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.
Katie Logsdon – Dallas, TX “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17 (NIV)
Maria Cristina Bruschi – Orlando, Florida
For it is He who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all of your work. – Deuteronomy 16:15b, NLT
Carol Peavy, Jena, LA
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:8-10 NLT
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:7-8 NIV
San Ramon, Ca.
“Even youths grow tired and weary,
And young men stumble and fall,
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles
they will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:30 & 31 ( NIV)
Linda Speer Edmonton, Ab
Deutronomy 31:6 NIV
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Melissa | Lancaster, PA
Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect GOD to get here soon. (Psalm 31:24 MSG)
Joan Wetzel, New Orleans, Louisiana,
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 (NASB)
Karin, Toronto, Canada
“The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective”
James 5:16 (NIV)
Diane Jackson, Riverside CA Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.”
Kathryn Todd
Katy, TX
Psalms 25:15
My eyes are ever on The Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (James 1:2 ESV)
Amy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
Cathy
Oviedo, FL
If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. (Proverbs 30:32 ESV)
Brenda Barker, Greensboro, NC
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing
to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Tara, Eustis
New International Version (NIV)
1 John 1
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.
Cindy
WIlton, UK
“Awake, O Soul, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:14 ESV
Cedarville, OH
Eph. 3:17 (NIV)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
Jana Dawn Bott
Wardsville, MO
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
-Proverbs 15:1
Sandy Woffard, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Teri from Tucson – prayed this morning because I hadn’t found a verse uet, the Lord woke me up with Luke 12:7 (NASB) indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than sparrows. There is a reason behind this that I’m not able to share here, though.
I have set The Lord always before me because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8
Joyce Lobmaster, St. Louis, MO Psalm 86:4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,for I put my trust in you. NIV
Sarah Miller, Melbourne, Florida, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
Karen, New Prague, MN
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)
Joyce Kortze from Rockford, IL.
“‘I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares. ‘” Jeremiah 30: 17 NIV
Karen Sanders, Burleson, Texas “We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about His Son. 1 John 5:9 NIV
Mary A, Belleville, ON, Canada
Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12, ESV
Laura Richards, North Las Vegas, NV
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16New International Version (NIV)
Kathi Nitzsche
Lexington , OH
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name…
1 Philippians 2:8-9
Megan,Dothan, AL
“His diving power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”- 2 Peter 1:3
His divine power…NIV VERSION 🙂
Pam Mayer from Apple Valley, MN: “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.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Laura Dvorkin, Los Angeles, California
Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Melanie of Greenbrier, TN;
But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits! Daniel 11:32b (NKJV)
Sheryl Ponsness, PDX OR “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
Valerie , Ontario (Mansfield), OH
“Start over with me, and create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please You. “. Psalm 51:10. TPT. (The Passion Translation).
Lesley, Oceanside, CA
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
Proverbs 4:7 ESV
Regina Coleman, Salado, TX
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
Suzy Adams, Wheelersburg, Oh – …for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. Galatins 3:27
Nicole Eckblad
Auburn, WA
Ephesians 3:14-17 NIV
“For this reason I kneel before the father, from whom his family in heaven and earth derives it’s name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we should pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26 NIV
Gini Bishop The Woodlands, TX
Ephesians 3:14&15, NIV
For this reason I knell before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Rebecca S, Marana, AZ
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, (Colossians 1:15 NLT)
Lauren Matson; Prattville, AL:
“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so that I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” Exodus 33:13 NIV
1 Thessalonians 5: 11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing.
Suzanne Kragt , eden Prairie Minnesota
Aryn Madsen, Beaverton, OR. “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” (Ephesians 3:17 NIV)
Robin Ridenour, Chambersburg, PA
Though an army may camp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.
Psalm 27:3 (NKJV)
I am memorizing all of Psalm 27.
Teresa, Tyler TX
Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down deep into God’s love and keep you strong.
Ephesians 3:16 nlt
Ps 56:3-4 NIV
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.
Tami, Denver, CO:
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Ephesians 3:13 (NIV)