Ready to Break Free from Limiting Beliefs and Live a Better Life?

Gary Keesee • October 9, 2024

Reading Time 8 mins 34 secs –

Have you ever felt stuck?


Do you feel stuck right now?


You’re going to want to stick with me for this one. Keep reading.


Drenda once knew an elderly lady who lived through the very tough times of the Great Depression. We would often see her wearing a pair of tattered gloves. Drenda wanted to bless her, so she bought her a new pair of gloves and went to visit with her.

 

When the lady opened Drenda’s gift, she thanked her and took her over to show her something in her dresser. When she opened the top drawer, Drenda was shocked at what she saw.

 

Inside the drawer lay SIX other pairs of brand-new gloves. SIX!

 

The lady laid the pair Drenda had just given her alongside the other six pairs and closed the drawer.

 

Drenda couldn’t believe it. The lady was wearing an old, tattered pair of gloves and not using or enjoying any of those new gloves because she just couldn’t. Her mind was STUCK. Her fear of not having enough had led her to hold on to nearly everything too tightly, even if it meant having six brand-new pairs of gloves sitting in a dresser drawer. She had a wrong pattern of thinking and acting that was holding her back in life.

 

Friend, just like that pair of gloves, God wants to give YOU good gifts. He wants to promote you. He wants you to win in life.


So, what has you stuck?


What behaviors, habits, and old patterns of thinking and acting are holding you back from being the best you can be and living the life God wants for you?


  That’s way too intimidating.

 

It’s too late. I’m too old.

 

I don’t have enough money.

 

I’ve made too many mistakes.

 

I don’t have the right experience to take that on.

 

Have you said any of those things to yourself? If you’re like most people, you have. Or maybe you’ve been telling yourself that you’re too young, or too shy, or don’t have the talent, or that you just don’t have what it takes.

 

Drenda and I have both been there. Throughout my life, I’ve had all sorts of reasons not to move forward with the things God was calling me to do. In fact, at one time or another, I’ve probably told myself every one of the reasons I just gave you and more.


My ears stuck out when I was a kid. I was overweight. I was so painfully shy that I didn’t talk. In fact, I pretty much did whatever I could to avoid talking and to avoid people. Yes, I’m a pastor and a speaker, and I used to avoid people. I admit it.


I talked so rarely that when one of my teachers in high school walked by me in the hallway and heard me talking to a friend, she stopped and said, “So, you CAN talk!”


It was really bad. I played football in junior high and high school—I was a starting player—and my sisters were cheerleaders. My mother would have parties after the games, and I would hide in my room. Not only did I go through high school barely speaking to people, but also I had really poor grades. I graduated with a 1.3 grade point average. There was only one other guy who had a lower GPA than I did. I was definitely not voted most likely to succeed. 


Do I need to keep going? I have a long list of reasons I could give for why I thought I could never win in life.


But most of those reasons were really just excuses I kept giving myself because I was afraid. Like the elderly woman with the six pairs of brand-new gloves tucked away in a drawer, I was the one holding myself back with my thoughts. I was the one keeping myself from doing what I wanted to do in life. And I was the one keeping myself from doing what God had called me to do.

 

Is that you?


Of course, we sometimes need to be patient with our aspirations. But most of the time, our problem isn’t that we’re trying to move things ahead too quickly. Rather, it’s that at some point, we adapted to cope with negative situations in life and then we parked there, or we got stuck. 


The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

—2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NIV)

 

A stronghold is something you’ve believed for so long that it becomes the truth in your life. It becomes the truth even if it’s really a lie.

 

And if you allow yourself to believe a lie, it might as well be the truth.

 

Because if you believe something is too intimidating, it will be. If you believe you’re too old, or too young, or too inexperienced, then that’s exactly what you’ll project. If you believe you can’t do something, you’re probably not even going to try to do it.

 

Moses was a perfect example of this. When God called him to become a great leader, we see that Moses had allowed himself to believe lies that were clearly holding him back.

 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 

—Exodus 3:11 (NIV)


Who am I that I should take this on, God? I’m a nobody… I don’t have what it takes.


Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” 

—Exodus 4:1 (NIV)


Why would they listen to me? No one listens to me… I’m not a leader.


What’s holding you back from the promotion God is calling you to?


“It’s too late.”


Did you know Laura Ingalls Wilder was 43 years old when her daughter, Rose, encouraged her to write a memoir about her childhood? Her first attempt at writing her autobiography was rejected several times. 1, 2, 3


Determined to succeed, she spent the next several years improving it. The publishers agreed to publish her work as a fiction story for children when she was 65 years old. She finished the final book in the Little House series when she was 76.


Have you ever had a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken? In 1952, at age 65, living on his $105 a month Social Security check, Colonel Harland Sanders decided he wanted to try to sell his chicken recipe to the world. He was met with little enthusiasm. 4, 5, 6


Colonel Sanders was turned down 1,009 times before his chicken recipe was accepted by one restaurant. When he passed away at age 90, there were around 6,000 KFC locations in 48 countries. As of 2023, there were 29,900 KFC outlets in 149 countries and territories around the world. 7


“It will take too long.”


You might know that Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, but did you know that it was six years later before he managed to land a contract with IBM? And it was another five years before Microsoft went public, making Gates a multimillionaire. He became a billionaire just a year later. 8


Have you ever heard of Gladys Burrill? She completed her first marathon when she was 86 years old. At 92, she completed the Honolulu Marathon. Winners of the Honolulu Marathon usually come in under two and a half hours. It took Gladys nine hours and 53 minutes to finish the race. 9, 10


“I don’t have what it takes.”


That’s one we usually think but don’t necessarily say out loud.


I’m sure you’ve heard of Susan Boyle, right? She was 47 when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. When she took the stage, both the judges and the people in the audience rolled their eyes. Susan didn’t look the part.


As soon as Susan hit the first note, all doubts turned to awe. Not only did she receive a standing ovation from the audience, but she also got three yes votes from the judges. Susan’s first album, I Dreamed a Dream became the United Kingdom’s best-selling debut album of all time. She’s since released a total of eight albums, gone on tour, and written an autobiography. 11, 12, 13, 14


Are you getting this, friend?


You’re not stuck. It’s not too late for you. It won’t take too long. You DO have what it takes. God is on your side! He is bigger than your past. He’s bigger than your failures. He’s bigger than your shortcomings. He is always faithful. He has a plan. He knows all of the details, and He has the answers. Ask Him.


It will take faith to get unstuck and to step out into the unknown, but God wants to lead you. He’s promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And if God is for you, who can be against you?

So, get up and GO! Stay the course. Don’t stay stuck. Don’t give up hope. 

You can still live an incredible life with God—if you decide for it to be so.



Sources:

1. “15 Facts You May Not Know About Laura Ingalls Wilder,” AOP Christian Homeschooling, https://aop.com/blogs/lesson-plans/15-facts-you-may-not-know-about-laura-ingalls-wilder, March 25, 2024.

2. Catherine McHugh, “5 Facts About Laura Ingalls Wilder,” https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/laura-ingalls-wilder-biography-facts, June 11, 2020.

3. “Laura Ingalls Wilder Documentary,” https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/laura-ingalls-wilder-documentary-2/, December 25, 2014.

4. “Colonel Harland Sanders,” University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, https://uh.edu/hilton-college/About/Hospitality-Industry-Hall-of-Honor/Inductees/Colonel-Harland-Sanders%20/

5. “The Real Story of Colonel Sanders Is Far Crazier Than This Bland Inspirational Meme,” The Verge, https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/5/12096466/colonel-sanders-kfc-meme-life-story

6. J.Y. Smith, “Col. Sanders, the Fried-Chicken Gentleman, Dies,” The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/12/17/col-sanders-the-fried-chicken-gentleman-dies/64925eb3-3a20-4851-afbc-ba4fe16e9770/, December 17, 1980.

7. “Number of Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurants Worldwide from 2010 to 2013,” Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/256793/kfc-restaurants-worldwide-by-geographic-region/#:~:text=Global%20fast%20food%20chain%20KFC,year%27s%20total%20of%2027.7%20thousand, March 8, 2024.

8. Taylor Locke, “How Bill Gates’ Mom Helped Microsoft Get a Deal with IBM in 1980–and It Propelled the Company’s Huge Success,” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/05/how-bill-gates-mother-influenced-the-success-of-microsoft.html, August 6, 2020.

9. “Oldest Female Marathon Finisher: Gladys Burrill Set World Record,” https://www.worldrecordacademy.com/sports/oldest_female_marathon_finisher_Gladys_Burrill_set_world_record_102023.html, December 19, 2010.

10. “Reports & Top Finishers,” Honolulu Marathon, https://www.honolulumarathon.org/key-information/history-statistics/reports-top-10-finishers, December 8, 2024.

11. Jeannette L. Nolen, “Susan Boyle, Scottish Singer,” Encyclopedia Brittanica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-Boyle

12. Davy Leyland, “Susan Boyle - Britains Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 - Saturday 11th April,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk, April 11, 2009.

13. “Susan Boyle,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Boyle

14. https://www.susanboylemusic.com/about/#

Success That Lasts: God’s Blueprint for Your Life

By Gary Keesee • October 10, 2025
Reading Time 3 mins 42 secs – When most people hear the word success, they picture a number in a bank account, a title on a door, or applause from a crowd. Those things aren’t wrong, but they’re not the whole story. Kingdom success is the fruit of living aligned with God’s presence, God’s purpose, and God’s principles. It’s success that sticks in your family, your finances, your calling, and your soul. What God Calls “Success” The Bible defines success as prospering in what God has assigned you to do. Joshua was told to keep God’s Word front and center. You shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. —Joshua 1:8b (NIV) Success begins with alignment, not achievement. When your ways line up with His ways, outcomes change. Success Grows Where Purpose Lives You weren’t designed to drift; you were designed to steward. Deuteronomy 8:18 says God gives you the power to create wealth—not so you can worship wealth but so you can build, bless, and advance His Kingdom. Purpose answers why you’re pursuing something. When your why is right, God can trust you with more. Ask yourself: What problem has God wired me to solve? Who gets helped when I win? How does this goal move God’s purpose forward? Three Pillars of Kingdom Success Presence – Success starts by seeking God first (Matthew 6:33). In His presence, you get clarity, courage, and correction. Purpose – Your assignment sets the target. Aimless motion is not momentum. Practice – Faith works when you work the principles. Plan, sow, and act; God multiplies. Principles That Produce God’s system isn’t random. There’s a time to plant seeds and a time to harvest. If you plant the right seeds consistently, a harvest is inevitable. In Proverbs 16:3, we’re reminded to commit whatever we do to the Lord, and He will establish our plans. Think like a steward and ask, “What have I been given?”(such as time, gifts, relationships, and ideas). Manage them with excellence. Choose excellence daily and do your work heartily as for the Lord, because excellence attracts opportunity. Prioritize wisdom by reading, learning, and surrounding yourself with people who sharpen you. Guard your words; there’s power in the words you speak, so take time to intentionally speak truth. Speak words that are in line with God’s promise rather than with fear. In Luke 16:10, we’re reminded to take faith steps, because small obedient steps multiply, and the servant that is faithful with little can be trusted with much. Break the Success Killers Break the success killers by refusing comparison, which steals both joy and peace. Instead, stay focused on running your own race and celebrating progress over perfection. Avoid hurrying, because quick fixes create fragile results, while patience and process create durable success. Replace excuses like “I can’t” with the empowering mindset of “How can I, with God’s help?” Finally, reject isolation, because lone wolf living limits growth, while community, mentors, and partners in purpose accelerate you. When you consistently choose these healthier patterns, you build the resilience and clarity needed to sustain long-term success. A Weekly Success Rhythm Seek (Daily): 10–15 minutes in the Word and prayer to align your heart and hear strategy. Plan (Weekly): Review your goals and priorities to ensure alignment. Decide your top three Kingdom outcomes for the week. Sow (Consistently): Give, serve, and invest in your skills. Measure (Weekly): What moved forward? What needs adjusting? Celebrate progress, then iterate. Rest (Sabbath): Rest is not wasted time; it’s faith in action . When Progress Feels Slow Psalm 1 paints a picture: a person planted by streams, bearing fruit in season . Not every day looks like a harvest day. Some days are root days. Stay planted. Keep sowing. Harvests have a schedule, and God is never late. A Simple Prayer Father, thank You for calling me to succeed Your way. Align my heart with Your presence, clarify my purpose, and teach me to practice Your principles with diligence and joy. I commit my plans to You. Give me wisdom, clarity, and strength to steward what You’ve placed in my hands. Use my success to bless others and advance Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen. Carry This with You Success in the Kingdom isn’t a finish line; it’s a faithful life . Start where you are. Work with what you have. Obey what God says. Expect His favor. As you align with His presence, purpose, and principles, you’ll see results that last, results that outlive you, and point people to Him.

Rooted in Faith for Everyday Moments

September 5, 2025
Reading Time 2 mins 56 secs – Take a moment and think about this: faith isn’t just for the mountaintop moments. It’s for Mondays. It’s for traffic jams, unexpected bills, and the times when you’re just trying to get through the week. God never designed faith to be complicated or out of reach. He designed it to be your everyday operating system. Faith Is for Today Sometimes, we picture faith as something we have to “muster up” for significant challenges, like praying for healing, believing for a miracle, or asking for a breakthrough in a crisis. And while faith absolutely applies to those moments, it’s also for the little ones. Faith is choosing to trust God with your attitude in a tough conversation. Faith is deciding to believe He’ll provide, even when your budget looks thin. Faith is remembering you’re never alone, even when you feel overlooked. Second Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) says, “ For we live by faith, not by sight. ” Notice it doesn’t say “visit by faith” or “use faith once in a while.” It says live. Faith was always meant to be your way of life. Small Steps, Strong Roots Faith doesn’t usually grow in leaps; it grows in steps. Little, steady decisions that put your trust in God day after day. Opening your Bible instead of scrolling on your phone first thing in the morning Speaking truth over yourself when your feelings want to run the show Praying before making a decision instead of relying only on logic These may not seem dramatic, but they lay a strong foundation. And just like a tree with deep roots, your faith will keep you standing strong when storms come. God Is Faithful, Even When Life Isn’t Here’s the best part: your faith doesn’t rest on your ability to figure everything out. It rests on God’s ability to be faithful. And He is. Always. When you feel shaky, remember this: God is steady. When you feel uncertain, remember this: His promises are sure. When you feel small, remember this: faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. You don’t need giant faith for God to move. You just need real faith in a giant God. Faith That Shows Up in Action Faith isn’t just belief in your heart; it’s trust that shows up in your choices. James 2:17 says, faith without works is dead, which means faith comes alive when you act on it. That could look like forgiving when it’s hard, giving when it feels impossible, or stepping into an opportunity that scares you, but you know God is calling you to. Every time you take action in faith, you’re making a declaration: “God, I trust You more than my feelings, more than my circumstances, and more than what I see.” That kind of faith not only changes your life, but it also inspires others to believe. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that faith isn’t complicated. Teach me to live by faith in the small things and the big things. I trust You with my today, my tomorrow, and every detail of my life. Strengthen my heart and remind me that You are faithful. In Jesus’s name, amen.” Take This with You Faith isn’t a moment. It’s a mindset. It’s not about pretending life is easy. It’s about trusting God, no matter what life looks like. Friend, you don’t need to wait for a crisis to practice faith. You can start today, right where you are, with whatever you’re carrying. Take a step. Speak His Word. Trust His heart. Because faith isn’t just for the extraordinary, it’s for the everyday. And your everyday is exactly where God loves to show up.

Everyday Healing: God Cares About the Little Things

By Gary Keesee • August 15, 2025
Reading Time 2 mins 49 secs – Okay, let’s take a breath. Not everything has to be heavy, and healing doesn’t have to feel impossible or mysterious. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that God actually wants us to feel better. Yes, you included. God Cares About How You Feel We can get so used to pushing through that we forget God never designed us to live burned out, worn out, or always dealing with pain. Third John (NIV) 1:2b says, “ I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well .” God’s heart is not just that we survive life. His heart is that we thrive—spirit, soul, and body. That includes your sleep. That includes your energy. That includes your mind and your moods. Healing Isn’t Just for Emergencies Most of us wait to think about healing until something significant goes wrong. A diagnosis. A surgery. A crisis. However, healing is an integral part of your daily life as a believer. You don’t have to wait for something to fall apart to lean into God’s promises. It’s kind of like drinking water; your body needs it regularly, not just when you're dehydrated. The Word is the same. It brings strength, clarity, and peace to your health before the storm hits. You’re allowed to believe in a life where you’re not constantly recovering—you’re well. Small Shifts, Big Results Maybe you’ve been dealing with something for a while—nothing catastrophic, just something that lingers. A chronic ache. Fatigue. Brain fog. A stress habit that’s hard to shake. Can I encourage you? You don’t have to settle for “just getting by.” Start speaking life over your body. Make simple changes in faith; walk a little more, drink more water, eat a bit better, get quiet with God. Healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it happens gently. Daily. Gradually. The power of God isn’t always loud, but it’s always effective. The Best Kind of Doctor He doesn’t rush your appointment. He’s never stumped by your symptoms. And He doesn’t hand you a bill at the end. He simply says, “Come to Me.” Come tired. Come unsure. Come with your questions. And He’ll give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Yes, He heals in big, miraculous ways—but He also heals in little moments of laughter, sunlight, worship, and truth. Let’s Make This Simple Healing isn’t about performance. It’s about proximity—staying close to the Healer. So, take the pressure off today. You’re not failing if you’re still waiting. You’re not disqualified if you’ve had some doubts. You’re growing. You’re learning. And most of all, you’re loved. Let healing be a conversation you have with God, not a crisis you fear. Let it be part of your everyday life with Him, not just a 911 prayer when things feel scary. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that You care about every part of me. You know when I’m tired, hurting, anxious, or overwhelmed. Thank You for being my Healer, not just in emergencies but in the everyday. I receive Your peace and Your promises. I speak life over my body and my mind today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.” Take This with You Healing doesn’t have to feel far away or hard to reach. It’s not reserved for the super spiritual or the desperate. It’s available, it’s real, and it’s for right now. You don’t have to make it complicated. Just take one step. Open the Word, talk to God, speak life over yourself, and trust that He’s working behind the scenes. You don’t have to live in survival mode. You were made for wholeness. And friend? You’re allowed to feel better.