The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re talking about how we talk. The words we say to one another, especially to our spouse and to our family, have a tremendous impact.  Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life is in the power of the tongue.” What we say to the people closest to us matters. Let me encourage you today to be an encourager.

Parenting. It’s a challenging, worry-inducing job. But it’s not one you’re left to do alone. In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re talking about the power of a praying parent. May the story of Jairus in Mark chapter 5 remind you that God hears the prayers of parents because our kids were his before they were ours. 

For many of us, mid-August means summer is coming to a close. We’re planning for back-to-school or fall work projects. As we prepare to resume busier schedules and stricter routines, we’re going to spend the next few weeks on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast talking about God’s plan for home and family. More outside demands for our time and attention makes now a great time to remember that...

In the last episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we focused on the father of the prodigal son. Today we’re looking at the older brother, the responsible one who stayed home and did what was expected, and honored his family. Jesus included the older brother character to remind us we don’t decide who’s in and who’s out. The father recognized his son, even when he stumbled toward him,...

Today on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast we’re continuing our study of Luke 15. Most of us know the story of the prodigal son – the boy who rebelled and left home. But just as central to the story is the father who eagerly awaited his return. If your heart needs a reminder of God’s passionate love for you, I pray this episode encourages you. 

In the next few weeks on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re going to look at some of Jesus’ most well-known teaching – the Lost and Found parables in the gospel of Luke. Think about how disappointing or discouraging it is to lose something important to you. Now think about how happy and relieved you are when you find it. What do you do? You celebrate, right? If you rejoice when a preci...

Today on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re spending another week in Matthew chapter 6, studying what Jesus has to say about stuff. Our world is full of stuff; it’s part of life. Most of us like our stuff, and that’s ok. The Bible doesn’t tell us we can’t enjoy possessions, but it does offer some guidance about how those possessions fit into our lives. How can we own things without thi...

Today on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast we’re talking about one of the most profound parts of a life of faith: prayer. When Jesus taught about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, he emphasized simplicity and humility. If you’ve ever struggled with how to approach God in prayer or wondered if He hears you, this message is for you.

Would you like to worry less? Maybe even not worry at all? It’s possible! The past several weeks on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast we’ve been talking about receiving the love of God, about drinking deeply from his well of love so that we can love and serve others. Receiving God’s love means trusting in what he offers, and, according to Scripture, he offers you a worry-free life. I pray th...

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re taking a look at the promise Paul shares in Romans chapter 8: that nothing, no bad circumstance or bad decision, can separate us from the love of Christ. May you, like Paul, be convinced of that promise. 

Not much in life stays the same. We change, our friends change, and the world around us changes. But not God; God doesn’t change. It’s foundational to his character – he’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.    In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word podcast, I encourage you to anchor yourself to God’s unwavering strength and unchanging love and trust he will hold...

Today on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word podcast, we’re exploring the profound depth of God’s love. My prayer for you as you listen echoes Paul in Ephesians chapter 3: “And may you have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullne...

Do you remember when you had to go inside the gas station and pay the attendant to put gas in your car? In this week's episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word podcast, I share a story about the transition to “pay the pump” some years ago and the lesson it brought to mind about how to fill an empty tank.  Our spiritual tanks get empty too, but God has shown us where to go to fill up. If you...

This week on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word podcast, we're going to be meditating on the words from Jesus, “Abide in me.” He says this over and over in John 15. It must be important. But what does it mean? In today’s episode, we’re looking at what means to live connected to Christ. Not just be around him or near him, but truly connected. To make him your home, to take shelter in the walls of Jesu...

This week on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word podcast, we're going to be discussing the saying, “you are what you eat.” I’m going to make a small edit for our purposes today: “you are what you drink.” And you can choose what you drink. This episode talks about one of those big church words: “sanctification.” Turning down the cups of anxiety, anger, and guilt, that show up in your life. And instead...

This week on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word podcast, we're continuing our Come Thirsty Series. You know it’s important to stay hydrated, don’t you? We’re coming up on summer, and here in South Texas, that means brutally hot days are around the corner. Down here, if you don’t drink enough water, your body will suffer. The same is true of your soul. It needs to be hydrated. Jesus does for your soul...

Moms are special, aren’t they? That's exactly what we're talking about on this week's episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast.  If you’ve ever felt cared for or protected, chances are good a mom had something to do with it. Thank God for moms.  Or maybe that doesn’t feel so true for you. On a day when many people celebrate the mom they love or the mom they love being, we know...

This week on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re beginning a series that looks at what it means to live immersed in God’s love. To allow his love to fill your dry heart and then, by his power, enable to you love those around you.   If you’ve been feeling a little thirsty lately, I pray this message quenches your soul. May you receive God’s love and trust that he will give you...

In our last few episodes of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’ve been revisiting some messages Max shared with his church based on the twenty-third Psalm. Today we’re looking at the final promise in this cherished passage: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  As he concludes his song of praise, the psalmist reminds us this place we live now is temporary, and our forev...

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re discussing some of the sweetest words in the Bible…Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. This phrase from Psalm 23 reminds us that the love of God pursues us. His love comes after us. His love follows us.  Do you believe that? I know you may not feel it every day, but do you believe it? Do you tru...

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re discussing how the last few years have revealed a lot about us. Perhaps, more than anything, we’ve learned how isolated so many people are and how lonely they feel. If this describes you, if you ever find yourself convinced that no one cares, that no one can help you, hear you, or heed your call, then Psalm 23 has some encouragem...

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re continuing our study of the twenty-third Psalm.  Do you ever have trouble sleeping? So do sheep. They, like so many of us, need their environment to be just right before they can sleep. But sheep can’t create this environment. The psalmist David knew this. He was a shepherd before he was a king. He knew sheep need help to rest. P...

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re taking a look at the twenty-third Psalm. Max shared these messages with our church in San Antonio, Texas a while back, in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when so many of us were weary and worried. But many of us are still weary and worried, aren’t we? We could use a dose of comfort and strength from this bel...

Welcome to The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast. As we study God’s word together, may our time uplift and encourage you. If you could use some hope, we pray you find it here today.   We invite you to join us as we’re taking a look at the twenty-third Psalm. Max shared these messages with his church in San Antonio, Texas a while back at a time when so many of us were weary and worried....