What's your standard?

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5 NIV

Ever wonder what your standard is? Everyone has standards ~ things they expect, and rely on yet.... sometimes I think we settle for the safe middle road. It's easy to expect others to reach your standards for them; although they may not be able to.

Standard (noun): an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc.:

Sometimes, we have too high of standards for people and this often can include ourselves. If one is a perfectionist ~ they often feel defeated because they can't reach their own standard, and sadly no one in their own little world (spouse, children, friends, etc) can either. This leads to many broken relationships or in the least strained relationships. Many times we would like to think we have high standards for ourselves, yet... we do barely enough to get by.

Yesterday I began to share how it's time to stop looking at the world to see how to live. This is just another step. Is your standard valued more by the world, or the Word? Do you use the world to compare your "normal requirement" or do you look to those in your authority line that God has purposely placed to see what your standard should be? Saints in your church, your husband, your boss, those are all your authority. ( Unless your a man reading this ~ obviously you won't have a husband!) There are so many times I start to get this I have to be better in what I do to be valued, and it really is just a lie from Satan himself. Don't get me wrong, my husband IS happy when the laundry is done, house is cleaned, food is prepared but... he doesn't enjoy these things when I go above and beyond. It isn't what his focus is, and would most likely enjoy it if I took that energy that I spend making things "perfect" and spend it on him. What husband wouldn't? There are times at work, I become so focused on our center as a whole that my standard becomes worldly. I see mistakes and get frustrated and yet.... they truly have NOTHING to do with me, nor are even a reflection of who I am as a teacher, a person, or believer. My directors are most happy with me and my work when I am focused solely on the things in my control ~ my own classroom. I would normally say I am "fixer". I try to fix things/situation/people all the while there are things in own realm that I COULD be fixing ~ yet am so consumed with the other that the obvious remains lacking. Construed, crooked, and a little off course I would say.

I am being stretched, challenged, and encouraged by the Holy Spirit to dig in, and become much less worldly in my thinking, the way I handle situations, and even my standards ~ and look to the Word of God for the direction in which I should go. Too often I run to people and bounce off my thoughts onto them looking for advice, but really... (finally!!!) I am learning it's best to simply give it to God Almighty, go the Word of God, and allow HIM to lead me and guide me in that situation. Why? Because even if I am careful not to have a worldly point of view, even a well meaning person can easily sway the thought life. Not saying it is their fault, but .. at what point do we just accept personal responsibility and remove all areas that could lead to projection. See, I could go to well meaning friend and share my heart and listen to their advice/suggestions. If I was to continue to fail, or the situation wouldnt' be fixed I could easily turn and blame them. THAT is called projection ~ and I no longer have that desire. I will NOT blame someone else for the way something is happening. I just won't do it.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8 NIV

So, again, I ask. What is your standard? Are you going the world or the Word?