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.
Adrienne
Jasper, TN
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Ruth, Odin, IL
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
-Romans 8:16 (NIV84)
Metamora, IL
Isaiah 52:7, NIV
“How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Tammy smith
Grayson la.
Zephaniah 3.17
The Lord your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saved , he will take great delight in you ; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing .
Lori, Bushnell, Fl But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV)
Alice from Ooltewah, TN “so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb, you taught me wisdom in that secret place.” Psalm 51:4(b) – 6 (working on Psalm 51).
Shelly from Corpus Christi Texas
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing
John 15:5 (ESV)
Bekah
Minneapolis, MN
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19 NIV)
Brenda, Greenville SC
Eph:3:14 NIV
For this reason, I kneel before the Father.
Jennifer Smith, Sydney Australia.“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing…But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.” John15:5-8 MSG
Anne Acker, Johnson City, TN
Psalm 63:7 (ESV)
For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings, I will sing for joy.
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 NLT
Claire in Boone, NC
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Zec. 9:12 ESV
Denise Wilkin
The Woodlands, Texas
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
Christina Brown
Louisville, KY
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 3:17 ESV
Orlando, Fl.
Ephesians 2:8 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Melissa Briggs, Brandon, Mississipp “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b NIV
Belinda Smith, Smithfield, NC
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Romans 8:29 NASB
For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:37 (NLV)
Valerie Boise ID
Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many days as we have seen trouble.
Psalm 90:15 NIV
Laura Han Tyler, TX
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
Dallas
Helotes, Tx
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. (John 20:30 NLT)
Heather Hanna, Anna, TX
Romans 5:8 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love usowus in this: while we were si,ners, Christ died for us.
Devina, San Angelo TX for the Word of the Lord is right and true. He is faithful in all He does. Psalms 33:4 NIV
Jane from Calgary, Alberta. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
Louisville. being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
Madison, MS
Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Psalms 25:4 NKJV
Tracy, Westminster Md, 2 Tim 2:15 NIV, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Anne Lewis, Simpsonville,SC “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” Ephesians 3:18 NLT
Ruth from Belleville, IL
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19 NASB
Michelle
Winchester, VA
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.”
Lamentations 3:22 NLT
Dale – Palm Desert, CA – “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 1:8
Tonsy Cheek Connersville, IN
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
Titus 1:9 KJV
Ginger ~ Shelby Twp., MI ~ Proverbs 8:34 (NIV) ~ Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
Romans 4:17b NIV
“He is our Father in the sight of God, in whom he believed — the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they are.”
Christa, Denver, CO
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 ESV
Jennifer Duchscherer, Rosemount, MN. I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. Acts 2:25
Judy Hildebrant, Salem, Oregon
You men, likewise, be subject to elders, and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
I Peter 5:5 NASB
Chris, Seattle, WA
Deuteronomy 32:3 NIV
I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. Proverbs 13:4 NLT
Danielle, Wolcottville, IN
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV
Malinda Hiles, Hurst, TX
“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
LaRonda,from Arlington, Tx,
Give,and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 NIV
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Be joyful always, pray continually.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Kathy
Chattanooga TN
Jenni Thomas
Tionesta PA
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1. NIV
Anna Elkhart IN
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4
Leah Kirksey, Camden, Arkansas
“Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” Job 8:7 NKJV
Dawn Doty
Tijeras, NM
Isaiah 55:9 NLT
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Lisa from The Woodlands, TX
Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from The Lord.
Acts 3:19 niv
Charlotte Keifer, Houston, Tx, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,” Ephesians 3:14 ESV