I have extremely high standards for myself.
Now, usually when you hear “high standards” it is referring strictly to dating relationships or whatever, but that isn’t what I’m referring to (although I have high standards in that area as well). Girls are usually like “yeah, I like have really high standards…he has to be tall, dark, and handsome”. Um, no. Allow me to elaborate.
I have begun thinking about this subject for the past year or so, asking God what HIS standards are for me. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter what I think is best for myself…because if it were left up to me, I would be doing lots of things that are not remotely productive or good for me.
I’m currently in Florida, doing my Senior internship for college. 
I’m working at this wonderful place called Seamark Ranch, which is a place for kids from families in crisis. There are 500ish acres, with horses to ride, trails to explore, gardens to eat from, farm animals to play with, ponds to fish in, and anything a kid could ever wish to grow up with. Not to mention it’s Christian, and the house parents treat these kids like they are their own kids. I’m living in a house with 9 children, and it’s been amazing to say the least.
So, what sparked this blog post was a conversation I had with two of the kids the other night. One 16 year old girl, and an 18 year old boy. We were sitting on the porch of the house, and they were asking what I was going to do for my 21st birthday, which is coming up in a couple months. My response was “something fun, that doesn’t involved alcohol”. They were SHOCKED. Like, seriously shocked. This turned into a conversation about the standards that I feel God has set before me, and why I believe He has set them. It was probably the best conversation I’ve had with any of the kids here so far, and it ended with the girl saying “I finally have a positive influence in my life!” So that was encouraging, because I was sure they thought I was out of my mind.
I’m only 20 years old, I realize I’m still a spring chicken…but I have learned many things in my short life so far. Something I’m SUPER passionate about it that if you don’t have high standards for yourself, you will settle for things far less than God intended for you. Sometimes without realizing it until much later. Now, I believe that we all have the standards the Bible clearly lays out for us, but I also believe that God gives certain people higher standards in certain areas which are specific to the calling He has placed on their lives.
Here are a few examples of high standards He has placed specific for my life:
1. No alcohol. At all. Ever.
Seems harsh, right? I mean I’m turning 21 in a couple months, and I can’t have any alcohol? When God laid this on my heart, I was a little disturbed honestly. I mean, drinking alcohol isn’t a sin….it doesn’t bother me when people drink around me, and some of it looks pretty appetizing. However, He has revealed to me more and more why this standard is set before me.
Alcoholism runs extremely thick through my family line. I have seen my family literally destroyed through alcoholism. Why would I ever even introduce myself to something that could potentially take me away from accomplishing all that God has designed for my life?
I believe my children are going to be God-loving world changers. If I drink, and keep alcohol in my house, that would be tempting to my children. What kind of example would that be for them? In high school most of my friends started drinking with alcohol by sneaking into their parents bottles kept at home. I want my house to be a safe place, that will not have the same temptations offered in the world.
I am called to have a high influence on others, specifically young people. If they see me drinking, what sets me apart from anyone else in their life? I have to live my life at a higher standard than others, in order to show them something different than what they’re already experiencing.
2. Remain debt free.
Anyone in America knows that this is REALLY hard. God spoke this to me my freshman year of college, and I was like…”really, God?” I was positive God didn’t know how much college was going to cost. I see my friends who have taken out loans for college, and they drive nice cars, always have money to do stuff, and seem to be care-free. And then there’s me. I work like a slave, never have free time, always miss all the fun things, and still have no money to show for it because my check goes immediately to school. I honestly didn’t understand why this was over my life until recently.
Being debt-free is something you have to start early in life, otherwise you spend your life trying to get out of debt, instead of just preventing yourself from going into it in the first place.
Thinking deeper about what this means, it implies that I will never buy a normal American home, or a car that is new.
However, this also implies that I can go ANYWHERE at ANYTIME. If God tells me to pick up and move to India, I can do that. I wouldn’t have to worry about selling my home, or paying off student loans. This implies I can have the life of ultimate adventure, and I’m okay with that!
What are the rewards of this? I will graduate college on May 3rd, and owe NOTHING. I won’t have to worry about paying back loans! Hooray! I will have totally paid it off through hard-work, and long hours. And because of this, I can go on the World-Race! Don’t get me wrong, working so much through school was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but like a wise staff member at my school always tells me, “it’s only for a season”.
3. Don’t date again until God brings me my husband.
People also are highly shocked when I tell them I don’t date, and I haven’t in quite a long time. Their first response is usually “you’re young, live a little”, or “you’re single?! what’s your catch?”.
I personally think dating is stupid. You give your heart to person after person, for what? To get it broken, and pile up emotional baggage that will eventually be carried to the next relationship.
I’ve done my fair share of dating though, trust me. Probably more than a 20 year old should have. Including a relationship that lasted for over 2 years. But obviously none of them ended up being my husband, so I wasn’t in God’s timing, and we both experienced hurt that wasn’t needed.
So, how will I know when God brings me my husband? Well, when I feel like if I don’t commit to him, I will be going against God’s will. When the guy pursues me wholeheartedly, because he feels like God has given him the green light, and I agree.
I also believe you can be “single”, and not have a single heart. I want to have a single heart. I want to save my body, emotions, and heart for my future husband. Some girls, including myself in the past, pass their heart around like they’re playing hot potato. I’m not about that life.
Someday, God will put the right one in front of me, and that’ll be it. I’ve just got to keep reminding myself that a good thing in the wrong time, isn’t a good thing.
Also, I’ve committed to being single until after the World Race, so you won’t see my relationship status change until at least May 2015 😉
Those are just 3. I’m sure He’ll reveal more in time.
I will never be able to accomplish these without God’s strength though. I’m weak. I like money, alcohol, and boys. I’m a normal 20 year old, just like everyone else. However, when I trust in HIM, he provides me what I need to live with high standards; with His standards.
What are yours? What is God calling you set at His feet?
God designed you for a purpose. What high standards is He calling you to?
My next thing I’m laying down, is the next year of my life. To share God’s love with many people around the world.
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