It’s like you hear nails on a chalkboard in your mind. You just absolutely HAVE TO get your way in this one area.
You become so tense.
Stressed.
Worried.
Frantic even at the slightest signal that things might not be going the way you want them to.
So you hustle and you work hard toward your goal, toward the thing you want, but it seems so far away, seems like it’ll never happen and you start to lose hope.
You feel like you’re in a cage, frantically trying to get out, with no end in sight.
The other day, I saw a big, ugly spider and I couldn’t kill him right away so I trapped him in a glass cup. 🫣😆
I was walking around barefoot, no shoe to slap him with and it was the fastest thing I could grab to not let him get away.
But then, after he was trapped, I didn’t want to open the cup to kill him. I was afraid he’d get away, run too fast. It just freaked me out.
I watched as he ran and ran and ran around the rim of that cup for hours.
I thought surely he’d give up, take a break, rest, but he didn’t. Even 12 hours later, he was still running around, now climbing up the walls of the cup, trying to find a way out.
A day later, still running around and I thought to myself, “Man, is he ever gonna give up so I can kill him? I want to make sure he doesn’t get away too fast.”
It took a few days. He ended up making a spider web inside the cup! 😮 Weird, right?!
But all the time he was running around, frantically trying to escape, I thought about how it’s just like us.
We get trapped by all sorts of things from time to time and then we get frantic and stressed because we don’t know what’s happening. Something caught us off guard, we don’t know what WILL happen.
I don’t wanna be trapped.
I don’t wanna live my life in a trapped way, and yet, control is a trap. We just don’t see it.
Trying to control the situation robs us of our joy, our peace, our security.
When things go wrong, we’ve placed our trust in the situation, in what we see with our physical eyes, and not in our Redeemer, who HAS everything under control and is IN full control at all times.
I get it, it’s tough. You want your way and you’re hanging on for dear life, but for the believer, it doesn’t have to be that way.
You CAN have peace, comfort, joy, and stability as you learn to trust in your Savior to take care of things, learning to rest in His perfect and sovereign will.
It’s not easy at all, but these 30 days of prayers for the controlling mom will greatly help as you learn to rely on Jesus Christ and less on the situation you’re facing. ❤️
30 Days Of Prayers For The Controlling Mom
To stop feeling the need to control things, it starts with prayer and I’m walking through this with you right now too as I struggle to align my thoughts to my Lord and Savior. Let Him help both of us. 🥰🙏
Join me in prayer as we find the peace, stability, and control we need from God instead of from trying to do everything ourselves and leaning on our own understanding of the situation (Proverbs 3:5).
First things first. Say a quick prayer to God, telling Him that you WANT to change this in you. That you want to have His peace, peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), peace that helps you feel FREE of the burden and weight of trying to control the situation and to give everything over to Him (1 Peter 5:7). Telling Him that you want to change this inside of you is half the battle because we cannot change ourselves and He has the power to do it! 🙌
He changes our hearts as we seek to line them up to Him. It’s a work of the Holy Spirit within us. We cannot do this on our own, we need His help to change. Tell Him you want to. That you want to be better and line your trust up with Him.
Then each day, take one at a time and really meditate on the Bible and pray over each idea (or do them all in one day, however you want to do it). 😊 Let His words wash over you as you seek Him more and more. Let Him comfort your soul in a way you’ve never been comforted before and find refuge in the rock of your Savior.
Day 1: Control is Not Always Bad
Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the gift of control. I know that some people see it as a burden, but I see it as a blessing. It is a blessing because it allows me to take charge and be in charge when needed (for example, the single mom). But I also know that there are times when my need to be in control gets out of hand. That is why I am here today, Lord. I need Your help. I need to learn how to let go and let You take charge. Help me to find the balance between being in control and letting go.
Day 2: Finding Our Faith and Trust in God
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with the need to be in control. There are so many things happening in my life right now that are beyond my control and it is driving me crazy! I feel like I am holding onto everything so tightly, but it is all slipping through my fingers. Even though I am trying my absolute best, it doesn’t seem good enough. Lord, I know that I cannot control everything, but I also know that I need to find a way to let go of these things that I’m clinging to so hard and to find my faith and trust in You and You alone. Help me to do that, Lord.
Day 3: Learning to Let Go
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with letting go of my need to control things. I know that I need to trust You and let You take charge, but it is so hard for me to do that! As a single mom, I feel like I am always the one in charge, continually trying to get things done and I don’t know how to let go. Help me to trust You, Lord. Help me to remember how you’ve never failed me and to trust fully in your sovereign will. Help me to let go of the need to be in control all the time and to let You take care of me.
Day 4: He Holds Our Hand
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with trusting You with control. I know that I need to let go and trust You with the things that are outside of my control, but it is so hard for me to do that! I feel like I need to be in control of the situation because when I’m not, I feel powerless and like I’m going to fall. But you are always there, holding my hand through it all (Psalm 37:24). Help me to trust You more, Lord. Help me to let go of the need to be in control and to let You work in the situation.
Day 5: Giving Up the Need to Control
Dear Lord, I am giving up my need to control to You. I know that I need to trust You more and let You take charge. I want so desperately to let go of the need to be in control all the time, but it’s a scary place to be. I am trusting You, Lord. Help me to trust You more and more each day. Help me to be pleasing in Your sight, a fragrant aroma, well-pleasing to You.
Day 6: Letting God Do the Work of the Spirit
Dear Lord, I know that I need to stop controlling every detail of my life and give it all to You, casting my cares upon You. I don’t need to be in charge of everything all the time. I need to let You do the work of the spirit in my heart and in my life, whatever shall come. It is exhausting to always want to control the situation and it is not healthy for me. I want to let go of the need to control every detail. I am trusting You, Lord, to take care of the details that I cannot control and to walk with me through this tough situation.
Day 7: Learning to Relax
Dear Lord, I know that I need to relax and let go. I don’t need to be in charge of everything all the time. I need to let You take care of me and work in the situation. To leave everything at Your feet and trust that You’ll take very well care of everything. It is exhausting for me to try to uphold everything by myself and it is not healthy for me. It leads to many physical problems caused by stress and anxiety, so today, I am letting go of the need to control everything. I am trusting You, Lord, to take care of everything.
Day 8: Opening Our Clenched Fists
Dear Lord, I know that I need to let go of the need to be in control, that I need to find my peace, rest, and assurance in You and You alone. Knowing that You will take care of things in Your precious time and for Your precious will. It is not healthy for me to try to uphold everything all the time; it weighs on me physically and I want so desperately to open my clenched fist holding onto what I cannot control. I am trusting You, Lord, to take care of the things that need to be taken care of.
Day 9: Moving Forward in Faith
Dear Lord, we can do nothing apart from you (John 15:5), so my need to control things is so vastly futile. I understand that I don’t need to be in control all the time. That I can let go and trust You to take care of things. That Your sovereign will, WILL be accomplished (Job 42:2). I hold onto that treasure in my heart as I move forward today in faith and not in fear.
Day 10: I Surrender All
Dear Lord, I know that I need to surrender all to Your control. I can’t do everything on my own. I need You. So today, I am surrendering to Your will, giving absolutely everything over to You that I am so worried and stressed about. I am trusting You, Lord, to take care of the things that are beyond my control, doing my absolute best and leaving the rest up to You.
Day 11: Submitting to His Will
Dear Lord, I know that I need to let You be in control. I can’t do everything on my own and I don’t really want to even try to. I need You. Today, I am letting You be in control again, giving you full reigns to do with me whatever You’d like to do with me, knowing that You are a good God, that you love me and have my best interest at heart (Romans 8:28). I fully submit to Your will, whatever it shall be and am trusting You, Lord, to take care of everything that I cannot do on my own, believing that You will.
Day 12: Relinquishing Control
Dear Lord, I know that You are in full control and that Your will is good and pleasing. I struggle with faith, knowing the right thing to do but being unable to bring my heart to do it. I need Your help, Lord. I realize that I cannot give everything to You in my own power, of my own accord (John 15:5), but that I need Your help to be able to relinquish that control to You. Please help me, dear Lord. Help me to be able to give all things over to Your charge and feel at peace in doing so, knowing that You will take care of things how you want them to turn out and that my trying to control things is only a waste of time, because Your good and glorious will, WILL happen, whether I try to control things or not.
Day 13: Remembering His Faithfulness
Dear Lord, today I am remembering Your faithfulness. How You brought me through many deep and turmoilous waters. How You’ve cared for me, fed me, kept me alive, taken good care of me and met all my needs. How I’ve watched You care and have deep concern for others, also bringing them through their pain and trouble as well victoriously. Surely the God Who loves us so deeply, Who died for us on the cross, would not just leave us or abandon us when we are trying so very hard to line our hearts, lives, and spirit up to Yours. So today, Lord, I ask that You do just that. Line my heart up to Yours, help me to walk in Your precepts and know that I am within Your will. Guide me, shepherd me, align my thoughts up to Yours, that I may live for You, all the more abundantly, pleasing You in all areas of my life. Lord, this I pray for Your sake.
Day 14: He is Our Great Shepherd
Dear Lord, You are my great Shepherd, the Rock in which I stand. I can do nothing apart from you (John 15:5), nor do I want to try. I need You, Lord. I need You to care for me, I need You to help me, I need You to even breathe. I am utterly hopeless and deprived without You, Lord. I desperately seek to please You, to be found faithful before You and yet my need to control the situation gets in the way. Please help me to abolish that desire to have things go my way and to trust more in Your sovereignty and care over my life.
Day 15: Life’s a Rollercoaster
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with the need to be in control all the time and it’s making my emotions go up and down. I feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster and I can’t get off. One minute I am happy and everything is great and the next minute I am angry or upset about something. Lord, I know that I cannot control everything, but I need to find a way to deal with things in a healthy way. Help me to do that today, Lord.
Day 16: Purify My Words
Dear Lord, I need to be more in control of my words. I seem to say things without thinking about them first and later regret it. I know that my words can hurt people, even if I don’t mean them to. Lord, help me to find a way to control my words, so that I can use them for good and not for harm. Let me be quiet when the time is to be quiet and not try to control every situation, thinking I need to always say something or do something to appease the situation, but letting You work in it instead.
Day 17: Quiet My Thoughts
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with the need to be in control of my thoughts. I seem to have a running commentary going on in my head all the time and it is driving me crazy! I know that I cannot control absolutely everything around me and it’s messing with my mind. I see problems that aren’t really there and it’s making me think ugly thoughts against my loved ones. I need to find a way to quiet my mind and let go of all these thoughts that plague me. Help me to do that today, Lord. Help me to let it all go and to simply trust in You.
Day 18: Leaving Everything At the Feet of Jesus
Dear Lord, help me to surrender control. I feel like I am holding on so tightly to everything in my life, but it is all slipping through my fingers. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot gain traction and I feel like I’m falling. Help me to know Your precious will, Lord. Help me to accept it. Help me to find peace in it, knowing that it’s for my best (Romans 8:28). I know that I cannot control everything, and I need You to help me let go. Help me to leave everything at Your feet and to trust You more.
Day 19: Letting Go in Our Time
Dear Lord, I feel like I need to be in control of my time. I feel like there is never enough time in the day and I am always rushed. Because of that, I try to control the whole day hour by hour without anyone else chipping in to help. As if I can do it better. But I know that I cannot control time and my way isn’t always the best way. Help me let go of rushing through the day and trying to control time.
Day 20: Accepting Interuptions
Dear Lord, I feel like I am always rushing around right now and never have any time for myself, to just breathe. Even though I make sure I have covered every inch of my schedule, there’s always something that pops up unexpectedly lately and seems to derail me. I know that I cannot control when things like this happen, when they are beyond my control, and I need to accept things as they are sometimes and let go. Help me to do that, Lord. Please help me to show more patience to others when things don’t go as planned.
Day 21: Our Money is Not Our Own
Dear Lord, I am always worrying about money and I feel the need to be the master money handler in my marriage. I flip out when my husband or children make the slightest expense, especially when we can afford it. It’s only because I didn’t sign off on it that makes me upset about it. Help me let go of being a control freak about money with my loved ones. On one hand, it’s okay to manage money responsibly, but on the other hand, I should not peck at each little expense my family does. Help me let go of this anger and controlling feeling about money. Help to me let go of the daily worry and fear that it could all disappear overnight and to trust in You, more than I do in my bank account.
Day 22: Micromanaging Life
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with the need to always be in control with every decision at home. I feel like I am always trying to control everything around the house, micromanaging, and it is just too much for me to handle and I feel like I’m making everyone miserable. I know that I cannot control my life nor the lives of my loved ones. Please help me to let go of the need to micromanage things and to trust fully in You. Help me to do that and to be more faithful to You, Lord.
Day 23: Letting Go of Anger
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with the need to let go of every little nuance that pops up. It angers me, and then I let this anger resonate in my heart. I seem to get angry at the drop of a hat with everyone right now and it is causing problems in my relationships. Lord, help me to find a way to control my anger and hurt feelings so that I can use it as a positive force and not a negative one.
Day 24: Hope, Optimism, and Courage
Dear Lord, today I am struggling with the need to let go and let things just be. I know that You have a plan for me and that everything happens for a reason, but it’s so hard to see past the here and now sometimes. All I can think about is how much easier things would be if X, Y, or Z hadn’t happened. But I know that I need to trust in You and have faith that everything will work out in the end and that You are walking through all this with me right now. So, dear Lord, please help me to let go of the past and move forward into the future with hope, optimism, and courage.
Day 25: Make My Paths Smooth
Dear Lord, it seems like every time I turn around, there is something new that I need to deal with, and it’s just getting to be too much for me to handle. I know that You are always with me and that You will never leave me or forsake me, but sometimes I just need a little break. Please make my paths smooth, Lord, and help me to remember that You are in full control and that I can trust You with everything. Give me the strength to let go of what is beyond my control and to focus on what is important each and every day. Thank You for always being there for me, even when I don’t realize it.
Day 26: Trusting Him As He Shepherds Us
Dear Lord, I know that You are in control and that You have a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11), but sometimes it is hard for me to let go of the things that I am worried about. I know that You want me to trust You completely, and I am trying my best to do that. But sometimes the worry gets the best of me and I find myself fixating on the little things. Please help me to remember that You are in control and that You will take care of me. Help me to let go of the worry and trust that You will lead me in the right direction and that in the end, I’ll be exactly where You want me to be.
Day 27: Safety in the Palm of His Hand
Dear Lord, I find myself stressed and worried about so many things. I worry about my health, my family, my finances, and so many other things. But I know that You are sovereign and that You will work all things together for good (Romans 8:28). So today I ask for Your peace. Give me peace over these things and help subside my ever-wandering and stressful heart. Help me to trust in You and to let go of my worries, knowing that I’m safely in the palm of Your hand. Thank You for being a faithful God who is always in control, despite whatever is going on in my life or in the world around me.
Day 28: He Holds All Things Together
Dear Lord, I come to you today and I pray for guidance. I know that I have a tendency to be controlling and I know that it is not healthy for me or for those around me. I pray that you would help me to let go of control and to trust in you. I know that you have a good plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that you will never lead me astray as I seek to cling wholeheartedly to Your bosom. Help me to remember that when things don’t go the way I want them to, that it’s not the end of the world. Help me to rest more and to enjoy life, knowing that You are always in control, holding everything together, even when I don’t see it.
Day 29: Strength and Wisdom
Dear Lord, I come to you today, humbly asking for your help. I know I like to be in control of things, and it is something that I have been struggling with for some time. I desperately want to let go of this need to control everything and everyone around me, but it feels so hard. Just as I feel like I have it under control one day, the next I’m a mess again. Please give me the strength and wisdom to let go of this need for control once and for all. Help me to learn to trust you more, and to trust those around me. Give me the courage to take risks, even when I don’t know what the outcome will be if I feel it’s Your will. And finally, help me to remember that you are in control, not me, whether I see that or not. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer, for listening to me, for being my Friend.
Day 30: Conformed to His Image
Dear Lord, I often find myself wanting things to be a certain way and can get upset or annoyed when they are not. I know that your plan is perfect and that you are in full control at all times. That the sun has to ask You even to rise, Lord. Help me to trust You more and to let go of my need to control everything. Give me peace and patience as I wait for your perfect timing in all areas of my life and line my heart up with Yours as I wait for Your precious timing in those areas. Thank you for always being there for me, for comforting me and loving me in the midst of my pain and struggle to be conformed more and more, day by day, to Your holy image. Sanctify me, Lord.