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.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Sharon Mills
Henderson, Nv
Ps. 91:14 NIV
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”
Karla k, Broomfield CO
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. “. Psalm 121:1 & 2 ESV
Jennifer Henderson, Raleigh, NC;
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
Laura Stepney Rancho Cucamonga ca
From the end of the earth I will cry to you when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I ! Psalms 61:2
Kim De Sha, Louisville, KY,
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. I Peter 5:10, ESV
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. (Psalm 33:20-21 NIV)
Holly, Apex, NC
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Prov. 12:18 NIV
amy – Marietta, GA– “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)
Allison, Austin
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and defense; he has become my salvation. Is 12:2 NIV
Harmony Moncton NB CAD Ps 118:8. It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people.
Cynthia Gainesville,Ga.
Matt. 6:27
And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to your life?
NET
Andrea, Havelock, NC
“For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth- the Lord God of hosts is His name.” Amos 4:13, NKJV
Melinda Sue Kimble, Nashville, TN
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:14-15 (ESV)
Kay Tucker
Elyria, OH
Psalm 27:1 KJV
“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?”
Margaret – Kingsport, TN
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Isaiah 61:1 NLT
Tammy Ellis, Oneida,TN. 37841
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KVJ
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Lisa from Rootstown, Ohio. 2 Cor. 1:10 NIV. “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.”
Anita Kratz, Gilbertsville, PA
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
April, Pleasant Garden, NC “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 NASB
Carol Bowen, Highlands, NC
Isaiah 49:6 ESV
“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are continually before me.”
Donna, Fredericksburg, Va
The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.
Psalm 103:17, ESV
Nancy. McKinney, Texas
His mercies are new every morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Beth Hurst, Ypsilanti, MI
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIV
Joy, Bryant, AR
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Romans 4:25
He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God. NLT-Catholic
Joy Bruhnke, Ft. Myers, Fl
“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
Lori, Powder Springs, GA
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13, NASB
Romans 15:13 “I pray that God, the source of hope, eill fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust Him. Then you will overflow eith confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lee Ann: Norman, Oklahoma
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
And those who know your name, put their trust in you,
For you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:9-10 ESV
Toni, Greer, Sc. “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10. NIV
Karen from Powell, Ohio
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
Psalm 103:2 (NIV)
Lauren H., Cinicnnati, OH: “the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel.” Colossians 1:5 (NIV)
Kay – Muscle Shoals, AL
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 3:17a ESV)
Jennifer Almont, MI
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (NIV)
Ashley Roth, Peachtree City, Ga.
“This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NAS)
“If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.” Psalm 119:92 NASB
Merideth Colvert in Conroe, Tx
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
Renee Hui, British Columbia, Canada
Zephaniah 3:17
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. (NIV)
For we live by believing and not by seeing.
2 Cor. 5:7 (NLT)
Kim – Columbus NC – Ephesians 4:13 ESV
“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Leilani Esmond, Smryna, GA
Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4: 23 NLT
Cindy Medina – Cedar Hill, TX
And one cried to another and said: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
Isaiah 6:3 (NKJV)
Col 1:11-12
…being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Mandy Codding – wadsworth, Oh
Galatians 5:25 – Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit- NIV
Christina Hixson, New Boston, Tx. From whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Ephesians 3:15 NIV
Selena Rosetti, Wiggins, MS.
Psalms 19:14 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 (NIV)
Melinda, Montgomery, AL
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)
Cristy, Prattville, AL “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
Dee Ann from Henderson, Texas
Revelation 21:3 ESV
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.”