Taking the first step in any difficult journey provokes hesitancy. The hesitance I have encountered has always come because I allowed the denial of the need for the journey to rule my thoughts. As I talk about intimacy I testify and challenge us to confront attempts to control and how those attempts are hinderances to the intimacy journey. Here are a list of a only a few of the many possible control characteristics I'll glance over:

• Control via Criticism
• Control via Ultimatums
• Control via Rewards
• Control via Unequal standards
• Control via Unforgiveness/Resentment
• Image Control
• Stuffing/ Suppressing Emotions & Pain

Unless there is courage present to tackle the mountain of control we will always distance ourselves from intimacy with God and others.