Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

When a person’s self-worth or success hinges on the achievement of a
goal which can be blocked or which is uncertain or impossible, how will
he respond to those who frustrate his goals? Often he will attempt to
control or manipulate the people or circumstances who stand between him
and his success.

For example, a pastor’s goal is to have the finest youth ministry in
the community. But one of his board members blocks his goal by insisting
that a music ministry is more important. Every attempt by the pastor to
hire a youth pastor is vetoed by the influential board member who wants
to hire a music director first. The pastor wrongly perceives that his
sense of worth and success in ministry is on the line. So he shifts into
a power mode to push the stumbling block out of the way. He looks for a
way to change the opposition’s mind or remove him from the board because
he believes that his success in ministry is dependent on reaching his
goal of a great youth ministry.

A mother believes that her self-worth is dependent on her children
behaving in a certain way. Her goal is to raise perfect little
Christians who will become pastors or missionaries. But as the children
reach their teen years and begin to express their independence, their
behavior doesn’t always match their mother’s ideal. So instead of
helping them grow through adolescence and releasing them into adulthood,
she tries to control them.

It is not hard to understand why people try to control others. They
believe that their worth is dependent on other people and circumstances.
This is a false belief as evidenced by the fact that the most insecure
people you will ever meet are manipulators and controllers of others.
But people who are secure in their identity in Christ don’t need to
control others. Their goal is to be the leader, spouse, parent or
employee that God wants them to be because nothing can keep them from
being what God wants them to be but themselves.

Lord, I affirm that my worth is based on my relationship with You
and that I am free to become the person You want me to be.

This daily devotional is published and distributed by
http://www.GOSHEN.net/ . It is written by Neil Anderson at
http://www.freedominchrist.com/ .