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.
Phyllis Norwich, CT
Song of Solomon 1:4 (NIV)- Friends we rejoice and delight in you we will praise your love more than wine.
Laura Stevens
El Paso, TX
Matthew 24:35 NIV
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The study note for this verse says, “Jesus’ words are more certain than the existence of the universe.” Woah.
Margie Davis -Beaverton, Oregon
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. NIV
Vicki from Grapevine, tX
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ~ Psalm 139: 8 NIV
Vicki, Merriam, KS Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ESV
Caron Ervin, Dallas, TX
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19 NIV
Marsha,Batesville, Ms
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight; O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14(NLT)
Kelei Liggett. Iowa Park, Tx.
Proverbs 22:29 NIV
Do you see a Man Skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
Barb Argyle WI
You will only look with your eyes and see the recompence of the wicked
Ps 91:8 ESV
Tonya in Apex, NC
Ephesians 3:16-17 NASB
“…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, …”
LISA from Huntsville TX
JER. 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.”
NKJV
Teresa Cianciotto, Dickinson, TX “But he who is noble plans noble things; and on noble things he stands.” Is 32:8 ESV
Elizabeth Mitchell- living in Haverhill, England- Ephesians 3:19 NKJV “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Gabby Cianciotto, Dickinson, TX “People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all.” Ps 34:19
Valarie, Cincinnati- “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19 NIV)
Anna Isbell, Jackson, TN
“He who called you is faithful. He will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Jenn Loewen
Gresham, OR
Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Emily Mechanicsville, VA
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:17 ESV
Jaime Tyler Texas
“walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10 ESV
For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)
Charlotte Skadal, Houston, Texas
“The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.”
Psalm 119:130 (NASB)
Posted with encouragement for Siesta’s to pour over Psalm 119:129-136. These verses proclaim praise to the Lord for His illuminating Word and gives us an awesome foundation for prayer as we persevere with SSMT!
psm 67:5&6 niv
may the peoples praise You, o God; may all the peoples praise You. then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God will bless us.
Sue-Iron Mountain, MI
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. Instead you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:14-15 (NIV)
Catherine Lisle, Albuquerque, NM. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16 NLT
Trudy, Lexington, Kentucky, Isaiah 40:28 ESV
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
Julie Kauth, Goodyear, AZ
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26 (KJV)
Memphis, Tn
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
I John 4:7 ESV
Ella St. Augustine, FL
“She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” Proverbs 31:16 NLT
Susan in Grand Rapids, MI
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24, 25 ESV
Diane from Cypress, Texas
Phil 2:14 (NIV)
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing”
Jann Sanicola Holtsville New York
Ephesians 3:26 (NKJV)
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,”
Emily, Elk Grove, CA
Yep, this one…
“A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;”
~Proverbs 27:15 NIV
Luann Hansen Harlan, IA
“Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 NASB
Anne, Athens, Greece – 1Timothy 1:9 NLT
For God saved us & called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan before the beginning of time – to show us His grace thru Christ Jesus.
Lara Lee Bugeja, Royal Palm Beach FL
Ephesians 6:15 – 17 (ESV)
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~wrapping up the Armor of God . . .
TCobb, Texas
For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Revelation 7:17, NLT
Megan, Stow, OH Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23, NLT
Pam Worcester, Glen Elder, Kansas
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Emilie Eaton, IN
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)- Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Kim, Nashville, TN:
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)
Lara Lee Bugeja, Royal Palm Beach FL (new)
Ephesians 6:15 – 17 (ESV)
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~wrapping up the Armor of God . . .
Kristen Johnstone
Boulder, CO
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2
Michelle, Chesapeake, VA
So with you:Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
John 16:22 (NIV)
Mary Beth, St. Louis, MO
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Lora Colorado Springs, CO
1 John 4:19 ESV We love because he first loved us.
Marianna Behrends, San Angelo, TX
“So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you.” Luke 21:14 NLT
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind,be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18
Rachel H., North Alabama,
Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.
(Exodus 33:15 NASB)
Julie Speyer, Madison, GA
Those who cling to false idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8 NIV
Faye from Calgary, Canada
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18 NIV)