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.
Laura, Minneapolis, MN.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 ESV)
Karen Penn, Sturgis, MI, “Show me your ways, O 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 the day long.” Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Carrie Lyons. Homer Glen, IL
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. ~Proverbs 3:5,6 NLT
“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 Gods marvelous love.”
Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)
Kerry Babb, Houston, TX
“So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build each other up.”
Romans 14:19
Salt Lake City, Ut
“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.”
I so needed to hear this today! Thank you Diane. God Bless!
Connie Capps
Pine Level, NC
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Phil 4:13 NIV
Rhonda Nelson Grapevine, TX
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
3 John 1:4 NIV
MarlaMae-Kimmell, IN
Let us hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is faithful ~Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Karlys, LaPlace, LA
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk, from your mouth. Colossians 3:8 ESV
Ashley Collier, Walker, LA
“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,” (2 Timothy 1:9 NASB)
Julianne August, Orangeville, ON “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:7 NLT
Betty Murphrey, Wendell, NC
Joshua 1:8 ESV
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8
Lori, Toledo, Ohio
Proverbs 29:11, “A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.” (NKJV)
Dana Nance
Blue Ridge, Tx
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.
Psalm 103:3-5 NIV (1984)
Laura, Clay Center, KS
Galatians 2:20 (b) (ESV)
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. – Isaiah 44:22 NIV.
DELand, Florida
Romans 6:9 New Living Translation
We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and He will never die again. Death no longer has power over Him.
Amy Storms
Joplin, MO
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Isaiah 26:8 NIV
Tammy,Dothan, Al “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
Psalm 91:14
Because you hold fast to me in love, I will deliver you; I will protect you, because you know my name.
Carrie Lagas, North Potomac, MD
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46 NIV
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB)
Apryl-Raleigh,NC
Kim Lee, Faison, NC. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NIV)
JOSHUA 11:15
As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
NIV
May this be said of me—I leave nothing undone that the Lord would have me to do.
Carrie Guion, Wentzville, Mo.
The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. Deuteronomy 26:18 NLT
Amber Ball, Nicholasville, KY
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God, everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26 NLT
Shiffra, Kalamazoo, MI
1 Kings 9:16 NIV (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.)
Jenny Werth, Grand Ledge, MI
Galations 5:22 AMP
But the fruit of the Holy Spirit (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is Love, Joy (gladness), Peace, Patience (an even temper, forbearance), Kindness, Goodness (benevolence) Faithfulness.
Christine, Bozeman MT
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and 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. Ephesians 3:17,18 ESV
Thank you Christine. Been praying this verse for my oldest. Shes far from home and far from God. She lives in Butte, MT. Please pray for her, I know that He knows and hears my prayers but having a prayer warrior close to her would somehow ease my mind.
Sabrina Shivley, Bryant , AR
April 15, 2015 Verse 8: For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a
lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”
2 Timothy 4:7 ESV
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Psalm 46:5 NIV
Martha McElhaney Ooltewah, TN 1 John 3: 1 ESV
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
Jules Lane
Foothills of the Rocky Mtns, Colorado
Continuing with Psalm 103:
“He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” ~ Psalm 103:7 (KJV)
Kay Martin
Tupelo, MS
“If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives.” 1 John 1:10 NIV
Teresa, Walla Walla, I Timothy 1:19 NLT
“Cling tightly to your faith in Christ, and always keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.”
“He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”
Proverbs 12:24
New American Standard
(NASB) With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Eph 6:18
Brianna Power, from Overland Park, KS. “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV).
Jennifer, Dayton, OH
“For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.” Psalm 32:7 NLT
Susan Stefens in Emmaus, PA
Isa. 49:4 NKJV ~
Then I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet, surely my just reward is with the Lord and my work with God.”
marla, Cordova, TN
“My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2.
Jamie Martin, Judsonia AR, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” Galatians 5:16 ESV
Margaret Neil, Jackson, TN
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3. NLT
Vanessa from Calgary, Canada
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit , but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3(NIV)
Renee Kohagen, in Kodak, TN Colossians 3:3 NLT
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 NLT)
Ann St. Louis, MO
Colossians 3:15, NIV
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Carolyn O., Cypress,TX
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Ephesians 4:17a NIV
Judy, Satellite Beach, FL
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16.18 ESV)