Hey everybody, Erica here with Team Lucado.

Wanted to share some exciting news with you all, Max's brand new book you were made for this moment.

Inspired by the timeless and timely story of Esther is available now wherever books are sold. Hi everybody. Max Lakato here from my home to yours.

Thanks so much for joining me for today's encouraging word.

I want to talk to you about the promise that what matters to you matters to God.

We're continuing to explore the gospel of John and the miracles of God's presence and power and promise.

I unpack these messages and miracles in a brand new book. You are never alone. You are never alone.

Did you know that you always have hope? You always have help, because you always have the presence

of our ever-present God. Today I want to share with you a word about how you matter to God

and what matters to you matters to God. Here's a story. During one of my many less than sane

seasons of life, I competed in half-iron man triathlons. The invent consists of a 1.2-mile swim,

a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. Now, why was a 50-year-old preacher? That was my age at the time,

participating in such endeavors. Well, that's what my wife kept asking me. But don't worry,

I didn't wear a speedo. During one of these events, during one of these races, I prayed the

oddest prayer of my life. Four of us had traveled to Florida for the race. One of my friends

had invited a competitor from Indiana to join us. So all told, I knew these four people,

well, three people, myself, plus three others. Now, there were at least 200 participants

whom I did not know, in a fact that, well, proved crucial to the story that I'm about to tell you. I finished the

swim, if not dead last, at least nearly dead and almost last. I mounted my bike and I began the

three-hour trek. About a third of the way into the cycling portion of the event,

I reached into the pocket of my shirt, you know, that back pocket, and I reached around to grab

some goo. Now, goo is a packet of easily eaten essential nutrients.

...