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.
Rock Springs, WY
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
Dee Dee Fernandina Beach, Florida
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Romans 12:14 ESV
Nicole – Wideman, AR
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26 NKJV
Susan, Atlanta, GA
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 HCSB
Linda, Longview, Tx:
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galations 6:9 NKJV
Lea Ann in Hales Corners, WI
Colossians 3:12~ “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Heather
Little Rock, AR
Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalms 55:22 NLT)
Shannon Houston, TX
Matthew 11:28 (NIV) Come to me all who are weary & burdened and I will give you rest.
College Station Tx
I had said these things to you, that in me you have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 esv
Tisha
Pilot Mtn, NC
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV84
Marsha T from Jupiter, Florida
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13
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
Teresa Collier, Jackson TN
‘For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.’
Romans 1:21
Ingrid – Oldfield, MO
Psalm 103:16 ESV
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
Lori Leija – Austin, Tx
Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
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.
Heather, Colorado Springs, CO The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Ps. 103:8
Judy Madison, Beaumont, California
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13 NASB
Karla from Katy, Texas “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
Janet from Daytona Beach
Colossians 4:5
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Stephanie, Cisco, TX Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. KJV
Jen, West Palm Beach, FL
Joshua 1:9 NIV
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (Psalms 5:3 NLT)
Kinsey M, Tulsa OK
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16(NIV)
Psalms 91:1
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the
Most High will rest in the shadow of the
AlMIGHTY.
Monica Applegate Amarillo, Texas
And I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord; and they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Jeremiah 24:7 KJV
Kitty Schlosser, Zamora 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 NIV
East Dundee, IL
Ephesians 3:17 (NKJV) “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”
Elaina from Heber Springs, AR
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its on way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Dana Goodwin Ashland, KY
And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”
Luke 18:42 NLT
Nicole Blake, Severance, CO
“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)
Nancy from Barboursville WV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
Phillipians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases him.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
Julie Fitch
Ann Arbor, MI
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Psalm 100:4 (NASB)
Kati B. Central Arkansas
Matthew 16:24 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up the cross and follow me” NIV
Maaike Veerbeek, Dordrecht, The Netherlands,Rom8:26, “En zo komt de Geest onze zwakheden te hulp,want wij weten niet wat we moeten bidden. De Geest zelf echter pleit voor ons met onuitsprekelijke verzuchtingen”, HSV
Lisa Walden – Grand Prairie Tx
2 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV
[15] So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
Inez Barnes
Hamburg Ar
Numbers 6:24 NIV
May the LORD bless you and protect you
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace
Alaina // Tyler, Tx
Deuteronomy 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.
Denise Korsmo, Amarillo,TX “But He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 KJV
Wood Stock, Ontario Canada
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NIV
Julie Gresham Jackson, MS NIV
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Plano, TX
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.”
Isaiah 54:7-8 (NIV)
Charlene
Alabaster, AL
James 4:7 (NKJV)
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Tanya Beard, Cullman, AL
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ~Eph 2:10 (NLT)
Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb. 13:16 NKJ
1 John 2:5,6 NIV
But if anyone obeys His Word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to be in Him must walk as Jesus did.
Courtney Dougan, Gainesville, GA “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Raine M., Sherman Oaks, CA
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2 NIV