What if you are an athiest & don't believe in God & His words? Are you not controlled by God if you become athiest?

The answer is 3 modes of material nature. The modes of goodness, passion and ignorance drive those who don't take shelter of the Lord. What we consider as our thoughts, likes, gut feelings, desires that are arising out of our mind are a reflection of the combination of the modes of nature we are associating with. So it's not us but the provocation of the modes within us. We don't have to react to these provocation.

Mind predominantly reflects the modes that we into. These modes are binding us and covering our real need & love. All the emotions in relationships, attachment to people places things are all from these dirty modes. So in any case we are controlled either by the Lord directly or indirectly by His material nature.