counterfeits...
i'm going to venture to say that we have all dealt with counterfeits. due to recent events in my life, i've started thinking about this subject a lot...i think God's trying to get my attention. i journaled about it last night, even, something i haven't done for months because life's tended to be on the depressing side. but i'm wondering if anyone else can relate...

why is it so easy to settle for counterfeits? we do it all the time--despite your promises of love, satisfaction, fulfillment, contentment, joy, peace, etc.. help me, God, to take you at your word and not to search elsewhere!! why do we turn away what is REAL and settle for less--for the counterfeit. we're disillusioned. people offer help...God, you offer help...yet we are to caught up in our counterfeit--so comfortable, momentarily happy (not joyful, mind you)--that we continue to choose that route, hoping that our REAL friends, our REAL God will still be there when our counterfeit falters. God, help me to pursue the real deal. help me to be real. help me to speak truth to those caught in counterfeit's grip. you are faithful to do all these things. thank you for being real. for being truth. you alone bring satisfaction, REAL satisfaction--nothing/nobody else.

we can blame satan for these counterfeits. he is the one who brings the food, the relationship, the money, whatever the "drug of choice." but we're the one who continues to reach for it, and i think this turns the tables and makes us the one to blame. don't get me wrong, i believe in a forgiving God. however, when we are lazy and complacent, we can't just sit back and blame satan for our actions--or even blame God for not being there. these counterfeits DO hinder us coming into our destiny. we are hindering our freedom! sometimes (most of the time) freedom does not come without a fight, a sacrifice. what we don't see is that the fight (with a mighty God on our side) and sacrifice (small price to pay) are worth it! they are not in vain, but help us to fulfill the destiny God has for us. so often we're not willing to trade our own small thing in return for a HUGE DESTINY!! why do we give that up so easily?