by Jen | Feb 10, 2026 | DISO studies, Psalm 23
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello! Thanks for joining me here. This past weekend I had the opportunity to share some of my discoveries from this study at a women’s conference in central Florida. It was awesome to see so many women interested in personally exploring God’s Word!
In my study, I felt the Spirit leading me to focus on verse 3; my questions about how the Lord as Shepherd restores a soul and whether it’s related to being on righteous paths. Here’s what I uncovered this past week:
Last Week’s Work
WHO (CHARACTERS)
I discovered two main characters:
- David, the first character mentioned. The Psalm is “of” him, which I think means he wrote it (v1). In v2, he describes following the second character,
- The LORD, into green pastures and past still waters. In my focus verse, David says the LORD restores his soul and leads him in righteousness for the sake of the LORD’s name (v3). David further explains even when he feels like he’s in a valley of death’s shadows, he’s not afraid of evil there, because he knows the LORD/Shepherd is with him, and the LORD’s rod and staff make him feel safe (v4). David also says the LORD anoints him and sets him up with provisions—so much so, his cup runs over! And in front of David’s enemies, no less. Finally, David believes goodness and mercy will be with him all the days of his life, and he’ll live in the LORD’s house forever (v6).
Did you notice in the ESV, LORD is all caps? Since this is the first study in my God Who? series, I can’t wait to research this name and all the other biblical names of God we’ll encounter in this series!
WHERE (LOCATIONS)
In this short Psalm, I noticed at least one location in all verses but the first:
- Green pastures and still waters (v2). This makes me think of what a sheep would like: lying down with plenty of food and water around. It also reminds me of a scene from my childhood in southwest Kansas: a lake and the pastureland surrounding it. I remember going there as a child and feeling so calm: I was with my family, sitting by the water, so contented to just be there with people I knew and trusted.
- Paths of righteousness (v3). This was part of the HUH? question I’m pursuing: I don’t feel confident I know what David means by this.
- Valley of death’s shadow (v4). This is also an unfamiliar term to me, though I certainly can imagine plenty of places that would evoke my fear, as did this place for David.
- Presence of David’s enemies (v5). I can’t imagine anyone feeling comfortable in an environment where he has no friends. I also can’t imagine feeling safe enough to enjoy a meal there!
- The house of the LORD (v6). The closest I think I’ve come to what David mentions here would be the peace I’ve experienced in quiet, meditative environments like old places of worship where generations of Christians have prayed and otherwise sought the presence of God on earth.
WHEN (TIME FRAMES)
I found just two timeframes: all the days of my life and forever. Both occur in v6, when David talks about goodness and mercy following him (all his life) and when he anticipates living in the LORD’s house (forever). These must refer to different things, so I think he’s talking about experiencing goodness and mercy during his earthly life, then living in God’s house in the life beyond.
Dig-In Challenges
Here’s my plan for this week:
- PRAY the prayer I wrote last week before I study. Then I’ll…
- MINE: Look for repeated words or phrases in this passage and check for synonyms or pronouns that refer to the same concepts.
- MINE: Locate any special statements (blessings, commands, curses, prayers, promises, requests, and/or warnings) in the passage.
- MINE: Note any lists (3 or more similar items) mentioned in Psalm 23.
- Record what the Spirit prompts so I can use it in Steps 4 and 5.
Remember, you can download this printable summary of the DISO process for more specific instructions. I’ll share what I discover with you next week, so I hope you’ll join me then.
GO TO WEEK 4 >
by Jen | Dec 16, 2025 | DISO studies, Galatians 5
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back! Where in Galatians 5 have you sensed the Spirit leading you to explore? Last week I mentioned why I felt His clear direction to dig deeper into verse 9, so this time, I was only going to discuss the setting of the passage (characters, locations, and timeframes). Except in my studies, I didn’t find any locations or timeframes in the text! That doesn’t mean the Spirit won’t show you something he didn’t reveal to me, though, so if you did find a location or timeframe, I’d love for you to share that at [email protected] or my contact page.
Last Week’s Work
WHO (CHARACTERS)
Here’s what I discovered about the main characters in this passage:
- Christ Jesus (him, the Lord): set us free (v1); accepting circumcision makes Christ of no advantage to you (v2), and it means you are severed from him (v4); in him, only faith working through love counts, circumcision doesn’t (v6); Paul has confidence in the Lord you will take no other view than the truth (v8); those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh (v24).
- Us (we ourselves, one another) [the writer and recipients of this letter]: have been set free by Christ (v1); eagerly await the hope of righteousness (v5); if we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (v25); let’s not become conceited, provoking or envying one another (v26).
- Paul [the writer]: he says if you accept circumcision, Christ is no advantage to you (v2), he testifies if you accept circumcision, you’re obligated to keep the whole law (v3); he has confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view (v10); If he still preaches circumcision, why is he still persecuted (v11); he wishes those who unsettle you would harm themselves (v12), he says walk in the Spirit and you won’t gratify the desires of the flesh (v16); he repeats a warning to you that those who do the works of the flesh will not inherit God’s kingdom (v21).
- You (brothers, your, yourself) [recipients of the letter]: in addition to statements about you recorded in other bullets here, I noted: you were running well (v7); Paul was confident the one who troubled you would bear the penalty (v10); you were called to freedom, but don’t use it as an opportunity for the flesh (v13); the whole law is fulfilled by loving your neighbor as yourself (v14); if you bite and devour one another, watch out you’re not consumed by each other (v15); the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to each other to keep you from doing what you want to do (v17); if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (v18).
- The Spirit: in addition to statements about the Spirit recorded in the above bullets, I noticed: we wait for the hope of righteousness through the Spirit and by faith (v5); the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (v22).
Dig-In Challenges
Here’s my plan for this week:
- PRAY the prayer I wrote last week before I study. Then I’ll…
- MINE: Look for repeated words or phrases in this passage and check for synonyms or pronouns that refer to the same concepts.
- MINE: Locate any special statements (blessings, commands, curses, prayers, promises, requests, and/or warnings) in the passage.
- MINE: Note any lists (3 or more similar items) mentioned in Galatians 5.
- As always, record what the Spirit prompts so we can use it in Steps 4 and 5.
Remember, you can download this printable summary of the DISO process for more specific instructions.
I’ll share what I discover with you next week, so I hope you’ll join me then.
GO TO WEEK 4 >
by Jen | Feb 3, 2026 | DISO studies, Psalm 23
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome! This week, I’m preparing to share the DISO study process at a women’s conference in central Florida. Please join me in prayer for the conference and specifically for the speakers and attendees: that it may be a time of celebration, restoration, and growth for us. Now, here’s my prayer and what the Spirit revealed to me in Psalm 23 this past week.
Last Week’s Work
MY PRAYER
Thank You, Father, for Psalm 23 and the impact it’s already had on my life. I’m excited for the chance to really dig deep here and get to know You, my Shepherd, better, too. Open my eyes, ears, and heart—help me see, hear, and understand Your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, so I can align with what this passage teaches. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen!
HUH? and WOW! MOMENTS
This time, I noticed these reactions to the text:
- HUH? Which word for God does David use for LORD (vv1, 6)?
- WOW! I just noticed this “poem” begins and ends with the LORD (vv1, 6)!
- HUH? How does Lord as Shepherd restore a soul? Is it related to being on righteous paths (plural)?
- HUH? What does David mean when he says, “anoint my head with oil” (v5)?
- HUH? and WOW! Interesting procession: the Shepherd leads David (vv2-3) and David leads “goodness and mercy (v6).”
Dig-In Challenges
If you’re studying along with me, listen to the Spirit’s guidance this week and choose your own topic (your personal treasure) from Psalm 23 to dig more deeply into. It can be anything you noticed in your survey of the text that raises a question or resonates with you, or you can use one of my responses above if you like. We’ll start out digging into the whole chapter and later focus on just the verse(s) that pertain to our individual treasures.
- PRAY for the Spirit to direct your focus for the remainder of this study. In your journal, record the personal treasure He identifies, along with any verse(s) relating to it from the study text.
- MINE: Read Psalm 23, focusing on three factors setting the stage in this text: note anything the Spirit emphasizes about the characters involved, any locations mentioned, and any timeframes discussed.
I’m looking forward to sharing my discoveries with you next week!
GO TO WEEK 3 >
by Jen | Dec 9, 2025 | DISO studies, Galatians 5
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again. This week, I’m so excited to share how God blessed me as I started studying Galatians 5!
Last Week’s Work
MY PRAYER
Thank You, Father, for this chance to dig into Galatians 5 a second time! I am so grateful Your Word never changes. Yet every time I approach it, Your Holy Spirit teaches me something new. Open my eyes, ears, and heart right now to see what You have for me today, to hear the Spirit’s guidance, and to follow where You lead in this study, no matter how challenging. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
HUH? and WOW! MOMENTS
This week I experienced something I have to share! For the first time since I began using Huh? and Wow! moments to direct my personal studies, I knew without further prayer exactly which verse would be my study focus over the next seven weeks: A little leaven leavens the whole lump (Galatians 5:9 ESV). That’s because just two days ago this same metaphor appeared in another passage (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) I discovered in the Advent Bible reading list from Precept Ministries I’m following this year. And I was moved to write about it in my personal journal that day! Once again, the God who orders all things has aligned otherwise unconnected references in my environment. Like the star the magi followed to Jesus, I believe this is clear direction for my path in this study. What an awesome Christmas present from my heavenly Father! How can I not be excited about what’s in store in this study?!
Dig-In Challenges
If you’re studying along with me, listen to the Spirit’s guidance this week and choose your own topic from Galatians 5 (a personal treasure) to dig more deeply into. It can be anything you noticed in your survey of the text that raises a question or resonates with you, or you can work with the leaven metaphor, too. We’ll start out digging into the whole chapter and later focus on just the verse(s) that pertain to our individual treasures.
- PRAY for the Spirit to direct your focus for the remainder of this study. In your journal, record the personal treasure He identifies, along with any verse(s) relating to it from the study text.
- MINE: Read Galatians 5, focusing on three factors setting the stage in this text: note anything the Spirit emphasizes about the characters involved, any locations mentioned, and any timeframes discussed.
I’m looking forward to sharing my notes with you next week!
GO TO WEEK 3 >
by Jen | Mar 24, 2026 | 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, DISO studies, Introduction
Hello! Thank you for joining me for this new eight-week study! I’m doing something a little different this time, studying three excerpts from 1 Samuel 17 about David’s battle with Goliath and focusing on the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel (1 Sam 17:45).
This is the second study in my new series, God Who?, and my goal for this series is to learn as much as I can about the many names of God found in Scripture. I can’t wait to see what the Holy Spirit has planned for me to discover in the next eight weeks.
Let’s Study 1 Samuel 17!
This week, I’ll begin by praying and surveying 1 Samuel 17. If you want to study on your own with me, here’s what I recommend you have ready:
- A copy of 1 Samuel 17.
I like to refer often to the text I’m studying and sometimes make notes on it, so I copy the passage from blueletterbible.org, paste it into a word processing program like Google docs or MS Word, change the formatting to suit my preferences, and print it out. If you want to use the ESV translation, here’s a pdf of my Scripture study sheet with lots of room for doodles and notes.
NOTE: My study sheet does NOT contain the whole chapter, it’s verses 19-27, 31-37, and 40-51, limiting our focus to the specific aspects of the battle in those verses. If this is your first time studying this story, be sure to read the entire chapter at least a few times so you don’t take anything out of context (we’ll discuss this more in Week Six.
- A study journal.
We’ll spend the next seven weeks immersed in and learning about 1 Samuel 17. Since the work we’ll do each week builds on what came before, plan to record at least some highlights from your work over the coming weeks. I’m old-school and like the pen-and-paper method for journaling my studies, but it’s okay if that doesn’t work for you. If you don’t have time to write out or type your notes, consider dictating them into a notes app, or recording audio files, instead.
Or, you may decide to just read the entries posted here, and that’s great, too. You’ll get familiar with the process and see how the Spirit speaks to my situation. Either way, I appreciate you checking in with me, even if you can’t dig into 1 Samuel 17 yourself this time.
Dig-In Challenges
So, here’s how I’ll be studying this week:
- PRAY: I’ll be creating a prayer with which I’ll start each of my weekly study sessions. If you’ve studied with me before, you know I usually just adapt a previous prayer. Though I’ve pretty much memorized my prayer, I still write it in my study journal as a reminder to pray each time I start studying.
- SURVEY: Then I’ll read my excerpts from 1 Samuel 17, noting anything that makes me say, “huh?” (as in, “I wonder what that means?”) or “wow” (as in, “that is so awesome!”). I’ll record these and later ask the Spirit to direct me to the one I should dig into right now.
If you’d like more information about these steps, check out this printable summary of the process I’ll be using here. Or, you can always reach out to me with your questions through my contact page or at [email protected].
I’m looking forward to sharing what I discover in this process with you, and I hope you’ll make a habit of checking in with me each week!
GO TO WEEK 2 >
