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.
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47
Independence, KY Be joyful always; pray continually ; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus 1 Thes 5:16 NIV
Elizabeth Peck, Fairfax Station, VA. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and HE WILL DO IT. 1 Thess 5:23-24 NIV 1984
Kathi Crowder from Yorktown, Virginia. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
Kirsten, El Paso, TX
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
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.
Jaclyn, Houston
“The steps of a man are established by teh Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” Psalm 37:23
Kim Abbott, Mabank, TX
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a, NIV)
Michelle Johnson, Hart, MI
In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayers to You and eagerly watch.
Psalm 5:3 NASB
Nicole//Dallas//NLT “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23
Lisa – Savage Minnesota
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
John 14:6 NKJV ~ I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! No one comes to the Father except through ME.
Jan from Wisconsin:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
-Revelation 21:4
Sheila Lindsey, Henderson, TN, For you have been a shelter for me. A strong tower from the enemy. Psalms 61:3 NKJV
Khakki Bonner Nashville, TN
Psalms 61:3 NKJV
For you have been a shelter for me. A strong tower from the enemy.
He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms, 46: 10 (NIV) Maureen, Royal Oak, MI
Elizabeth Pannell Buford, GA
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV
Emily York, St. Paul, MN
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Lissa Shirley Flowery Branch, GA
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
Jackie Brantley Rockledge FL
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 HCSB)
Carrie Pederson, Lakeville, MN
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
Priscilla Woodward, Mesa, AZ
From the east I summon a bird of prey: from a far off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. Isaiah 46:11 NIV
Katherine Emerson, Livingston Tx
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)
“For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.”
Psalm 11:7 ESV http://bible.com/59/psa.11.7.esv
Cara, Oswego, IL. “He has told you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 ESV
Nikki from San Antonio
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:25 (ESV)
Donna – Burleson Texas
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4 NIV)
Kerri Eyler, Woodsboro, MD
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 1Peter 2:15, NIV
Candis Oswalt South Bend IN
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him Colossians 3:17 KJV
Susan Atkinson, Arkadelphia, AR
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18 NIV
Pam Tucker, Fairhope, AL
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12 ESV
Dina in Orlando, FL, 1 Thess. 16-18, NIV: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Jamie Cormier, Lufkin Texas:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and the sea was no more. I saw the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a Bride for her husband.
Revelation 21:1-2. NIV
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:17 (ESV)
Heidi Duffield, DeWitt, AR.
“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.” Philippians 2:5,6. HCSB.
Morgan – discovery bay, ca
Revelation 22:7 (ESV)
And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophesy of this book.
Melissa Davidson, St. Louis Mo
Matthew 6:21 ESV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.”
Philemon 1:4 ESV
Joyce Corvallis, OR
“Remember it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” James 4:17 (NLT)
Misty Schoephoerster. Abilene, TX. “And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of his scepter.” Esther 5:2 (ESV)
Show me your ways,O LORD,teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Kathy, Danvers, MA
Philippians 2:12 NIV
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
Sloan, Atlanta
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4 (NIV)
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect”
I Cor 15:10 NIV
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) Twyla McAmis, Cleveland,Tennessee
Kelly, CA
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” Ephesians 3:17-18
Rachel, Suwanee, GA
Psalm 46:6-7 NIV
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3
Tara Spears, Chandler, AZ
Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 NLT
Misty – Calhoun, GA
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV