by Jen | Feb 17, 2026 | DISO studies, Psalm 23
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again. Here’s how the Spirit spoke to me through Psalm 23 this week:
Last Week’s Work
REPETITION
I found just one repeated concept: lead (vv2,3) / follow (v6); but the thing the Holy Spirit really impressed upon me here was presence. I don’t know a lot about shepherding a flock, but I get the impression that sheep should never be left unguarded: they have few natural defenses. Without guidance and protection, they can wander off a cliff or into water and be drowned by the weight of wet wool, etc., to say nothing of being unable to outrun a pack of predators. In certain circumstances, just the presence of the Shepherd could mean the difference between life and death for the herd. Knowing I’ll be looking at comparisons next week, this repetition tied to the Shepherd metaphor gives me some definite food for thought…
SPECIAL STATEMENTS:
In the meantime, though, how did you sort David’s statements in Psalm 23? I was torn between calling them blessings or promises. After considering the difference might be timeframes, though, I categorized the ten current positive statements as Blessings:
- The LORD is my shepherd (v1),
- He makes me lie in green pastures (v2),
- He leads me beside still waters (v2),
- He restores my soul (v3),
- He leads me in paths of righteousness (v3),
- You [LORD/Shepherd] are with me (v4),
- Your rod and staff comfort me (v4),
- You prepare my table in front of my enemies (v5),
- You anoint my head with oil (v5),
- My cup overflows (v5).
And the four future positive statements are Promises:
- I shall not want (v1)
- I will fear no evil—even when I walk through the valley of death’s shadow (v4)
- Goodness and mercy shall follow me all my life (v6)
- I shall dwell in the LORD’s house forever (v6).
Of course, these are statements David made about his own relationship with the LORD. Do they apply to me as they did to him? I hope so! I’m looking forward to getting more certainty around that in the Refine phase we’ll work through in a few weeks.
LISTS
Did you notice the groupings above also qualify as lists? I didn’t until I started writing this post! I am so amazed at the insight about the Sheperd’s presence and His role of defending the flock this week. Indeed, I am living proof He does exactly this!
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up Step 3 by:
- PRAYING: Use the prayer we wrote for Step 1.
- MINING: Read through the passage again looking for comparisons in or related to your focus verses. These may be statements of similarity featuring key words such as like, as,or so; qualitative comparisons indicating how one item is more or less than another; and/or contrasts that highlight or discuss how one concept differs from another.
- MINING: Next, look for causes or motives by focusing on key words or phrases I call cause connectors. In this study text, look for the connector for (where it means the same as because). Then check the text surrounding the connector for an action and the reason or explanation for that action. For example, in the sentence,
I went to the store, for I was out of milk,
the action = I went to the store for [because] the reason = I was out of milk.
NOTE: The word for doesn’t always connect an action and a reason. To determine if it does here, read the sentence(s) containing it while substituting the word because where you find the word for. If the sentence(s) created from this exercise make(s) sense and mean(s) the same as the original, note two things: (1) the action statement (typically before the for) and (2) the reason (after the for).
- MINING: Finally, see if you can find any conditions that trigger action in this narrative and/or descriptions of how action happens or should happen.
– For example, does the text say if or when a certain condition exists, some action takes place?
And/or
– Does the author describe a method or process (for example, specific steps) taken to achieve something?
Or
– Does he indicate how action is accomplished more generally by or through attributes or actions, e.g., saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8)? And,
– Does the text include any adverbs (typically words ending in ly) that describe how action happens?
These exercises are more involved, I know, but I’m confident you can do this with the Holy Spirit! Don’t forget to check your How to Dig Into Scripture Ourselves guide, and you can always reach out to me at [email protected] if you have questions.
GO TO WEEK 5 >
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 | 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 | Jan 27, 2026 | DISO studies, Introduction, Psalm 23
Hello! Thank you for joining me for this eight-week study of the 23rd Psalm.
This is the first study in my new series called “God, Who?” focusing on names of God found in His Word. By studying these names, I’m looking forward to seeing how God has revealed Himself over time to certain people and what that reflects about His unchanging character.
I’m starting with Psalm 23 because it has special meaning for me: I heard Psalm 23:4 spoken over me the day I was turned away from suicide and put my faith in Jesus. But I was so biblically illiterate, I had no idea my life had been supernaturally protected. All I knew for sure was that something prevented me from picking up the loaded gun, and my soul immediately praised and thanked God. Moreover, from that point on, life was different.
Let’s Study Psalm 23!
This week, I’ll begin by praying and surveying Psalm 23. If you want to study on your own with me, here’s what I recommend you have ready:
- A copy of Psalm 23.
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.
- A study journal.
We’ll spend the next seven weeks immersed in and learning about Psalm 23. And the work we’ll do each week builds on what came before, so 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 Psalm 23 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 Psalm 23, 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 keep checking in with me each week!
GO TO WEEK 2 >
by Jen | Jan 20, 2026 | DISO studies, Galatians 5
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hi—thanks for checking in with me today!
Last Week’s Work
LESSON(S) LEARNED
Over the last seven weeks, Paul taught me I have a choice: I can choose the salvation of God’s unfailing, unending grace and look forward to forever in heaven with Him by believing Jesus Christ was God’s Son who willingly gave His earthly life to redeem me. Or I can opt to always act in accordance with every condition of God’s law. I can’t do either of these perfectly, but the risk manager in me realizes that grace covers me even when my belief is small as a mustard seed. I choose grace.
CONVICTION
I am reminded that my actions always reflect what I believe. And, unfortunately, that fluctuates. Many times, I let fear take over when faith should lead. I speak or act based on what I’m afraid of because my confidence in Jesus isn’t strong enough to overcome the worry.
CORRECTION
In this study, two cross-references caught my eye: He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:33 ESV); and Luke’s version: And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened” (Luke 13:20-21 ESV). These two are the only instances where leaven is used as a positive influence: a woman working with this hidden substance successfully impacts a whole batch of flour.
For good (or bad), my faith impacts my behavior. But I know it’s also true that action impacts my belief. About the time I was saved, I read a book called Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. To the best of my recollection, it was more self-help than scriptural, but I believe the title is an excellent reminder of what faith looks like: it’s acknowledging I need God’s help for a successful journey but taking the first step anyway.
ACTION PLAN
Going forward, I want to stop allowing fear (unbelief) to hold me back from doing what I believe God has prepared for me to do: studying His Word and helping other women do the same. I want to grow my faith by taking the first step in whatever form it appears and continually reminding myself that He is with me all the way.
Our Next Study
Next week, I’m excited to begin a study of Psalm 23, the Scripture that saved my life thirty years ago and—because God is like that—ties right into what I discovered here in Galatians 5!
This upcoming study kicks off a new series called God Who? where we’ll examine passages that feature several of His names. I can’t wait to explore the treasure to be found there, and I hope you’ll join me to learn more about our awesome God!
