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.
Tamara, Austin, TX
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name
Ephesians 3:14-15. NIV
Nicole, Brentwood, CA
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”
Romans 8:31-32 NLT
Karin
Medina, MN
“His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5
Shawn in AZ
Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; NKJV
Angelia J. Poole, Charlotte, NC
“That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Philemon 1:6 (NKJV)
Please pray for us. “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:5
Jennifer Cochran, Sealy, TX
“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! (1 Samuel 12:16 NIV)
Terri Chase, La Mesa CA: Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always. 1 Chron 16:11
Julie Richardson, Grand Rapids, MI
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.—Galatians 1:10 NIV
Debbie
I Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)- “…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Shelly Verley, Apache Junction, AZ
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11 NASB
Ally, Tedrow, Spokane, WA
“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3: 13-14 NKJV
Jennifer, Topeka, Kansas
“You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought from afar off”
Psalms 139:2 NKJV
Mildred, Montserrar
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)M
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have preserved my life. Psalm 119:93 NIV
Bobbiejo Grimes Louisville,Ky
“But when the Helper comes,
Whom I shall send to you from
the Father,the Spirit of truth
Who proceeds from the Father.He
will testify of me and you also
will bear witness, because you have
been with Me from the beginning.
John 15:26 NKJV
Kathy
Albuquerque, NM
Psalm 71:14-15 NIV
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
Mary Kay Williams
Redding, CA
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.
I Corinthians 6:19. NIV
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, Ephesians 3:17 NIV
Gail Lobenthal Bloomington, Indiana
Romans 12:18 KJV
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Yancey Bradley, savannah Ga
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17 NIV)
Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position (2Peter3:17 NIV)
Hallie George Trenton FL “Teach me to do Thy will, For Thou art my God; Let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10 NASB
Reeder
Auburn, AL
Proverbs 3:6 (AMP)
In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
Donna Banks from Franklin, TN
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”
Isaiah 40:29 (ESV)
Melissa G. Raymore MO
“Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares you.”
1 Peter 5:7 CEB
Joshua 1:9New International Version (NIV)
9 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.”
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12 HCSB
Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12: 11c-12
ESV
Magan Lewis, Lakeway, Texas
But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi
as you know
we had boldness in our God
to declare to you the gospel of God
in the midst of much conflict. (1 Thess 2:2 ESV)
Galatians 3:13 ESV
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
“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 and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
Kristi Law, Midland, Texas
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from is. (NIV)
Karen: Souderton PA.
Galations 5: 22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (23)gentleness and self control. Against such things there is not law.
Kathy, Bryant AR:
Blessed are you, O Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?
He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
and you will trample down their high places.
Deuteronomy 33:29
Valerie ~ Shawnee, OK
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2 KJV
” But seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ( NAS Matthew 6:33)
Alicia Casady, Columbia, MO
I am behind so I am posting both April verses here. 🙂
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30, NIV
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6, NIV
Deanna – Oklahoma City, OK
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25 ESV
Becky Bigbie. Highland Village, Tx
The Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 3:15. NLV
Sorry totally forgot!
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)
I need prayer in my treatment of my 3 year old daughter. Thank you.
Bethany S.
Modesto, CA
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
Heather Evans, Bryan, TX.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:29(NIV)
Jenn Danhof Marana, AZ
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Jan Hixson, Fayetteville,Arkansas
Psalm 103:2 NASB
Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits.
Oakhurst CA “The heavens proclaim the glory of God, the skies display his craftsmanship.” NLT
Denise, Arkansas
“yet i will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Hab. 3:18 NIV
Boerne, TX
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:9-10
Phil 2:13 (HCSB)– For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose”