When You’re Being a Control Freak

Have you ever noticed yourself being a control freak? You react when things aren’t done your way with fear, anxiety, and usually anger?

Being controlling reflects a lack of trust in God and, perhaps paradoxically, a lack of self-control. Controlling people are actually being controlled – usually by fear, temptation, pride and anger. These Scriptures will help us learn how to trust God and develop true spiritual self-control.

Psalm 46:10 Easy-to-Read Version
God says, “Stop fighting and know that I am God! I am the one who defeats the nations; I am the one who controls the world.”

Matthew 5:5 Amplified Bible
“Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.”

Job 23:14 New Living Translation
So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.

Colossians 3:15 Amplified Bible
Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

2 Timothy 4:5 Easy-to-Read Version
But you should control yourself at all times. When troubles come, accept them. Do the work of telling the Good News. Do all the duties of a servant of God.

Genesis 3:16 New Living Translation
Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”

Job 15:12 Amplified Bible
“Why does your heart carry you away [allowing you to be controlled by emotion]? And why do your eyes flash [in anger or contempt]

1 Peter 4:15 Easy-to-Read Version
You may suffer, but don’t let it be because you murder, steal, make trouble, or try to control other people’s lives.

Psalm 4:4 New Living Translation
Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Psalm 141:3 Easy-to-Read Version
Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad.

Proverbs 4:23 Easy-to-Read Version
Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.

Proverbs 5:23 New Living Translation
He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Proverbs 12:16 Amplified Bible
The [arrogant] fool’s anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense], But a prudent man ignores an insult.

Proverbs 16:32 Easy-to-Read Version
It is better to be patient than to be a strong soldier. It is better to control your anger than to capture a city.

Proverbs 17:27 Amplified Bible
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words, And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).

Proverbs 19:11 New Living Translation
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

Proverbs 21:1 The Message
Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

Proverbs 25:28 Easy-to-Read Version
People who cannot control themselves are like cities without walls to protect them.

Proverbs 29:18 Easy-to-Read Version
If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God’s law will be happy.

Isaiah 41:4 Easy-to-Read Version
Who was able to make all this happen? Who controlled the lives of everyone from the beginning? I, the Lord, am the one. I was here at the beginning, and I will be here when all things are finished.

Jeremiah 10:23 Easy-to-Read Version
Lord, I know that our lives do not belong to us. We have no control over what happens.

Ezekiel 20:32 The Message
“‘What you’re secretly thinking is never going to happen. You’re thinking, “We’re going to be like everybody else, just like the other nations. We’re going to worship gods we can make and control.”

Daniel 2:21 New Living Translation
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.

Romans 6:12 Easy-to-Read Version
But don’t let sin control your life here on earth. You must not be ruled by the things your sinful self makes you want to do.

Romans 8:6 Easy-to-Read Version
If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.

1 Corinthians 9:25 Amplified Bible
Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].

1 Corinthians 10:5 Amplified Bible
Nevertheless, God was not well-pleased with most of them, for they were scattered along the ground in the wilderness [because their lack of self-control led to disobedience which led to death].

1 Corinthians 10:14 The Message
So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can.

2 Corinthians 5:14 Easy-to-Read Version
The love of Christ controls us, because we know that one person died for everyone. So all have died.

Galatians 5:19 Amplified Bible
Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),

Galatians 5:22-23 Amplified
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Colossians 1:17 Amplified Bible
And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]

Colossians 2:19 Easy-to-Read Version
They don’t keep themselves under the control of the head. Christ is the head, and the whole body depends on him. Because of Christ all the parts of the body care for each other and help each other. So the body is made stronger and held together as God causes it to grow.

Colossians 3:5 Easy-to-Read Version
So put everything evil out of your life: sexual sin, doing anything immoral, letting sinful thoughts control you, and wanting things that are wrong. And don’t keep wanting more and more for yourself, which is the same as worshiping a false god.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 Easy-to-Read Version
But we belong to the day, so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us. And the hope of salvation should be our helmet.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Amplified Bible
We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].

1 Timothy 2:15 Amplified Bible
But women will be preserved (saved) through [the pain and dangers of] the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control and discretion.

2 Timothy 1:7 Easy-to-Read Version
The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 3:3 Easy-to-Read Version
They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

2 Timothy 3:6 New Living Translation
They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.

James 1:19 Easy-to-Read Version
My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.

James 1:26 Easy-to-Read Version
You might think you are a very religious person. But if your tongue is out of control, you are fooling yourself. Your careless talk makes your offerings to God worthless.

1 Peter 1:13 Easy-to-Read Version
So prepare your minds for service. With complete self-control put all your hope in the grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ comes.

1 Peter 3:4 Amplified Bible
but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 4:7 Easy-to-Read Version
The time is near when all things will end. So keep your minds clear, and control yourselves. This will help you in your prayers.

1 Peter 4:7 Amplified Bible
The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]