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.
Kristi B.
Houston, TX
Hebrews 10:23(NCV)
“Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised.”
Lori D., Elk Grove, CA
And pray that we can be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But God is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. II Thessalonians 3:2-3 NIV
Yes, we just finished Children of the Day . 🙂
Debbie Turner Chavers, Tennessee
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
KJV
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NIV)
Joanna Schumacher, Arlington, TX
“Trust in the Lord with all thin heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.” Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Linda, The Woodlands, TX
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
…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).
Susan Bostaph, Buffalo, NY
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 (ESV)
Kem Green, Des Moines, IA
-God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. (Psalms 18:30 NLT)
Danielle from Cedar Park, TX
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV)
Cris , Virginia Beach VA
Psalm 119:49 NIV Remember your word to your servant , for you have given me hope .
Connie Johnson, Pittsboro, NC
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13 NIV
Johanna, Carlsbad CA
Psalm 141:3-4 (NLT)
Take control of what I say, O Lord,
and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
of those who do wrong.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he
has become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)
Karen L. – Deweyville, TX
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
Kathi,
Vancouver, wa
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives it’s name, 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 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length, and height and depth, ..” Eph. 3:14-18 NASB
Cassie Roth, Tunnel Hill Ga
Ephesians 3:17 NKJV
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Dawn Wells, Fort Worth, TX
“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life.
He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time — to show us HIS GRACE through Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
Kelsey Chance, Shawnee, KS
And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. (James 3:3 NET)
Gretchen, McKinney, TX Isaiah 41:13 (HCSB) For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.
Chrissy Hilliard, Gardner, KS
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
(Matthew 18:20 NIV)
Cara Gabrielse, Parker, CO: Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. Mark 5:25, NLT
Trudy Burnett, Middletown, OH
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
Numbers 6:26 NLT
Tricia Rea Auburn, AL
“I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” Jer 24:7 (ESV)
Janelle MacKay-Malta, NY
“I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed.” Ezekiel 34:26 NLT
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)
Judi,
Red Deer, AB, Canada
“…My GOD, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold”
Psalm 18,2″
NAS
Yvonne, Canton, NC
“Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.” — Proverbs 4:26 NASB
Nicola Oceanside CA
Psalm 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD,
Jer 29:11-14 NIV
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
Psalm 1:2 NKJV
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Joanne Delanoy Leduc, AB Canada. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 [NIV]
Tammara, Frisco, TX
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
“Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Deena from Amarillo, Texas
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 NIV
Linda O’Neill, Elk Grove, CA
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
Robin Nelis Greenwood, IN
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 NIV
Missy Watts, Ft. Worth, TX, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” Psalm 25:9, NIV
Kathleen Noisette Ortawa ON Canada
Even though I walk the darkness valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23 NIV
Shauna Long, Cape Girardeau, MO
Romans 12:2 HCSB
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Sandi H. – Holt, MO – “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.” Psalm 119:93 (NIV)
Lani, Charlotte, NC, “The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (NIV).
Barbara Slaven
Loudon, Tennessee
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Eph 6:13 NIV
Christina, Decatur, TX
Ephesians 6:7 NIV
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,…
Ann Arbor MI
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
Helen Roseberry, Riverside, CA,
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,” Philippians 1:9 NIV
Independence, MO
2 Samuel 22 : 21 “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
Karen Redmond, Saint Petersburg, Florida
6 The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.- Psalm 103:6, NLT
Kathy Wilson, Chandler, Arizona.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.
James 1:25
NIV
Valerie Maddox – Humble, Texas
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:3-6 ESV)