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.
Alisha hoschton, GA
Matthew 7:9
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Philippians 1:7 (MSG)
It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece.
Amanda, Calgary, Alberta
‘my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.’
Psalm 130:6 ESV
Angie Diemer, Battle Creek Michigan: Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33 nkjv
Christina Zottoli, New Been, NC
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
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.”
James 4:14 ESV
Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Lesley
Steamboat Springs, CO
Psalm 112:7
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to
preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Rayeanne, Round Rock, Texas
Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us; we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:1-3
Amber Anderson
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Psalm 139:2 NIV
You know when I sit and when I rise.
Brenda McGurk, Medina,Ohio
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
With thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
From Converse, IN
My verse is John 15:13-15 NASB
Greater love hath no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Jill Moss, N. Scituate, RI “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
Brenda K. Orlow – Jordan, MN
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
Arlington, TX
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthoood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderrful light.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV
Keron, Boise, Idaho
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV
Emily, Indianapolis, Indiana
Ephesians 3:16 NIV
“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.”
Agnes Romer Tulsa, OK
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; (Hebrews 12:5 NKJV)
Wanda
North Canton, Ohio
Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Luke 18:1 NIV
Melissa from Waldorf, MD
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)
Rev. 21:23 NIV
The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the Lamp.
Psalm 37:4 (NASB)
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 NIV
Jen … Fort Worth, TX
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV)
Mary, Winter Park, FL
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.
Rom 6:19 RSV
Angie W., Federal Way, WA, Ennis, MT
Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you. Joshua 3:5 ESV
Jodi
Thibodaux, La
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)
Emily from Rogersville, TN
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically!
Romans 12:11 (NLT)
Kelly, Merritt Island, FL
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[boast in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 NIV
That was a beautiful post! Thanks Diane 🙂
Kelly Snodgrass
Rogersville, TN
1 John 5:18 NLT
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
Erin Marken from Highlands Ranch, CO
Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Joel 2:13 (ESV)
Shelly
Eufaula, AL
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psalm 103:8 KJV
Terry, Odessa, FL
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5, NIV
Heidi~Lindale, Texas
Psalm 31:19 NIV
How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
Kim Amestoy
Lake Worth, Florida
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”
Galatians 5:1
Christene from London, Canada
Proverbs 22:3 NLT
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Hannah Huneycutt, Mt. Pleasant NC
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
Donna Huneycutt, Mt. Pleasant, NC
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NASB
Ginger Hawthorne, Houston, Texas
Thank you for all your prayers, I’m choosing the scripture included in your prayer request replies!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and [supplication], with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7(NIV)
Kim Bunting, Colfax, LA
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV
Linda: Reno, NV
Isaiah 12:2 ESV
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
Shannon Hoots, Greensboro, NC “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:6 NIV84
But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Ps.55:16 NIV
Jessica Bellefonte, PA
“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
Kim Williams, Colmesneil, TX
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Joni Fastnacht – Lee’s Summit, MO
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”
Ephesians 3:17 ESV
Beth from Mississippi
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Shiela Meert
Elkhart, IN
Isaiah 40:31 (NASB) “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
Sandra Engelland
Keller, TX
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matt. 5:5 (NIV)