I wonder what makes a summer night so serene.

I think sitting on a porch opens the evening to a place where good memories have been made. Where families sit after a meal together, or maybe you sit in a swing and look at the stars reflecting on God’s goodness and mercy. The sun has gone down, and you seem to forget how the heat was bearing down earlier. It’s a time of day and a place you want to unwind and close everything down, where dates were kissed goodnight, and casual, easy conversations still happen.  

Even if it’s a little muggy, the night sounds—it’s cicadas around here—lull you into relaxing your mind, and before you know it, it’s 10 pm and you’ve forgotten most of your problems, including the 24-hour news cycle that keeps us on the illusion and stressful feeling of immediacy. A beautiful summer night can make us forget that the world is coming apart at the seams and help renew our minds back to focusing on what is real . . . the good life the Lord has given us.

It’s the perfect time to step away from the fever pitch and overheated political frenzy we are all watching outside our windows. If you love God and want more of Him and His Word in your life, there is plenty of common ground to find here. Messages like Brother Nobles gave Sunday night lift us out of our small (and carnal) lives and pull us into something much bigger and brighter offering hope and peace that we need now more than ever.

If you live in this world, but are not of this world, we relate. Sunday night was more than just a good service. It gave us a song to take through the week—one of peace that the Lord has given us a good life. Share this post with a friend who is searching for a better life.

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In case you missed it, in his message Sunday night, Brother Nobles asked for scriptures about being blessed. He added a caveat. Don’t look up the word blessed for the purpose of using those scriptures simply because they contain that specific word. The ministry did not disappoint.

Tell Me You’re Blessed Without Using the Word Blessed

Not going to lie. Brother Shepard brought a scripture selection that was as tight as you get. The passages were inspiring, demonstrated the power of spiritual resilience, and reinforced what Brother Nobles started the service with as he preached that no matter what we are facing, it’s a good life the Lord has given us. We even sang the song. Although turmoil may have been happening and it looked like people were in peril and extreme situations that seemed impossible . . . the scriptures we are sharing reflected a place we all wanted to step into.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Had Our Complete Attention

Don’t we love it? Once you read it, you’ll keep coming back to this passage, seeing again and again how in the middle of destruction or desecration, God can turn things around—suddenly.

There was cohesion in the scriptures speaking to what a good life is and how we can have peace, despite what is going on around us or in our lives. We serve a God bigger than all those circumstances, and Brother Nobles reminded us of the spiritual capacity we have through Him to not only endure, but to also have peace while we wait for God to answer.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Verse 17 sounds dark and bleak by any natural standards.

But hold on. A turnaround is coming in the next verse!

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Only in the Land of Goshen Where the Children of Israel Were

In Exodus 9, the first three plagues affected God’s people, too.

Then something happened. God separated His people. (Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. -Exodus 9:26)

When things are not good, rejoice. That is the good life I have. It’s coming back around, and it’s coming around better. When it is dark in Egypt, it’s light in here. When hailstones are falling over there, it’s clear over here. Whether you have one hundred dollars or one penny—you know God will take care of you. You have the same joy either way.

Brother Nobles

The Battles You Will Fight

Don’t complain. It will overwhelm your spirit.

I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. 

Psalm 77:3

Don’t Covet. It’s not just good practical living advice. Covetousness is a deadly thing. It’s a sinkhole, a pit that has no bottom. It will drag you down into it.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

A Pillar That Underpins Our Victory

While we are waiting for God to help us or answer our prayer, keep serving and keep His peace in your life.

To wait on someone is to serve. Keep serving God while you wait for Him to answer. Serve Him in your youth while you have strength.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Lamentations 3:21-27

Brother Nobles said to underline this one:

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

THIS IS A GOOD LIFE!