Guest post by Jeanette Andrade.
July 9 Scripture Selection: Luke 14:1-14
Food for Thought: Luke 14:8-11
It’s a dog-eat-dog-world, and most everyone is out to take care of “number one” to try to get to the top regardless of what it takes. That is the world’s way, but the Lord has another way to bring success which is always completely different and produces inner peace instead of the consequences of ruthless ambition. God uses ways that wouldn’t make sense to the worldly wise. (“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty,” I Cor. 1:27.) That’s why it requires faith and trusting in His plan.
God wants to be the One Who sees to it that you have favor with Him and man. He wants to be the One Who takes you high. If you elbow your way to the top, then there is little satisfaction in that and there are casualties along the way. However, if you let the Lord do it, you will know that you were led to higher levels by Him, not by your own abilities or cunning alone. Anyone from the world can do that, and they take the glory for themselves. But when the Lord does it, He gets all the glory and you get the peace and joy.
All we are asked is to do everything as unto Him for His glory (Col. 3:17, 23) and consider others more important than ourselves (Rom. 12:3, 10). We are promised that if we humble ourselves, then the Lord would see to it that we be exalted (Luke 14:11). I Peter 5:6 reiterates this concept and promises good results in due time.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Prov. 16:26; much of ch. 16 deals with this subject).” Man has his way of doing things, but God’s ways are infinitely better. Praise God, He sent us His Word and His Spirit to lead us up to higher levels in every facet of life so that we can avoid the pitfalls that those who live without him experience. He’s always for life, and life in abundance (John 10:10), but we need to do it His way—which starts with humility.
Digging Deeper (What scriptures can further enhance today’s reading?):
Getting Personal (What has God shown you in today’s reading?):
Confession of Faith (Example: Lord, based on Mat. 1:21 and 23, I understand that Jesus is God, and I receive Him as my personal Lord and Savior.):
Important Events on This Day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.):
suyts space 
This is a hard scripture for those who wish to be exalted. But, I’m here to tell you this is easy for us megalomaniacs. Simply proclaim that you are a child of God. Know, and understand that Jesus died for your failures, and proclaim this also. Lastly, proclaim that you are human, given to failure, but through a higher power, Jesus Christ, you are made whole.
Thank you and thank you.