Originally inspired by leadership meeting notes, 2014 | Revised for today
Whether in business, ministry, or personal life—standards matter.
We often say what we believe, but it’s our actions that confirm whether those beliefs are truly rooted or just rehearsed. If your walk doesn’t line up with your talk, it’s not a standard—it’s just a suggestion you haven’t lived out yet.
A truth I was reminded of years ago during a church leadership meeting still holds firm today:
👉🏾 Don’t compromise to keep anything.
That includes titles, relationships, opportunities, or even the comfort of the familiar.
Why? Because compromise—at least the negative kind—is often rooted in fear.
Fear of loss.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of discomfort.
But faith? Faith requires consistency. It calls for bold obedience, not convenience.
When the squeeze is on—what do you do?
Pressure reveals what’s really inside of us. And when emotions rise, especially the ones not rooted in truth, we have a choice to make.
Feelings not based on truth must be ignored.
They may feel real in the moment, but they aren’t reliable enough to lead your decisions.
Before rushing to adjust expectations or processes, here’s a loving reminder for all of us:
✳️ Master the existing standard before you try to change it.
Sometimes the breakthrough is not in rewriting the rule—it’s in faithfully walking it out.
Self-Check: Are Your Standards Working?
- Do your standards actually exist, or are they just ideas you revisit when things go wrong?
- Are they effective in guiding your growth and decision-making?
- Are they written down or visible to those who do life with you?
- Are you living them out—daily, weekly, monthly?
- Are they still relevant for this season?
As leaders, believers, and people committed to growth—standards aren’t limitations. They’re anchors.
They hold us steady when life shifts. They help us love, lead, and serve from a place of integrity.
So today, I challenge you: take inventory. Revisit your standards.
Refine them if necessary. But most importantly—live them.
Scripture Reflection:
“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.” —Matthew 5:37 (NIV)
Have you revisited your standards lately? Let’s talk about it. Share your thoughts by tagging me @LelaJFagan. Let’s grow together—on purpose.
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
