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.
Cindy Strong, DIberville, MS
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time come.”
Matthew 6:34 MSG
I sometimes borrow trouble and this was a fresh reminder. 🙂
Megan Andrews, Al
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 NIV)
Deuteronomy 11:18 (NIV)
Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Aimee Taylor, Hemet, CA: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6 NKJV
Margaret Evans. Lowell AR
“But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24
Missie Ables Marble Falls, TX
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2
Jen Wellman, Spring, TX
“the one who by his strength established the mountains,
Being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of the waves, the tumult of the peoples.”
Psalm 65:6-7 ESV
We live by faith, not by sight! 2 Corinthians 5:7
Michelle Rademacher, Aurora, IL
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
P.S. I loved your entry post, Diane!
Becky, Vicksburg, MS
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4 (NIV).
Debra
Baraboo, WI
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21 ESV
Traci, Vadnais Heights, MN
Psalm 3:3-4 (NIV)
“But you are a shield around me O Lord
You bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud and He answers me from His holy hill.”
Laura from Gilbert, AZ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:18
Vickie Reynolds,Houston Texas
“However,as it is written: No eye has seen,no ear has heard,no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Christy- Baltimore, MD
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:2-3 (NIV)
Tracy, Holland, MI
2 Timothy 2:13 ESV
“If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”
Carrie Gill, Tyler,TX. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight .” Proverbs 3:5-6. NIV
Valerie, Taylors, SC
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 10:39 NIV
Vickie Reynolds,Houston Texas
“However,as it is written: No eye has seen,no ear has heard,no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
John15:4 NKJV
“The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips,” Psalm 16:4 NIV
Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Big Lake, MN
For I am confident of the very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Phil. 1:6, NASB
Giovana Cavarretta, Boca Raton, FL
the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Psalm 147:11 NIV)
Jer 30:17 ESV
For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
Jeanni Goormastic, Westland, MI
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV
Brenda Lenz, Georgetown, TX – “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5 (NASB)
2 Corinthians 4:5
You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves, we preach that Jesus is Lord, and we ourselves are servants for his sake.
NLT
Patricia McNeily, Miamisburg, OH
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
that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.
Eph. 3 :16. ESV
Orange Park, FL.
Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Sara McPeek, Decatur, TX
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Phil 4:8 NIV
Arlington, Texas
Galatians 5 22-23 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Conyers, GA
Psalm 139:9-10 KJV
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
Rebekah Gardner , harrisburg , NC
” yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippians 3:8
Lisa from Wadsworth, OH: Proverbs 4:7 (NLT) “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do develop good judgement”.
“Don’t be afraid”, Jesus said. “Take courage! I am here!”
Mark 6:50b
NLT
Cathy, Colfax, LA- “My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him”. Psalm 62:1 (NIV).
Laura Blackman, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.” Psalm 16:7
Callee Maglothin, Houston, TX: “Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.” 1Thessalonians 5:14
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. NIV
Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Heb. 10:17 ESV
This is the day that The Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 NIV Kim Robustellini, Yreka, CA
Lindy, Scott, Louisiana
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Martha, Asheville, NC
Doing two verse this time since I didn’t pick one for April 1st.. catching up!
“Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time–pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.” (2 Thess. 1:11-12 MSG)
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20 NIV)
Tashi, Houston, TX. “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” (Psalm 34:5)
Michelle, Warner Robins, GA
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1 NIV
Brentwood, TN
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 NIV