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.
Stephanie B – Springfield, MO
Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV
[26] I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Jennifer Evans….Christiana, PA
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:21 (NIV)
Pat from Jackson, Kentucky Psalm 55:22 (ESV)
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
barbara Alewine from Malakoff TX
Ps. 27:14
Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Amy Brown
New Palestine, IN
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT)
Eph 3:14 NIV
Lincoln UK
For this reason I kneel before the Father.
Pam Hendersonville, NC
“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5 KJV
Bethany Mowat, Evart, Michigan Most Blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7 AMP
Ashley Lewis, Marshalltown, Iowa
Psalm 127:4 NIV
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.
Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Pilipinas 4:6 (NLT)
Claudia, Durham, NC
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” Psalm 130:5 ESV
Jennifer Lane, Grand Rapids MI
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. Colossians 3:17 NIV
Amanda, Washougal, WA
“Be joyful in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 NIV/ESV
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Ephesians 3:17-18 (NIV)
Bonnie Mink Hendersonville, TN verse 8 We are like grass that is green in the morning but mowed down and withered before the evening shadows fall. Psalm 90:6 TLB
Gigi Parisi
Mullica Hill NJ
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:10 NIV
Susan Moriarty Tucson,Az
“I’ll refresh tired bodies: I’ll restore tired souls.
Jeremiah 31:25 (Message)
Kimberly Balles Rolling Meadows, IL
Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 (NIV)
Carla Langley LaFayette, Al.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being
Ephesians 3:16 NIV
Abbie, North Platte, Nebraksa
Psalm 127:1 (esv)
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Judy Conn, Ashland, KY: ” Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, striken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds WE ARE HEALED!” Isaiah 53: 4-5, NIV
Cheryl, Fort Portal Uganda
“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 (NIV)
Katie Miller, Warsaw, IN: Philippians 4:4-5. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Rita Ford, The Woodlands, Texas. “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 NIV84
IJohn 4:7 ESV
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Denise, Wilmington, NC
Isaiah 6:5 Then I [Isaiah] said “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
James 3:2 Amplified
“…and if anyone does not offend in speech, he is a fully-developed character and a perfect man…”
Malia R. Dream Center-LA, CA
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:6 NLT)”
Katy, TX, Psalm 9:10, NLT
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
“I will not forget you. I have carved you on the palm of my hand.” –Isaiah 49:15-16 NAS
Morton IL
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16(NKJV)
Sara – Morton IL
“I will not forget you. I have carved you on the palm of my hand.” –Isaiah 49:15-16 NAS
Katie Baine, Clarksville, TN Ephesians 3:17 NIV “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,”
“For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:20 NIV
Cait McCoy, Masontown, PA. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV).
Karen from Flower Mound, TX
Pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:2–3 NIV
Kelly in Arkansas
“In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:7 NIV
April, Seymour, TN
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. (Isaiah 55:11 NLT)
m.h., San Mateo, CA
“He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
Psalm 18:19
NASB
Julie Fawcett, Round Rock, Tx
” Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction”
2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
N. Seattle, WA “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalms 138:8 (NASB)
Have been learning Psalms 138 because I want to increase my praises to God and His Son, Jesus Christ! May these words come back to me as part of doing that!
Tomi, Des Moines. 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
Terri Lopez, Cedar Grove, WI
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,”
Ephesians 3:17 NIV
dian Helgerud, Orlando Florida
Psalms 90:12 (nasb)
Teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.
Jenni- Minnesota
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, butt on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Liz Kester
Keller, Texas
“From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2 NASB
Abigail Winkelman, Akron, OH
Psalm 73:23-24 (ESV)
Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory
Vickie, Spokane,Wa.
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
Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts. (Jeremiah 4:3-4 ESV)
Leslie Jordan
Rochester, MN
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
Psalm 143:8 NLT