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.
2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV. For this very reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Judy – Cottageville WV
“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Eph 1:23
Mande Brightwell. Longview, Texas. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a NIV)
Cindy, Powdersville, SC
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT
Hannah Carroll, Waco, TX
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Cindy, Beaumont TX. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26 NKJV
Diane, Wichita, KS
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Hebrews 4:6 (NIV)
Andrea McCay, Oneonta, Alabama
Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Peggy, Yorktown, Va
Matthew 5:31-37 It has been said anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Again, you have heard it said to the people long ago do not break your oath, but keep the oaths made to the Lord. But I tell you do not swear at all; either by heaven for it is God’s throne, or by earth for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem for it is the city of the great King and do not swear by your head for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your yes be yes and your no be no anything beyond that is from the evil one.
Pammie Hill, Southern California “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.” John 15:16 NIV
Allison, Pleasanton, CA
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.” (NIV)
Peggy, Corpus Christi, TX
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5 ESV
Tiffany Boles
Wheeling, wv
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54:2
Meghann DeLong, Lawton, OK “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
Fay, Springfield, MO
Psalm 31:24 NKJV
Be of good courage, And he shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord/
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” Rev. 21:6 (NIV)
Kim Foley, Arnold, MD
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Romans 8:38 (NIV)
” For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Tammy P., Jamestown, NC
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11
Job 42:3 NIV …surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me.
Cary, NC
Vicki Knott, Greenwood, SC
“How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 (NLT)
Amanda Teske, Chandler AZ
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness
2 Timothy 3:16, ESV
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
Lamentations 3:24 NIV
Amen!
Colorado Springs, Colorado
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but might in God for pulling down of strongholds; casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ; bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. II Cor. 10:4-5
Elizabeth Marchman Blue Ridge, Georgia
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 niv
In time of trouble he will set me upon a rock.
Psalms 27:5
Maryse Sturm, Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, Europe.
Waar in vrede wordt gezaaid, brengt gerechtigheid haar vruchten voort voor hen die vrede stichten.
Jakobus 3:18 NBV
Stephanie, Paris, Tx. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12, NIV
Lori, Friendswood, TX
1 John 5:13 (NIV)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Kristen Fowler, Marble, NC
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 11:19 NIV
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 1peter 5:6-7
Ally, Houston, TX.
“So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:9 HCSB
Malachi 3:10 NIV
“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will have room enough for it.'”
Betsy, Va. Beach, VA
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 (NASB)
Stephanie – Tampa, FL
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your heart. Colossians 3:16 NIV
Carol From Sandersville,GA.
Psalm 15:1 “LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?”
Betty Clark, Ann Arbor, MI “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” Psalm 100:4 NASB
Jen Hackler
Monroe, LA
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 ESV
Cindi; Smyrna, GA
He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:11-13 HCSB
Erica from MI
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)
Peggy
Sweetwater, TN
The day I call to you, my enemies will be turned back. I know this: God is on my side.
Psalm 56:9. GNT
Deb, Lancaster PA
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16 esv
Kim
Charlotte NC
Ephesians 3:16 (NKJV)
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Maren Breitwieser, Indianapolis, IN, “I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. Deuteronomy 30: 18 (NASB)
Danielle Hart, Cadillac MI.
“know this, let every person be quick to hear, slow to
speak, slow to anger;”
James 1:19 ESV
Elizabeth Cory from Macomb, MI
Psalm 138:4 NIV
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
Hanna Wahlbrink
Lexington, Ky
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20(niv)
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers.” 1 Peter 4:7(ESV)
Lexington,Kentucky
“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
John 15:4b NKJV