Control Freak, is That You????

     I have a very open relationship with my kids, family, and closest friends.  I want my kids, family and friends to know I'm real, make mistakes, apologize when I'm wrong, and that REAL love is calling each other out while still walking in love. Transparency and authenticity defuse pride. My kids love to tease me...actually my family and those closest to my heart love to joke around a lot.  They tease me about things I've openly admitted in the past have been issues because I am okay with joking about them.  I think their favorite is a meme they have seen on social media of the person who is freaking out because the house is a mess and company is coming over. They are fluffing and re-fluffing the pillows, vacuuming the dog to get the extra hair picked up, shouting orders to everyone, and other crazy things.  They jokingly say that this is how I get.  Slightly exaggerated but it is true to a far less extreme, or used to be. There is no question that when Momma is stressed, it's not a pretty site.....I'm working on it, nothing more I can say to that other than I'm human.
 The most stressed-out people are control freaks. Although far better than I used to be, I admit at times I fit into this category. Control actually comes out of the root of fear. The more they try to control the world, the more they realize they cannot. Life becomes a cycle of anxiety, failure; anxiety, failure; anxiety, failure. That is because we’ve allowed fear to occupy a space it wasn’t intended to. This may have happened because of a circumstance of your own doing, or a circumstance out of your control.
One of my favorite verses:
1 John 4:18, “Perfect love casts out all fear” His perfect love.  
     In most living rooms in America, there is probably a Master chair of some sort.  I picture some sort of Lazy Boy Recliner type chair, and its where the head of house is designated to sit.  When you live a life of fear, you have allowed the Spirit of Fear to occupy that Masters Chair.  That is not what God intended for our lives.  Tell it to GET OUT in the name of Jesus, but then fill it quickly.  Fill it with His perfect LOVE.  Why?  Reread the verse above. 
When you recognize Heaven has an occupied throne, you allow the Lord of that perfect love to be in control. God then calms your fears, not by removing the problem, but by revealing His divine power and presence.   Your anxiety decreases as your understanding of God increases.
With all that is going on in the world currently,
the next time you fear the future, rejoice in the Lord’s sovereignty. Rejoice in what He has accomplished. Rejoice that He is able to do what you cannot do. Fill your mind with thoughts of Him. Recall His resume of faithfulness in your life. Where others see the problems of the world and wash their hands, see those problems and bend your knees. Intentionally lift up your mind to thoughts about your King. Don’t get lost in your troubles, dare to believe that good things will happen, because you KNOW who holds the future. Examine what sustains your belief, and make sure your belief in God is founded in trusting that HE is in control.