Hello, Siestas! My name is Diane Vaccaro, and I live in Fresno, CA. I’m a pastor’s wife and a mom of 3. I’m honored to share my verse today in a more formal way than usual. Often in our family we talk about how reflecting on scripture is paramount for transforming our hearts. God’s living Word can do more than we could ever imagine if we only give it time to seep into our thoughts and heart for a moment or two… or ten. It’s in those moments of reflection that I’m open and available to consider how the verse applies to my own life and heart. A quick read often leaves me with a short memory of what I’ve read, and a missed opportunity for revelation of who God is and how he loves. Memorization isn’t the goal, but a tool to continue to mediate on the Word, wherever I am, and ponder it, repeating it in my mind and mouth so that it becomes part of me.
Here’s my verse:
Diane – Fresno, CA
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
What I love about this verse is that it brings together God’s attributes as a mighty warrior and as one who delights, even to the point of singing over me. Strength and tenderness. He is a God that can take on my enemies without neglecting the tender and vulnerable places of my heart. And I’ve got an enemy…I don’t know about human ones, but I’m confident that The Enemy is always on the hunt. It is part of being a believer. It’s part of my life in ministry.
As I reflect on this verse I wonder where I’m trying to be the warrior instead of letting God do the fighting. I wonder if I fight fights that aren’t mine, neglecting the ones God has put before me for victory if I’d only fight.
And I wonder if I’ve become so distracted that I miss the singing. Has God been singing over me a melody so sweet while I’ve been straining to hear the world’s approval? I really want to hear the song of God. The world’s song pales in comparison.
One day I was alone in my car and not listening to music (both are seldom). I was praying and pleading and at one point simply asked God, “Do you delight in me?” This verse was pulled from somewhere in my memory as if to say, “Yes, I delight in you. You bring me great joy. I’m singing over you.”
Mighty God, my prayer is that you would set my feet in the direction of my battles, that I would fight with courage and bravery, knowing that you will supply all I need. Show me when I try to fight battles meant for you. I want to duck when your sword comes crashing through, bowing to your will and power. Quiet my heart and soul that I would hear you – hear your direction and your joyful singing over me. I want your song to be the soundtrack of my days.
My prayer is that you, Siesta, will experience the Mighty Warrior and the songs of delight that he sings over you today.
Jessica from Spring, TX
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
Jessica, this is the verse right after mine! I’m memorizing the verses right before yours 1 Peter 5:8-9. I plan on memorizing your verses 10 and 11 next time around. I too long to be strong, firm and steadfast in my faith. I long to be restored to my Jesus and bring him all the glory for it. God bless you and your memorization.
Julie Ratcliff, Texarkana,TX-“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV)
Sandra Chisum
Wichita Falls, TX
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 3:17 ESV
Barb * St Cloud MN * 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NLT) “Always be joyful.”
Tina, Columbus Ohio
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and you plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Becky Jo
Chesterfield MI
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 146:1-2
Ashley Phillips, McKinney, TX: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV)
Mona Huston, Bossier City, LA, 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18 NIV)
Mary-Columbia, PA
“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a NIV
Leah, Kansas City, MO
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2 TNIV
Lori, Oil City, PA “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Ephesians 3:18 (NLT)
Isaiah 62:3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord; and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (ESV)
What a beautiful translation! I love this verse.
Hallie Klecker, Middleton, WI.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)
Vicki, Howell, MI–He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” –Revelation 21:4 ESV
Denise Madison, AL
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Cor 13:8(NIV)
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17a NIV
Kathleen D.
Bernardsville, NJ
Proverbs 11:7 NIV
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.
“Jesus answered and said to them,”Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
NKJV Mark 12:24
Beatrice Brackin, Chattanooga, TN, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15, NIV.
Jessie, Chittagong, BD
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in death.” Philippians 3:10 NLT
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. Is. 40:11
NLT
Tammy,
Lusby, MD
Proverbs 3:26 …for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. (NIV)
Connie, Tyler, Tx. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
Emily McAnear, Corona California
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12, NIV
Rachel, Vancouver, Washington. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
Amy M, Fifty Lakes MN
“May have power, together with all the LORD’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18 (NIV)
Marsha, Angleton TX “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 (NIV84)
Janae – Riverside PA “But if I say,’I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot. ” Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV)
Barbara Ford, Troy, MO.
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13 (NASB)
Janet P, Paola, KS
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 KJV
Donna Rose. Jayess, MS. “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12 NLT.
Jasper, TX
Psalm 25:4-5
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. NIV
Dayton, Ohio
Psalm 18:2 (ESV)
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Ruth D, Greenwood, MO
“Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.” Hebrews 13:7 (NLT)
Marketa, South Portland, Maine
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12 NASB)
Martha Buckner Brentwood TN
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Job 19:25 NASB
Marilyn, Houston, TX: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name”. Psalm 247:4 NIV
Michelle Baylerian, Greenville, WI
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love
Eph 3:17 ESV
Barb Faasse, Jenison MI “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Kim
New Port Richey,FL
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Lora M. Holly Springs, NC. Job 19:25 “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.” NIV.
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 3:17 ESV
Libby, Eutawville, SC
Philippians 4:13 ESV
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Joan Portage, MI
” He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. ”
Psalms 37 : 6 NIV
Carol Tippie, Cincinnati, Ohio
John 15:16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. NASB
Angie Hill, Jasper, Alabama
“Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11 NIV
Michelle V, Hewitt, TX
Now that we have God’s approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.
Romans 5:1 GW
Rhonda Beck Winston Salem, N.C.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you,
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
Tami Arceneaux, Denham Springs, La
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 HCSB
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
1 John 1:6 NIV
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Phil 4:13