“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” In Romans chapter 7, verses 18 and 19, Paul perfectly describes our inner struggle. We want to live in a way that honors God, yet find ourselves mired in old temptations. And we begin to question if we ever really understood salvation at all. If this sounds familiar, hear me, friend: the grace that saved you initially is enough to sustain you eternally. 

I’m so glad you’re joining me today on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast because we’re talking about my favorite subject – grace. 

Maybe you’ve walked with God for a long time. Maybe you’re just beginning to ask questions about the Bible. No matter where you find yourself, Paul’s letter to the Romans is for you. And in the next few episodes, we’ll explore his writing about the great grace of God – what it is, why we need it, and how it changes our lives. Because it really does. It certainly changed mine.

Welcome to the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast. Maybe you’re having a busy day. Or a busy week. Or a busy decade. I can relate. There’s so much to do! We have work and kids and friends and church. If your to-do list is leaving you a bit depleted, Jesus has a word for you. “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The last few weeks on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’ve been talking about the gifts and abilities God gives each of us. Identifying and using our gifts is important, but more important is remembering our gifts aren’t about us. As Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 4, “And Christ gave gifts to people—he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God’s people. Christ gave those gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.”

Today on the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re talking about an idea that eludes so many of us – contentment. It’s hard, isn’t it? We watch our co-worker get promoted, our neighbor come home in the new car, not to mention every time we go on social media it looks like everyone else is living the good life. Friend, if you’re struggling with contentment, the story of David and Goliath—I know, not where you thought I was going with this—has some encouragement for you.

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re looking at one of the final parables recorded in the book of Matthew. In it, Jesus tells a story about a master who gives different amounts of money to his servants. But the story isn’t really about the money; it’s about how the servants used what they were given. God has given each of us unique gifts, along with an assignment to use those gifts well. And when you use your gifts to build something or teach someone, you honor the Giver. 

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we are diving into Galatians Chapter Six. There, Paul writes, “Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” In other words, only you can be you. And you can only be you. You cannot be anyone else. That is the message of today’s episode: be you, my friend, so that through you, others may see who God is.

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, I want to share with you a way to discover how your uniqueness can expand the kingdom of God and how looking back can help you move forward. 

In today’s episode of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we’re talking about knowing God’s will. The Bible has some things to say about this. And as you come to know God more, you will come to better understand his will. 

Welcome back to a new episode of The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast.  

Multiple times in his New Testament letters, Paul uses the analogy of the human body to explain unity in the church. It is a great illustration – we understand if a foot tried to be a hand or an eye tried to be an ear, the body would not work as designed. The ear is not better than the eye, rather both help us to function in and appreciate the world around us.

In this week’s episode of The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, we are looking at what Jesus has to say to someone who has grown weary with their work. Job dissatisfaction is something many, if not all, of us experience at some point. The apostle Peter did until a simple encounter with Jesus made an enormous difference in how he approached his work.