The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.- Zephaniah 3:17
This verse was a favorite of my 6th grade teacher, Miss Riddle. She often used it when writing letters and notes. I think largely because of Miss Riddle, the verse ended up in my Scripture Memory box and has stuck with me for years.
Last night, after Bible Study, God spoke the Zephaniah 3:17 to me. I felt His love and grace as I reflected on the last two hours. We had a visitor and a regular and we had Church. I was so encouraged by their testimony and journey in the faith. We each shared, and before I knew it, we were leaving at 9:30. I think I could have sat all night long.
I realized when this verse came to mind that God had been singing over me all week long: Through a wonderful message in Sunday Bible Study, through my dad surprising me by having my car detailed, through the gift of lunch with a dear friend who I do not get to see enough, through Bible Study and even later in the evening when I found a gift card that I thought I had lost. God said “I love you.”
God, the Lord of Heaven, my Savior delights in me. Once again, I experienced God’s grace this week. Though I found myself ill prepared for Christmas, God had not forgotten me. His grace continues.
As you approach the New Year, be encouraged by this verse. It is a new year, but you have already been made new in Christ. He delights in each of us. Though there are days, even years, when we feel far from Him, He is never far from us.
My prayer this New Year’s Eve is that you each experience His presence as He delights in you, quiets you with His wondrous love and rejoices over you. I’m praying your ears are opened to hear his glorious singing over you. What a song it is!