Released as a single, Preston's "My Sweet Lord" peaked at number 90 on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 chart in February 1971 but the album failed to chart in Britain or America. Despite its lack of commercial success, "Encouraging Words" is considered by some commentators to be among the best Apple albums released by an artist other than the Beatles or one of the band members. The album was reissued in 1993 and 2010 with Preston's non-album single "All That I've Got (I'm Gonna Give It to You)" among the bonus tracks.