member Delissa Villa on the External Focus team to walk through Psalm 39. David understands our fallen nature and the brokenness of the world. He highlights that our days are fleeting, and our lives are short. In light of the reality that Christ has come, we like David have hope in life and death, and we get to live in a way that matters for eternity. Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 202...
Jun 27, 2024•11 min
Sometimes the grief and anguish for our sins are all internal, but today Hannah Staubs and Wayne Walker unpack the physical anguish of sin. Wayne, the founder of Our Calling, teaches listeners about the grief of sin, and the way we can see it on the outside and the inside. But, there is hope in the forgiveness that can be found in Christ! Want to learn more about Our Calling? Check out the link! https://www.ourcalling.org/ Want to get involved with Love Our City? Check out the link below: https:...
Jun 26, 2024•10 min
When we hear the phrase, “be still” oftentimes, we can read that as “don’t take action” or “don’t move." But what does this phrase mean regarding Scripture? Today, Hannah Staubs from the Watermark Institute interviews Watermark member, Justin Powell. Justin shares that being still before the Lord is more of a heart issue than an action issue. Being still before the Lord is a daily choice to surrender to God. Additional Scriptures in the Podcast: Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God…” 1 S...
Jun 25, 2024•11 min
In today’s podcast, Emma Dotter interviews faithful Watermark Member, Jen Hernandez. In a unique way, Jen sees clearly how her own story parallels Psalm 36. Her own decisions led her away from the path of life and righteousness. But, Jen continues to show that this passage also connects to Ephesians 2, and how God’s rich mercy has met her, and God offers that to us as we listen today! Additional Scripture in this Passage: Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrated his love for us, in that while we were s...
Jun 24, 2024•13 min
Oftentimes when we are done wrong by our enemies, we can take the role of God in retaliation. But what if we changed our view to praying for their redemption and softening hearts? Hannah Staubs today interviews Zac Whitley, as he challenges listeners to pray to stay in their own lane and trust in God’s work of redemption. Additional Scripture used in the podcast: 1 Thes. 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient t...
Jun 21, 2024•9 min
What does it look like to taste and see that the Lord is good? In today’s episode, faithful Watermark member Robert Monroy and Emma Dotter talk about what it looks like to be in a close relationship with God. He highlights that in Christ, we get to experience joy and wonder of the goodness of His love and call others to experience the same. Additional Scriptures in the Episode: John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of ...
Jun 20, 2024•10 min
As we continue our “Love our City” campaign, Emma Dotter interviews Watermark Member, Dana Spangenberg! So much of Dana’s story involves attempting to fix situations by her actions, but she expounds on how her dependence on the Lord is where she finds hope. As she shares, Dana shows the attention of God for the whole earth to the personal relationship with his people. Want to get involved with Love Our City? Check out the link below: https://www.watermark.org/engage/city/serve-the-city Grab a NE...
Jun 19, 2024•11 min
