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.
Ana from Dayton, TX
Ps. 3:3 (ESV) But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
heather Cullman, AL Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)
Audrey, Ohio
Psalm 15:2 TNIV
Those whose walk is blameless,
who do what is righteous,
who speak the truth from their hearts;
Bobbie Head, Radium Springs, NM
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
Psalms 56:3 NKJV
Morgan Cosby, Arlington VA
“Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promises” Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. I Peter 5:8-9 NKJV
Christy, Jonesboro, AR
Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
From Missouri City, TX
Psalm 25:15. (NLT)
My eyes are always on the Lord for He rescues me.
Diane, Hemet CA
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.
Romans 4:20 NKJ
Beverly, Lexington, KY
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
2 Cor.1:20 NKJV
Diane E., Charleston IL
Proverbs 10:19 NIV
“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
MaLori, Ft. Worth TX, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalms 89:1 KJV)
Anna Yancey, Fort Collins, CO
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:6 ESV
Dawn Tolley, Appomattox, VA “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 (NKJ))
Paula Rockwood, Brunswick ME
“If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” Psalm 139:8 ESV
Psalm 31:3
“For You are my rock and my fortress,
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.”
Julie Welch, Madison, MS “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:20-21 NIV
Mindy Seekford Stonewall, La
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NLT)
Debra Taylor, Madison, MS
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are NOT of the FLESH but have DIVINE POWER to DESTROY STRONGHOLDS. (!) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to OBEY Christ.
ESV, (emphasis mine)
“I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE
WAY THAT YOU SHOULD GO; I WILL COUNSEL YOU
AND WATCH OVER YOU.” ( PSALM 32:8)
Nicole Corey
Missoula, MT
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; (James 1:19 ESV)
Justina, Ab, Canada
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
The LORD says, ” My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9
Chandra Jimenez, Centerton, AR
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1 & 2, NIV
Lori McGahey, Nashville, TN, ” He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
Sonya Burtis, Cullman, AL
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 (NLT)
Dianne, Fitzwilliam, NH
John 15:16-17
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Janet Pollard – Wagoner, OK
1 John 15:16-17
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. This I command you – to love one another. NET
Jonni Ousley, Paintsville, KY
When confronted and your faith is tested, confidence comes from knowledge:
“Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 NIV
Samantha Zumbro, Golden, CO
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
Jackye Bowen, Pendergrass, GA “Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” psalm 116:2 NIV
Sharon, McKinney, TX
Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.
Psalm 16:1 NIV
Emma LaBossiere, Pittsburgh, PA: “The Lord your God is in your midst,a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zeph.3:17, ESV
Kaylee Schlabach – Tampa, Fl
“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
Beautiful, beautiful post, Diane!
Jedonne, Nashville, TN “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” John 16:33 (NIV)
Judy Rowland Louisville, KY
Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?
Jeremiah 8:22
Mary McKinley Scottsboro, AL
Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
2 Samuel 7:22 KJV
Jennifer Madisonville Ky
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 NIV)
Jamie, Tyler, TX
“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1:6 NIV
Luke 9:23 (NLV)Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.
Goodman, Mo. Proverbs 1:33 NKJV “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Betsy Roberts – Antwerp, OH
Ephesians 3:17
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Nikki L, Littleton, CO
“whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
1 John 2:6 ESV
Janessa Ford, Davao City, Philippines. “For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” 2 Samuel 22:32 NIV.
Melissa; Parker,CO/Enid,OK: “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:6 ESV
Libby Smoot, Strasburg VA
“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)
(Reedley, CA) Col 3:12 (MSG) “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.”
Jeanete, Albuquerque, NM “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
Nance, Newmarket ON Canada
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars – their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Rev 21:8 NET
Anita Wilkes, Glen, MS
Jehovah, Himself is caring for you! He keeps His eye upon you as you come and go, and always guards you.
Psalm 121:8 TLB