God Cares About the Little Things in Your Life

Gary Keesee • November 27, 2019

We were in a really tough spot. We were struggling just to afford groceries. At that time, a commercial kept coming on TV for a local fruit farm, and one of the things they kept advertising was their homemade apple butter. (I love apple butter!) I prayed, “L ord, I  would love to go get some apple butter, but we’re going to need your help getting even the basics this month.”

Two days later, I was shocked when a woman I didn’t know from church showed up on our doorstep with several bags of groceries. God providing for our basic needs was encouraging enough. But then, I unpacked the grocery bags. I couldn’t believe it when I got to the bottom of the second bag and found a jar of apple butter from the very same fruit farm that had been advertising on TV!

I sat in shock at the goodness of God, realizing He truly cares about the little things in our lives. It may sound silly, but that one experience changed my life. —T.B., Ohio

God cares about the little things in YOUR life .

He wants you to experience His Kingdom in your life.

And He will meet you right where you are.

For me, it happened through deer hunting.

Don’t stop reading if you don’t hunt.

Because these principles apply to every area of YOUR LIFE.

It was 27 years ago or so, and I had a young family to feed. Like T.B., we were struggling. I had a job, but we had gotten ourselves in a financial pit. Extra money was nonexistent. We could barely keep our heads above water.

We knew very little about the Kingdom of God back then. Sure, we knew a lot about church and the Bible. We had even gone to a “Bible college,” and we were members in a church. In fact, I was leading worship in my church.

But I didn’t know much about the Kingdom of God.

Now, when I say “Kingdom,” I’m referring to the laws that govern the Kingdom of God; I’m referring to how it functions.

See, every kingdom operates through government and using laws. God’s Kingdom is no different; its spiritual laws can be learned and applied to your life . 

When I say I didn’t know much about the Kingdom of God, I mean I had never learned those laws or even understood that I could learn them. I still thought, like most Christians do, that God does what He does because He is God, and no one can really be sure exactly what He will do or when He will do it.

I loved God, but I was broke and busted. I couldn’t even afford to buy a postage stamp. To make matters even worse, I was sick physically and emotionally and living totally in survival mode, always looking over my shoulder waiting for the next thing to go wrong.

But God had a plan to get my attention, and it involved a small thing—one of my passions—deer hunting .

See, I used to hunt with no success. In fact, I had hunted for several seasons and came up empty-handed. But one day the Lord spoke to me and said, Why don’t you trust Me for your deer this year?

Of course, I really didn’t know what that meant, but the Lord continued. He said, I want you to sow a financial seed for that deer and, when you sow that money toward the deer, call it done according to Mark 11:24.

Now, I knew Mark 11:24 said, “THEREFORE I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND IT WILL BE YOURS.” So I wrote out a check and wrote on the bottom of it “for my buck.”

To make a long story short, that year I went out and bagged a six-point buck within just 40 minutes of being in the woods.

Of course, that caught my attention. But our minds always try to tell us that things could’ve happened by chance, like T.B. and the apple butter story.

I had to know for sure that God cares about the little things.

So the next year, I tried it again. I sowed specifically for my deer just as the Lord had instructed, and, again, I had my deer in less than 40 minutes. I did the same thing the next year with the same result. Now, I’ve been doing that—receiving my deer within 40 minutes of going out—for more than 27 years!

When I first saw this law of the Kingdom in action, I was shocked!

I knew that I had discovered something about the Kingdom of God and how it worked.

This law of the Kingdom in action proved that God cares about the little things in our lives.

Know this, friend: This principle of the Kingdom that God showed me for something “SMALL” like deer hunting, works for ANYTHING !

Using the principles that God taught us about His Kingdom, Drenda and I got completely out of debt in just a few short years, and we began to tell everyone we could about the laws of the Kingdom we were discovering.

God cares about YOU.

He wants you to experience His Kingdom in your life.

And He will meet you right where you are.

We see evidence of that throughout the Bible.

Peter is just one example.

You probably know the story. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. We don’t know how many nights he had fished and come back to shore empty-handed. But Jesus met Peter right where he was that day.

I imagine Peter was feeling pretty tired and defeated when Jesus showed up and told him to let down his nets.

That’s when something shocking happened.

Peter caught SO many fish that his nets began to break and his boat began to sink.

That’s one heck of a catch! I imagine Peter didn’t even have time to think about what was happening because the weight of so many fish was straining the nets and causing his boat to nearly sink!

Frantically, he yelled out to his partners, James and John, who were on the shore, to bring a second boat and help him. And, as they helped Peter, their own boat became so full of fish that it was in danger of sinking too!

After the men made it back to shore with the tremendous catch, they stood in front of Jesus stunned at what had just happened.

They knew what they had just experienced wasn’t normal. God was clearly involved.

God cares about the little things in your life.

That’s the moment Jesus invited them to follow Him. And the Bible says they didn’t hesitate. They left their boats and nets and followed Jesus. On their own, the night before, they had fished and caught nothing. With Jesus on the scene, they saw something incredible happen.

Jesus met them where they were, and that one experience with the Kingdom of God changed the entire direction of their lives.

It just takes one experience with the Kingdom to change your life too!

Just like God used hunting to get my attention and demonstrate the principles of the Kingdom, or a simple jar of apple butter for T.B., or an incredible catch of fish to get Peter, James, and John’s attention and demonstrate the principles of the Kingdom, He will use situations in the natural realm to get YOUR attention and demonstrate the Kingdom of God to you in a real and tangible way too .

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There is so much more I want to share with you about this.

I want to help you learn what Drenda and I learned!

That’s why I wrote my first book, Faith Hunt , years ago.

Faith Hunt includes so many remarkable stories about the principles of the Kingdom of God and the impact they had on my life. Like the time the buck I knew was mine was heading in the wrong direction, directly away from me. As I sat there helpless, watching my harvest just walk away, the Lord spoke to me and said, Tell the deer to come to you .

What happened?

You need to read the rest of the story in Faith Hunt !

Faith Hunt is for everyone, not just for hunters ! It will teach you how to apply the principles of Kingdom faith to any area of your life.

Just as our lives were completely changed by the Kingdom, yours can be too!

It’s time for you to have an experience with the Kingdom that changes your life!

Plus, we just released the brand-new Your Faith Hunt 21-day Devotional and Prayer Journal !

Your Faith Hunt is loaded with remarkable stories submitted by friends of Faith Life Now who are experiencing the Kingdom in their own lives after applying the principles they learned from our teachings.

In just a few hours of reading, you can discover what took me years and years to learn!

Request your Faith Hunt book and the Your Faith Hunt 21-day Devotional and Prayer Journal today! You’ll be amazed by how quickly you can learn to put into operation these powerful principles of faith for every area of your life.

People Don’t Know Who They Really Are

By Gary Keesee • June 2, 2025
Reading Time 4 mins 58 secs – Friend, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity lately. So many people are walking around without a clue about who they really are. They’re trying to find their identity in the world’s system, in what other people think, in how they look, in what they own—and they’re completely missing the revelation of who God created them to be. You Were Created with Intent Let me tell you something powerful: you are not here by accident! Before you were created in your mother’s womb, God knew you. He created you with intent, just like he did with Jeremiah. The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NIV) Now, I believe this isn’t just about Jeremiah. I believe every single person was created with intent by God. He designed you specifically with your uniqueness in mind. If you have more than three or four kids, you know they’re all completely different even in the same household! As they get older, you begin to see their unique bends and talents that you had nothing to do with. That’s because God made them for certain things and put His design in them. It’s sad that most people never discover this because their life of survival holds them in places they were never intended to be. Your Uniqueness Defines Your Value Anyone who collects something knows that the uniqueness of an item dictates its value. But here’s the thing. It’s YOUR uniqueness that God put there to be seen. People want to fit in because they don’t know who they really are. Getting Back to Basics When we look at 1 Corinthians 3, we see Paul dealing with this exact topic. This new church in Corinth was worldly; they had no concept yet of who they were. They were baby Christians, still in spiritual diapers, yet they wanted to be grown up. They wanted to drive the tractor, be seen, and have identity. They were jostling for position, all fighting over spiritual gifts, all trying to judge who was more spiritual. Paul had to write this letter to give them wisdom. He said: Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. —1 Corinthians 3:1–3a (NIV) Friend, we have to go back to the basics. We've got to get this thing fixed. Finding Your Place in the Body In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains how the body of Christ works. The foot can’t say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body.” It would still be a foot no matter how much it decided it wanted to be a hand. Why? Because God made it a foot. The ear can’t say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body.” It was created as an ear with a very distinct purpose. Psalm 139 tells us: You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. ... My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place... Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. —Psalm 139:13–16 (NIV) Wow! The place where you’re going to end up has already been decided. All your days have already been ordained by God for your life. What you’re going to end up doing was written in His book before you were ever created. Discovering the Mystery of You It’s sad that so many people never discover themselves. You’ll hear me say many times that God will help you unravel the mystery of you to you. The world has raised us to bounce off the mirror: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” And besides you in the mirror, there are a ton of comparisons. In Ephesians 4:11–13, we learn that Jesus gave the church five ministry offices: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Their purpose is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith.” Here’s what’s important. These offices are not something you pick like a job opportunity. Jesus calls people to these offices. I know when I was called. I remember that day when I had the open vision and God spoke to me saying, “I’m calling you to preach My Word” three times. Standing in Your Place For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. —Romans 12:4–8 (NIV) I was obedient to what God called me to do. I am no better than you. I am just standing in the place God told me to stand. You need to stand in the place God told you to stand. If all of us stand in the right place, the body will function, and great things will happen. That’s only going to happen when you understand that your function is needed. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s by revelation, and you’re doing it as unto the Lord. Friend, it’s a great journey discovering who God created you to be. Don’t try to be someone else. Be exactly who God made you to be.

You Have a Mission: Understanding Your God-Given Purpose

By Gary Keesee • May 12, 2025
Reading Time 6 mins 30 secs – I’m constantly asked the same question as I travel around the country speaking to people: “Gary, what am I supposed to do with my life? What’s my purpose?” But I’m going to tell you something right now. That’s actually the wrong question to start with. See, before we can talk about what you’re supposed to do, we need to establish who you are . We live in a world that evaluates people by what they do, not who they are. That’s completely backward from God’s perspective! This broken thinking started back in the Garden when Adam lost his identity and purpose and became a survivalist. The Earth Curse System We Grew Up In God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.” —Genesis 3:17b–19a (NIV) I call this the “painful toil and sweat earth curse system.” That’s the system you and I grew up in. It creates a survivalist mentality instead of an assignment mentality. What’s the first question people ask in this system? “Where’s the money? Where’s the provision?” Adam had an original assignment—to represent God’s Kingdom on Earth and take care of God’s stuff. But he abandoned that created purpose and became a survivalist. And friend, we’ve all inherited that perverted view of life. We Need to Fix Your Identity First Now, here’s the thing. We have no business talking about your assignment or purpose until we get your identity fixed. Why? Because anything God has for you to do will be bigger than you! It’ll take more money than you have and more people than you know. It’ll take faith in God’s grace. As Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Our identity has been warped. Just like Adam covered himself with fig leaves, we try to cover ourselves with wealth, position, and the pride of life. We don’t want people to know the real us because we fear shame. The Prodigal Son’s Identity Crisis In Luke 15:11–24, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son. This is really a picture of what happened to Adam—leaving Father’s house full of provision and going to a place he thought was better, only to find it bankrupt. For the first time, this son had to be “hired.” Previously, he worked with his father in the family business. But then he had to take on an assignment that was disgusting to Jews—feeding pigs. He was totally out of position. When he finally came to his senses and returned home, what did he say? Luke 15:21 (NIV) tells us: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” He wanted to be made like one of his father’s hired servants. He didn’t understand who he really was! And even though the father restored him as a son, he carried this “I am not worthy” concept with him. Friend, this is what happens to us! When you feel unworthy, what do you want to do? Perform! You want to earn respect. You want people to acknowledge you’re worthy. And you perform for God. Even though we’re born again, even though we’re in Father’s house, we carry this survival mindset into our new life. And unless that is fixed, you’ll never be able to receive freely from God. Your Real Identity in Christ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. —Romans 8:28–29a (NIV) You’re a coheir with Christ—part of the family! What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? —Romans 8:31 (NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. —Romans 8:37 (NIV) Those are powerful statements, but it’s problematic because most people aren’t confident that God is actually for them. Religion has taught you that you’re nothing but a worm crawling in the dust. But that’s not what the Bible says! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” —2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. —Romans 6:6–7 (NIV) You’re not a measly sinner who can’t stop sinning. You’re free from sin! Created with Divine Intent The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NIV) I believe this applies to every person. Before you were created in your mother’s womb, God created you with intent. You’re not here by accident! If you have multiple children, you know they’re all different, even in the same household. Why? Because God made them for certain things and put His design in them. Unfortunately, most people never discover that because their life of survival holds them in places they were never intended to be at. You are extremely unique! So why is everyone trying to be like everyone else? Because no one knows who they really are. Your Unique Function in the Body For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. —Romans 12:4–5 (NIV) I’m not a pastor because I chose to be. I was obedient to what God said. And I’m no better than you are. I’m just standing in the place God told me to stand. You need to stand in the place God told you to stand. If all of us stand in the right place, the body will function and great things will happen! But that’s only going to happen when you understand that your function is needed. Ready for Your Mission? So, friend, before you ask what you’re supposed to do, make sure you know who you are in Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. —1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) Until you’re absolutely convinced of your identity, we don’t need to be talking about facing your Goliath. Your Goliath knows who he is. You have to know who you are! Your purpose isn’t a career choice. It comes by revelation. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. —Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. —Psalm 139:16 (NIV) Only the Creator knows why something was built. Only God knows exactly why He created you and what He designed you to accomplish. Are you ready to discover your true mission? It starts with understanding your real identity in Christ. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:14 (NIV) When you do, you’ll stop trying to survive and start thriving in your God-given purpose! Remember John 10:10b (NIV) where Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Are You Taking Care of God’s Business?

By Gary Keesee • April 14, 2025
Reading Time 3 mins 8 secs – Let me ask you something. Are you truly concerned about God’s business? Or are you more focused on your own? That might be a tough question, but it’s one we all have to answer at some point. The truth is, when we align our lives with God’s agenda, everything else begins to fall into place. Jesus made it clear in Luke 2:49 (NKJV) when He said, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He was focused. He understood that His life was about fulfilling a divine purpose, not just going through the motions of everyday existence. And guess what? The same applies to you and me. God’s Business First A lot of people are trying to build their own lives, solve their own problems, and make their own way—only to end up frustrated, tired, and lacking. But Matthew 6:33 (NIV) gives us a powerful principle: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” That means if we take care of God’s business, He’ll take care of ours. I’ve seen this firsthand in my own life and in the lives of countless others. When we align our time, energy, and resources with what God is doing, He ensures that we never lack what we need. Provision follows purpose. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) reminds us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” When we prioritize His business, He supplies all we need. What Does It Mean to Be About God’s Business? Being about God’s business isn’t just about working in ministry. It means bringing Kingdom principles into everything we do—our careers, our families, our finances, and even our daily conversations. It means: Using your talents and skills to make an impact for God’s Kingdom : “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23, NIV). Handling your finances according to His Word, not just worldly wisdom : “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9–10, NIV). Being led by the Holy Spirit in decision-making, rather than reacting to circumstances : “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14, NIV). Viewing your work as a mission field, wherever you are. Stepping into Your Kingdom Assignment Too often, people are waiting for God to bless them before they take action. But that’s backward! When you step into your Kingdom assignment—when you take that step of faith and prioritize what God is doing—then provision, opportunities, and success start flowing your way. That’s how the Kingdom works. James 2:17b (NIV) tells us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” God has called you to make a difference, to live with purpose, and to operate in the blessings of the Kingdom. But it starts with a choice: Will you focus on His business, or will you continue trying to figure things out on your own? Make the Shift Today If you’ve been struggling, feeling stuck, or wondering why things aren’t working, take a moment to check your focus. Are you aligned with God’s business? Are you seeking His Kingdom first? Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) encourages us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” When you trust Him and put Him first, He will lead you to success. I challenge you today: Make the shift. Start putting God’s agenda before your own, and watch how He transforms every area of your life. His business is the best business to be in! Let’s go after it together! Watch the full message here: Are You Concerned About God's Business?