Monday, July 21, 2014

I heard the phrase "control freak" several times last week and considered writing about that subject this week. Then yesterday in church I heard Pastor Solis share a funny story with us and that became the confirming sign I needed to write about it today. Here's Pastor Ysidro's story as I understood it: A lady who was apparently married to a control freak told him one day that she was going to church. Probably wanting to be more convincing than ever, he went to get his revolver, pointed it at her, and said: "You try to leave this house and I'll shoot you dead." She replied, "If you pull the trigger I'm going to Heaven, if you don't, I'm going to church. Anyway, goodbye." Then she blew him a kiss and walked out the door. My impression was that this lady, armed with the courage and boldness God gives his children, decided she would no longer give in to her husband's controlling ways.

Control freaks are generally perfectionists who constantly put more pressure on themselves as well as others, and battle anxiety almost on a daily basis. They have a reputation of always offering constructive criticism and sincerely believe that most people around them would be okay if they would just change a few things about themselves. The truth is they themselves need to change.

I suspect that someone who is reading this blog today is either married to one or else has a control freak who is prominent in their life. Heaven forbid that you are one yourself but if you are, I trust that you will recognize it, admit it, and seek God's help in this matter. If you even slightly suspect you may be one or if you have been labeled as one on more than one occasion, I think it is time that you take closer look at yourself. I personally believe that no person has a right to control another person's life. Not even God will do that. To be sure, He wants to lead and guide us daily, but He will never do it forcibly.

Finally, If you feel trapped or held back from succeeding because of a control freak in your life, I pray you'll take action and break away as did the lady in Pastor Solis' funny story. She at last realized that the only One we have to fear, but never as a tyrant, is God. In fact, fearing God this way is a very wise thing. Proverbs 9:10 says:The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Be free in the Lord !

Memory verse for the week: (Psalm 118:6) The Lord is on my side; I will not fear : what can man do unto me?