Proverbs 3:5,6 - Abiding with Jesus; Walking with Him.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov 3:5,6 (KJV)

God designed His creation to have a dependency upon Him. Even
the ordinary decisions of a day need the counsel of God, who
instructs His creation to consult Him about even the most minute details,
whether in the spiritual or secular realm. God promises to communicate
in return. The Fall itself was precipitated when man sought to live
independently of God, and this human independence continues at the heart of
sinful rebellion today. The word "acknowledge" is an expressive term
which includes not only the accumulation of learning but also the
practical and experiential action based upon one's theoretical knowledge.
[Believer's SB]

God has all knowledge and all power, and foresees and prepares
against all the troubles that come upon man as sudden emergencies. For
anyone to rely on his own understanding under such circumstances is
foolish indeed. This does not mean that a man must lay aside
intelligence and give up the power of choice. Intelligence is needed to
determine from the Word of God and from God's guiding providences what is
the divine will. [SDA Commentary]

Trust in the LORD. Commit your way to the Lord. [NIV SB]

We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is
able and wise to do what is best. [Matthew Henry Commentary]

The word "acknowledge" (3:6) means to "know." In all of the
activities and pursuits of life, God must be kept central. [New Bible
Companion]

Acknowledge. Lit., know; i.e., know God personally and be in
fellowship with Him. [Ryrie SB]

Acknowledge Him; Be ever mindful of God and serve him with a
willing and faithful heart. [NIV SB]

Abraham and his nephew, Lot, were wealthy and had vast herds of
sheep and cattle.  But because the land was not able to support them
both, and their herdsmen were quarreling with each other, they decided
to go separate ways.  Even though Abraham was older and had the
right to make first choice, he allowed Lot to choose which part of the
country to settle.
Lot could have done a number of things in response to Abraham's
generous offer.  He could have deferred to Abraham out of respect.  He
could have asked Abraham's advice.  He could have taken time to think
it over, or consult with God.  Instead, he impulsively chose the
fertile plains of the Jordan River for himself (Gen.13:11) and sealed
his fate.  By pitching his tents near Sodom, Lot came into contact
with more trouble and more evil then he was prepared to handle.  He
eventually fell captive to the king of Elam, and Abraham had to go and
rescue him.
Many times in our recovery we will try to choose our life
direction on our own.  We all  have the same tendency to go for the quick
fix, the first thing that looks good, without taking time to consider
our motives, our past history, and the potential consequences.
Lot's decision led him into many battles and situations that brought
him much unnecessary sorrow.  Allowing God to direct his choice
would have been much wiser.  But Lot had not learned to trust God as
Abraham had.  His human nature overcome his spiritual desire to believe
in God's loving direction.
Our downfall comes when we fail to draw strength and wisdom from
God and consult him when making choices.  He wants to be there for
us, to guide and direct us - if we will only let him.  [Barbara
Stephens; Life Recovery Devotional SB]

This expression "God's guidance," or "God's will," is really
quite confusing. It seems so far removed from selling insurance,
cleaning house, or taking me dog to the vet for his shot. It seems to
imply being constantly ecstatic over "finding Jesus," or living on
Cloud Nine without interruption. I suppose this could be part of it.
But so many Christians, new and old alike, drape so much glamorous
ecclesiastical jargon around it, that it gives the impression of being for an
elite few "spiritual" or "saintly" people. That would leave out most
of us, wouldn't it, God? . . . Jesus told His disciples that He was
going away and would send someone to carry on for Him. This one would
be a Comforter, a Helper, to remind and to guide. He wasn't
supposed to guide us in all things, how would we know when He was guiding
and when He wasn't?
It occurs to me that if I'm tuned in to You, Jesus, I'm guided
in everything I do. It could include simple things at the office,
housework, even answering the presumptuous ring of the telephone to give
some lonely forgotten soul a bit of myself.
After a lot of trial and error, God, I think I've learned
something about Your will in my life. And the key is so simple. So often I
have stubbornly knocked and banged my head against a door of decision
or opportunity I wanted to push open. And so often nothing
happened. The door just wouldn't budge. At other times when You and I were
tuned in to the same channel, I barely touched the latch, and the door
swung open. Everything poured out: happinesses, opportunities for
creativity, spiritual presents, deeper relationships with friends, and, when
the timing was right, a chance to share Your love with someone....
Your guidance kind of snowballs, God, from relying on You for dozens
of little actions and decisions, we learn to seek Your guidance in
times of big events, even tragedies, in our lives. Gradually we begin
to rely on You in everything we do, no matter how insignificant.
(From Snuggles of a Sinner-Saint by Lucille Lavender) [Inspirational
SB]

God has many ways of directing.  He directs by obstacles place
across the way which I cannot overcome, and which drive me into a new
way.  He directs by clearing the obstacles away, which I thought
could not be moved.  He directs by delay, keeping me waiting long
after I have heard His call to service.  He directs by immediateness,
flinging me out into a new position, wherein I must seek His guidance...
I state these contradictory things in order to throw you back upon
this profound conviction; not from me nor from any man, must you take
your rule of His direction.  You must discover the rule for yourself
in immediate relationship with Him.  [G. Campbell Morgan; The
Westminster Pulpit; Spirit Filled Life Devotional SB]

Dear Child,
I watch you laboring and fretting and anxiously striving to
achieve things for me and my kingdom.  Hear me.  Your work is not my
primary concern.  Your work is now, has always been, and always will be
secondary to your relationship with me.
What you do will flow out of your relationship with me as
irrigation streams flow out of a deep, clear, powerful river.  The river
(the relationship) will set your motives and supply your strength.
Then your work will flow forth to honor me.  Any time you allow your
work to come ahead of your relationship with me, you risk working
against me and my purposes.
Draw near to me and rest.  Seek my will at every small turn.
Listen for my voice.  Be filled with my Spirit.  Then work with joy and
abandon! The Source of your power, God [PostCards from Heaven by Claire
Cloninger]

Begin, continue, and end every work, purpose, and device, with
God. Earnestly pray for his direction at the commencement; look for
his continual support in the progress; and so begin and continue
that all may terminate in his glory: (Adam Clarke Commentary)

It is our responsibility to place ourselves in the Lord's hands,
through surrender, through study of His Word, through fellowship with
Him in prayer, through uniting ourselves with others who are
like-minded, [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]

Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something,
resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an
important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can't trust
anyone-not even God. But God knows what is best for us. And he knows even
better than we do what we really want. We must trust him completely in
every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle
our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own
ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own
eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by
God's Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer,
use the Bible as your guide, and follow God's leading. He will make
your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you. [Life
Application SB]

When we want God's direction, there are no halfway measures.
There will be times when we slip back, stumble and sin. These times
grow fewer as we seek and gain His direction. Progress comes when we
place our full confidence, our will and intellect, in the Lord.  Does
this mean God wants us to stop thinking, stop being individuals,
become a robot? God forbid!  He doesn't expect us to short circuit our
own mind.  He just tells us not to go to that understanding with the
wrong assumptions.  It is simple.  Place your confidence in God,
wholly, on a matter. (To do so, you will have to pray and search His
Word to find out what it has to say on that matter.) This is putting
our thoughts before the Lord and His Word. As we do this, He will
give us the direction we need.  Decide today to pay due respect to
God in all that is done.  He will direct decisions, judgments, and
actions.  And we can count on growing in our walk with Him. [In His Time;
Walk With Wisdom]

"Never, never, NEVER trust your own judgment in anything.  When
common sense says that a course is right, lift your heart to God, for
the path of faith and the path of blessing may be in a direction
completely opposite to that which you call common sense.  When voices tell
you that action is urgent, that something must be done immediately,
refer everything to the tribunal of heaven.  Then if you are still in
doubt, dare to stand still.  If you are called on to act and you have
not time to pray, don't act.  If you are called on to move in a
certain direction and cannot wait until you have peace with God about
it, don't move.  Be strong enough and brave enough to dare to stand
and wait on God, for none of them that wait on Him shall ever be
ashamed.  That is the only way to outmatch the devil."  Alan Redpath,
Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua, pp. 142,3

In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point,
we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that
prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must
acknowledge him with submission. [Matthew Henry Commentary]

I'm convinced that enjoyment is the ultimate stage of knowledge.
 When we set out to learn the basic truths of an intellectual
discipline, we are confounded by all we don't know.  Little by little, we
become more secure in ideas and theories.  Then one day, we suddenly
realize that we have captured the subject and know how to use our
knowledge....
Enjoyment of our faith grows in the same way.  In the beginning,
God seems distant and aloof.  Biblical and theological terms are
like a foreign language.  Our prayers are strained and shallow....
And then, with touch of the Father's hand, we discover how much He
loves us and wants us to know Him personally.  Secondary theories
about Him are replaced by an intimate relationship with Him.  None of
our awe and adoration is lost as we begin to enjoy Him...
Enjoying God is really a vital expression of glorifying Him.
The glory of God is the manifestation and revelation of all that He
is as Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Lord of all.  We glorify
Him when we worship Him for His lovingkindness, goodness, and
mercifulness.  Our worship becomes intimate when we joyfully experience God's
nature and attributes.  From that joy springs our desire to glorify Him
by serving Him.  Our faithful obedience becomes an enjoyable
response.  [Lloyd Ogilvie; Time With God SB]