Infinite Grace

Well, I'm headed to the Women of Faith Conference today. It's theme this year is "Infinite Grace". I feel like I need a little grace lately. I'm so glad I serve the God of infinite grace. He has just the right amount for me when I need it most. He's a right on time God. I praise Him this morning for knowing what I need, when I need it, and how much of it I need to make me more like Him.

I read one verse this morning. My Bible was open already. I looked up and here's the verse...

"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." Ecc. 1:2

As I searched the study notes of my Bibles to see just what this meant, this is what I come up with. Vanity is futility, which means meaningless, emptiness, nothingness, that which is futile or worthless, of no value or profit. Pursuing anything that God is not in is vanity. Whether it be money, a certain job, a baby, a Bible study, recognition, fixing a problem and not waiting on Him, etc...you name it...ANYTHING that is not of God is vanity...worthless, meaningless.
This kind of ties in with what I've been studying about in my quiet time this week. One ugly word...PRIDE. Did you know that pride is not the opposite of a low self-esteem?? Pride is the opposite of humility which means "to lower oneself, to be brought low". Beth says in the study "Living Free"...

"When we see God as He is, we automatically see ourselves as we are. Low self-esteem means I see myself as low~not because God is great, but because I have little value. Pride is self-absorption, whether we're absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. Humility is God-focused not self-focused."

I am praying for a little grace this weekend. All too much of what I've been trying to do lately has been with great vanity. I am trying to learn to do everything I do with honoring Him in mind. But to do that we need His strength and His direction.

Father, I pray for Your strength and guidance this morning. To do anything You've asked me to do, I need You. You've called me to be a wife, a mother, a teacher and to lead a Bible study just to name a few. I'm asking for Your power. To honor You will only be with Your strength. I have nothing to give that would be pleasing to You. Thank You for your grace and mercy just when I need it.