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.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13
Sarah, Christina and Esther May; Wenatchee, WA
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
James 4:14 NIV
Colossians 1:11 (NLT)
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with JOY!!
Diane V. – Hi from a fellow Fresnan!! 🙂
Psalm 56:9 (NLT)
9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side!
Colleen Duebber. Cincinnati, Ohio.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
2 Timothy 1:9 NIV
Proverbs 8:10 NKJV
“Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather choice gold;”
And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (HCSB
Keely in Hermann, learned “For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good work.” Eph. 2:10
Linda from Enumclaw
Isaiah 26:4. NIV
Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
Sue Heth. Elk Run Heights IA “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
Shannon, Mandeville. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalms 27:13. TNIV
Beth Crocker, Boston. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV
Robin – Atlanta, GA
This i know: God is for me.
Psalm 56:9 NIV
Sharon Martinez, Raleigh “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Heb 12:14
J.J. Ehr, Longmont, CO
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
Micah 6:8 HCSB
Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Kayley • Camp Point, IL
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
New Albany, MS
“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”.
Zephaniah 3:17 – NIV
Robin LeGrand- Winfield, Kansas
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16 NIV
Jill, Clearwater FL,
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
James 2:22 NIV
Shinae, Owasso, OK
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, rather than according to Christ.”
Col 2:6-8 NASB
Jan Horne
Bossier City, LA
2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV
But just as you excel in everthing-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV
Freida, Chatham, La “And be not conformed to the world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 KJV
Erin from Kennewick, WA
And this is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. ~ Philippians 1:9-10 (NIV)
Lynette Cummimg GA
My soul wait only upon God and silently submit to Him, for my hope and expectations are from Him. Ps. 62:5 Amp
Louise – Irvine, CA – Proverbs 21:1 – The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. (NIV)
Jeanette Dahm. lake Oswego, OR. Hebrews 1:3. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Patience Nason, Citrus Heights, CA
“But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”
Acts 2:24 NLT
Beth – Calgary AB Canada
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)
Donna, Bakersfield, CA,
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
Colossians 1:15-16 (NIV)
Sara Martin, Houston, TX: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35, NIV
Heidi in Daphne, AL
“…thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” (Psalms 116:8 – KJV)
Hannah in Daphne, AL
“…thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” (Psalms 116:8 – KJV)
Emily in Daphne, AL
“…thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” (Psalms 116:8 – KJV)
Kim, Gaithersburg MD
God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at the break of day. (Psalm 46:5 NIV)
Emma, Alaska,
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Mark 1:35 ESV
Donna Mobile, AL
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ehesians 1:7 (KJV)
John 6:29 NCV
Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One He sent.”
Ann Seaney, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah 2:8 NIV
Skaneateles,N.Y. SSMT # 8 – “But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in His Name, His word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it !! Jeremiah 20:9 (NLT)
Chandler, OK
Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV)
26 And He has made from one blood[a] every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Heather Morgan
Waxahachie, TX
John 15:5 New Living Translation
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Cherie, Pocatello, ID; “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7, NIV).
Theresa Cates, Burr Oak, Michigan
But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!
Romans 13:11 (Mess)
Andi, Lincoln NE
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
Ps. 9:10 NIV.
Connie, Eugene, OR
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 NKJV
Anna from Missouri
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21
Janet from Odessa, TX
Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
Shan Copeland, Salina, KS
“When you pass through the waters, I WILL BE WITH YOU; When you pass through the rivers, they will NOT sweep over you; When you walk through the fire, you WILL NOT be burned; the flames WILL NOT set you ablaze. For I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE Holy One of Israel,YOUR SAVIOR!”
Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV
God bless you as you memorize this, my FAV verse ~ it comforted me through brain tumor and paralysis and 30 years later burying my grandson ~ AWESOME VERSE! (and my oldest daughter went to Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina – I fell in love with that college town:)
Krista Ripley WV
1 Cor. 13:1 KJv
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.