Do Not Lean on Your Own Understanding
The title listed above can be found in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” NASB This passage has been explained by some in this way, “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 cannot trust anyone – not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than even we are! 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 neither should we 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 then follow God’s leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you.”
Over the years I have made plans and thought I had everything all planned out, and I did. But, I have also found by eliminating or excluding God in the decision making I really failed myself. Case in point: In December of 2008 I accepted the appointment as CMA Ohio State Coordinator to start on January 1, 2009. It was an exciting time and I thought in 20 years I’ll be ready to step aside. As I have continued to grow in the Lord I have also found I need to “Listen” to the Lord as well as “Live” for the Lord. Then, when the Lord “Speaks” I not only need to listen but I need to allow what God has spoken to me about to be a guide to me, or, in other words, I need to act upon what God has revealed to me.
Every year since accepting the position of CMA Ohio State Coordinator God has renewed our “Call” to be in that position and in the ministry of CMA. At the completion of 2018 we will have served 10 years as CMA Ohio State Coordinator. That’s 10 years short of my goal. But, we believe God has spoken by not renewing that call on our lives.
Effective the end of December 2018, 10 years short of my personal goal, we will be stepping down as CMA Ohio State Coordinators. God has prepared, CMA Board of Directors have unanimously approved a couple to become our CMA Ohio State Coordinators. That is Rex & Mary Gilbert.
Granted Becky & I go into this season of change with mixed emotions. But, we do not own this ministry called CMA. We are servants of the most-high God and we believe God’s plans are better than our plans. We believe He has “Spoken” and we must “Listen” and we must respond to His “Call”. With all that said, please welcome Rex & Mary Gilbert as our CMA Ohio State Coordinators.
GR (Jerry) Niver
CMA Ohio State Coordinator
