I have always been very fond of Jeremiah 29:11-13, and like many other people, I have always considered those verses as my life verses.

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremaih 29:11-13 ESV

As a teenager, I relished those words, especially as they related to God’s plans for me. I set my heart upon those words and tried to build my life around those words!!

As an adult, the troubles of this world have stolen from me some of my enthusiasm towards those words. You may even say that circumstances have many times caused me to doubt those words. There have been times when I have felt like I was seeking God with my whole heart, but I was not able to see Him in my circumstances.

Then, this verse popped up on my radar:

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 by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

  For the Lord your God is living among you.
      He is a mighty savior.
   He will take delight in you with gladness.
      With his love, he will calm all your fears.
   He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

The Lord your God is with you;
       the mighty One will save you.
    He will rejoice over you. 
       You will rest in his love; 
    he will sing and be joyful about you.

Zephaniah 3:17 NCV

The Lord your God is with you.
   He is a hero who saves you.
      He happily rejoices over you,
         renews you with his love,
            and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.

Zephaniah 3:17 GW

The Lord your God is with you;
      his power gives you victory.
   The Lord will take delight in you,
      and in his love he will give you new life. 
   He will sing and be joyful over you

Zephaniah 3:17 GNT

No matter how it’s translated, this verse is so comforting. To me, it shows God as a loving parent. A father who is strong and is his child’s hero. A mother who sweetly sings a lullaby over her sleepy little one with a heart bursting with love.

This is my new life verse. No matter what circumstance I am in He is strong and mighty to save. No matter how worried or fearful I am, He loves me and wants to quiet all my fears. No matter what I have done, He loves me so much that he rejoices over me with singing!!

God, what a wonderful thought it is that You delight in me and want me to rest in Your love. How life changing it is to know that You sing over me! I long for the sound of Your voice! May my voice be continually lifted to You as an offering!! I am so thankful for Your patience and steadfast love!