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.
keelie Ferguson, Gunter, Texas “it will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:8 ESV
Proverbs 14:10
“Each heart knows it’s own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.”
jen b (Arlington,VA/Santa Maria, CA) PS 94:22 – but the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge (NASB)
Kay Richmond, Va
” This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Spanish – ” Mi Padre es glorificado cuando ustedes dan mucho fruto y muestran asi que son mis discipulos.”
John 15:8 NIV
Tina from Pendleton, In
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? NIV
“then the word of the Lord came to me,” Jer. 18:5 KJV
He said, Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? Declares the Lord. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so you are in my hand, Israel. Jer. 18:6
Shanen Pankrez, Grapevine, TX
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
Psalm 19:16, NIV
Clifton, VA (NIV)
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with his love; He will rejoice over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:-17
“In him and through him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
Ephesians 3:12 NIV
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Kimberly Balles Rolling Meadows, IL
God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:8 NIV
Jessica Solid, Atlanta GA
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me. (Is. 45:5/ NIV)
Memorized April 18th.
Lissa, Greenville, SC
He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
Psalm 103:7 NLT
Isaiah 44:3 NKJV I will pour out My Spirit on your
offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.
Stephanie; Fort Worth, TX;
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God
Ephesians 2:8 ESV
Jennifer
Fort Worth, TX
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled
Matthew 5:6
Lauren
Fort Worth, TX
If someone says, ” I love God” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we can’t see?
I John 4:20 NLT
Sherry, Jay, OK
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 1 Timothy 6:18 (NASB)
Sara Langone, Santa Fe, NM ” I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV
“Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart and soul”
1 Chronicles 22:19
Gayla
Georgia
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
2 John 8 NIV
Lisa
Hendersonville, TN
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV
Tera Ferguson
Gardendale, Alabama
2 Timothy 3:17 NIV
so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Jena
Ruston, LA
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Psalm 139:8 NIV
Dawn Ferguson, Peoria, AZ
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again : Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Philippians 4:4-8 (NIV)
Catasauqua, PA
She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future
Proverbs 31: 25
Stacey, Tomball Psalm 25:3
No one whose hope is in who will ever be put to shame
but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Stephanie B.
Augusta, GA
Gal 5: 22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.
Mindy H, West Lafayette, IN : Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always endures. I Cor 13:7 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
Davina Denny, Novato, CA The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8
Laura Willard, Cedar Park, TX
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15 ESV
Bonnie O’Shields, Dacusville, SC
An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:8 HCSB
Heather Hoch Pflugerville, TX
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:17 (NASB)
Lisa
Hendersonville, TN
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,nor any other powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39. NIV
Dawn, Beavercreek, OH
“Commit everything you do to the Lord and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause to shine like the noonday sun.”
Psalm 37:5,6 (NLT)
Debbie
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
Psalm 139:23 NIV
DLynn Miracle; Argyle, TX
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:5 ESV
Crystal & Reese psalm 84:8, NLT
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
Tammie Head, Houston, TX. “For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.” 2 Peter 1:8, NET
Kirby Ray, Parsons,KS. “For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.” I Timothy 6:7 NIV
Lerato Thelejane Johannesburg
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; – Philippians 4:6 NKJV
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:8 Life Application NIV
“But he gives more grace. Wherefore he said, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.”
James 4:6
Susan Jezek, St. Petersburg, Florida
“That is not the way you learned Christ!”
Ephesians 4:20 NRSV (thanks, Beth – this one ministered to me this week)