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.
Carolyn
Indianapolis, IN
Jonah 2:8 HCSB
Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love.
Elke Ingersoll – Lake Geneva, WI
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22 (NIV)
Aubrey G. Houston,TX
See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 NIV
Beverly Jackson, TN
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.” Heb. 11:1-4 HCSB
A friend loves at all times and a sister is born for a time of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 NIV
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6: 19,20 NIV
Angie Martens, Charlotte, NC
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
Psalm 40:2 (ESV)
Sheryl Hanson, Neenah, WI
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Kathy Lamastra, Paulsboro, “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Jackie Adington – Waynesburg, KY – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20 ESV)
Pat Rickman
Escondido, CA
Psa 105:4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
ESV
Dawn Moore. 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
Pamela, Mechanicsville, VA.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16 NIV
Who although being essentially one with God and in the form of God did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped and retained
Philippians 2:6 (amp)
MaryJo ~ Plainfield, IN
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 (NIV)
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.
Erin, Littleton CO:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4 NIV
Kelly, Hayden AL
Judges 16:20 NIV
He awoke from sleep and thought “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free” but he did not know that the Lord had left him
Laurie Amadeo, Quinton, Va
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” Psalm 145:17
Billie, Franklin, TN
The entire law is summed in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14 NIV
Lamentations 3:22&23
“Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
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 uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:19 NLT
Susanna Greenville, TX
just kidding–41:10—sorry!
Erin from Hickory NC
John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.
Lindsey Ehle, Kingwood, TX
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalms 20:7
NIV
Deborah E. Bell — Bridgeton, New Jersey
(6). As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Colossians 2:6 KJV
Leslie
Union,KY
Verse 8
Psalm 118:17
I shall not die, but live, and will proclaim what God has done.
(NIV)
rhonda
gilmer
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,”says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:* (NKJV)
Sarah Philpott, Siloam Springs, AR
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10,NIV)
Sharon Andreasen, Fresno, CA
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV)
Gwen Ziegler, Washington, IL. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NIV
Jeri Jacobs, Hemet, CA
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Shelley Miller, Federal Way, WA. Philippians 4:6-7 MSG
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Brenda Shaffer, Lubbock, Tx ESV
James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and keep oneself unstained by the world.”
Lisa in Little Rock- 2 My brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NRSV
Kelly B from Jefferson City, MO
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 NASB)
Magie Wolfe
Alamosa, Colorado
How precious are your thoughts about me O God!
Psalm 139:17 ESV
Beth Smyth Perth Western Australia
Zephaniah 3:17 (HCSB) “Yahweh, your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy”
Becky Frazier, Stromsburg, NE
Jude 1:22 NLT
You must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
Abby T., Ferndale, WA:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
–Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
James 5:8 NIV
“You too, be patient and stand firm, for the Lord’s coming is near.”
Emily in Puyallup, WA
Jackie UK
Ephesians 3: 18 NIV
“May have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
Paula – Fuquay Varina NC – “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)
Kari Turner
Charlottesville, VA
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. (Psalm 140:13 ESV)
DeeDee Martin
Katy, Tx
Proverbs 17:17 The Message
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
Leta- Lawrenceburg, KY
On my bed I remember You;
I think of You through the watches of the night.
(Psalm 63:6 NIV)
Susan W. Simpsonville, KY
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way: walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21
Tammy Vilonia AR
O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude (Psalms 62:8 NLT)
Linda Nelson
Shreveport, LA
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not bear fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” John 15:1-2. NIV