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When those around you are going through suffering, how can we point them back to our Savior? Today Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member Lauren Browning to talk through Psalm 80. This passages displays both our sin and God's solution to our sin. Jesus Christ is the vine out of Egypt who brings salvation to the nations. Not only is Jesus the answer to our sin and suffering, but He is w...

How should we respond to God when He disciplines us for our sinful actions? In Psalm 79, Asaph writes a song of lament after Jeremiah had prophesied about God’s judgement over Israel and the Babylonians’ destruction of Jerusalem. Join the Journey Staff Member Lauren Atkinson and faithful Watermark Member and college student Gabby Parker point out that even in Israel's suffering and separation from...

Why did the psalmist feel the need to remind readers of everything the Lord did for them? Today, Ben Krejci and Ethan Howard are jumping into Psalm 78 and talking about how we know who God is because of how he has revealed himself. God is the initiator of his relationship with Israel, even in their sin. He consistently pursues them despite their sin and rebellion. This psalm shows us who God is, w...

Is it possible for God's steadfast love to cease? And is it okay for us to ask that? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk about Psalm 77 and how we wrestle with doubt that comes from suffering. When Asaph is in suffering, he is honest with God and calls himself to remember God's faithfulness in his life. Jesus Christ has shown us that His love for us could...

"If we don't appreciate the wrath of God, we are minimizing what Jesus accomplished on the cross." In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member John Michael Davis talk about how when we take sin lightly, that hinders us from understanding the fullness of the gospel.    Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:  https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g    Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The...

When the world feels like it is spinning out of control, how do you remind yourself that God is the one who steadies the pillars? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Amber H. dive into Psalm 75 and talk about how God is just and executes good judgement. Because of this, we can sing praises to the Lord no matter the circumstance.    Additional Scripture Referenced:  Joshua...

Who or what is a Leviathan? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark high school senior Tee Parker dive into Psalm 74 and the different interpretations of Leviathan. Whether the Leviathan was a myth about chaos or a real sea serpent creature, we can know that when facing evil and enemies of God, we can trust that in the struggle, God will be faithful to deliver us.    Check out Tee P...

How can we learn from verses we may not easily understand? Today, Join the Journey staff member Lauren Atkinson considers the context while studying Psalm 73. The author, Asaph, was a righteous man who was despondent as he saw the prosperity of the wicked. When we see the wicked prosper, we can look to God for wisdom in discerning the future, and realize that first: purity, obedience and faithfuln...

Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Ben Solomon, who serves with School Impact to reach students and parents of local schools. In Psalm 72, Solomon describes a just king, but how does that relate to our call as Christians today? Ben walks us through how Psalm 72 is a picture of God’s heart for children in poverty and how we as believers can respond. No matter our decisions o...

How can we balance petitioning God for help while placing our confidence in Him? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk through Psalm 71. David appeals to God’s righteousness and asks for God’s refuge while recounting God’s faithfulness in the past, present and future. This psalm provides a model for how we can pray as we praise God for His character...

Why does the Lord sometimes delay instead of helping us right away? Today Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member Sara Fusco to talk through Psalm 70 and why sometimes God makes us wait. In a world of instant gratification, God often uses waiting to grow our patience, trust and dependence on Him. What if God asking us to wait is actually out of an overflow of his love for us? If God is...

How should we respond to God when we face despair? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and Join the Journey Intern Lauren Fricke go through Psalm 69 as David walks through deep despair yet turns to God in honesty and reliance. This psalm is a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness and protective hand when we go through the harder times of life.    Additional Scripture Referenced:  Isaish 43:1-3, “Fe...

Today Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark Member Brandon Pokley to talk about Psalm 68. This passage shows us more about who God is by seeing what He values. We see many elements about God's character from this psalm found in Jesus' teachings as well, as Jesus Christ is the very "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and the "exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3). As we see Go...

What does God's care toward all of the nations teach us about him? Today Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey staff member Rebekah Banks to talk about Psalm 67 and God's heart for the nations. The mission of God doesn't just start in the New Testament. Israel was to be a reflection of God to the world, but they failed. Christ came so that all nations could know God and glorify him. As believe...

Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey Editor Makaila Swank to talk about Psalm 66, a thanksgiving psalm praising God for his faithfulness. This psalm models for us how we can express suffering we experience, appeal to God’s mercy as we ask for help, praise God for his deliverance, and continue to praise Him for future faithfulness. We have hope for today knowing that we have been freed...

How does nature sing to God? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Alfred Abraham to explain how nature declares the God of our salvation in Psalm 65. Nature speaks to how God preserves, provides for and protects us. As God cares about nature’s flourishing, so he cares about our flourishing. As Creator, God shows His power in creation and His intentionality in our lives today....

Why is it hard for us to ask for help? Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter takes us through Psalm 64 where David is asking God for emotional protection from discouragement and physical protection from harm. It can be hard to ask for help from others and the Lord, whether that is from fear of being vulnerable or a desire to be self-sufficient. When we don’t ask for help, we reinforce the idea that we...

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...

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 sl...

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...

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 y...

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...

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 underst...

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 epis...

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 G...