Think about your inner-dialogue. Do you speak truth in your heart to yourself? Psalm 15:2. Is the Lord pleased with your thought-life? Psalm 19:14. Does your conversation with others build them up or leave them empty? Ephesians 4:29.

Years ago I was driving with my friend. We were talking about how the Holy Spirit moved during a prayer time we had at church. We were excitedly sharing when all of a sudden I stopped. I said to her, “Do you realize the Lord is listening to us and recording our words in a book?”

Malachi 3:16 says, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and meditate on His name.”

We either resist God’s words of instruction or we embrace them and make them our own. Our hard trials are designed to train us in His righteousness. His way of conforming us to His image, is essential for our spiritual maturity. Our strength is in the struggle.