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.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. (Isaiah 40:28 NIV)
Melissa Morrow, Pike Road, AL
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13 NASB
Lisa Howser-Louisville KY
How great is the love the Father has LAVISHED on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
1John 3:1 NIV
Misty Keith, Pflugerville, TX
“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our inequities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 ESV
Tara G.
Sherwood, AR
Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. Ecc. 10:12 (NIV)
Aubrey Eubank Palmetto, GA
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you them and attitude of mind that Christ Jesus had
Romans 15:6 NIV
Lisa, Granville, Ohio
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
Exodus 33:18 NIV
Sherry – Deer Park, Tx
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 19:8 NIV
Diane White, Williamstown, WV
“Do everything with love.”
I Corinthians 16:14, NAS
Bonnie Tolson, Outer Banks, North Carolina.
“..so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth..”
Eph. 3:17,18 ESV
Joan Vanderwall, Orofino, Idaho
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:36-38 (KJV)
Maria Kingston, PA
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man if Gid may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Rebecca in Durham: “Open your mouth WIDE and I will FILL IT with GOOD things.” (Ps. 81:10b, NLT)
Kim K., Lancaster, OH
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.
He only is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2 ESV
Laura Hix – Grand Saline, TX
9i
Psalm 25:4-5
Make me to know your way O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation: for you I wait all the day long.
Hot Springs, Ar
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1Tim:4~5 ESV
Kathy
Madison, CT
John 10:9-10 ESV
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
DeQuincy, LA
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16 NKJV
janice in Abbeville, AL
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26
Missy S, Chapel Hill, NC
“I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” ~ Jeremiah 10:23 (ESV)
Becky Davis, Huntington,WV
“But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” 2 Peter 1:9 (NIV) is
Marge-Chili, Wisconsin
Ephesians 3:17
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
NIV
Psalm 85:6 Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
Denise, Lexington, NC – “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:24 NIV
Cathy – Gastonia, NC
Psalm 19:10-11
“More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
Amanda, West Monroe, La
” Who am I, O Soverign Lord, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?”
2Samuel 7:18(b)
Paula, Brownwood, Tx
that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, (Ephesians 3:16 ESV)
Cherie Sheldon, Lakeland, FL
Isaiah 54: (NIV)
For your Maker is your husband—
the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.
Ashley, Statesboro, GA “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 ESV
Camon Criger, Longmont, CO
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make ALL grace abound toward you, that you, having ALL sufficiency in ALL things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (NKJV)
Debbie Jackson, Amarillo, Texas
“because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,”. Col.1:5
(Continuing passage memorization)
Pam Drewery
Springfield, Ohio
And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Phil. 4:7 NIV
Brittany Watson, Marietta GA
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 ESV
Amy B.
Montezuma, Indiana
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 NKJV)
Gina Hollis
Canton, Ga
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2: 1-3 NIV
Kitty Bennett, Bend, Oregon
…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
1 Peter 3:15 NASB
JulieB
Sharpsburg, Ga
Ephesians 3:16 ESV
“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
Linda Damero
Cape Canaveral, FL
“The LORD your God is 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.”
NIV
I am starting today to learn Isaiah 53:
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (Isaiah 53:1 ESV)
Stephanie Marchbanks
Ennis, TX
Linda Delray Beach FL
“The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zehpaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Tammy, Monroe,Ga.
“for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything”. (1 John 3:20 ESV)
Sue, Kalamazoo, MI
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalms 37:4 (NLT)
Colossians 3:16-17 NIV
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Erin Keel, Chesnee, SC
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 HCS
Southlake, TX
“I waited patiently for the Loed; He turned to me and heart my cry”. Psalm 40:1 NIV
Pam Willis, Centerville, Texas
2 Samuel 22:23 (NIV)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior, from violent people you save me.
Ginger, Charlotte, NC
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
Whitney Holder, Wilmington, NC. “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16 NLT)
Doris, Madison, MS:
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:6-7 (KJV)
Lisa Curtis
Jackson, MO
The fear of man is a snare but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected. Proverbs 29:25 HCSB