The morning after I submitted my first blog post, I went to church for a Freedom Encounter. While I was there, the pastor shared his own phone charger analogy, and I knew what my next post needed to be about.

That moment was more than a coincidence. It felt like confirmation. And just like that, I had my next topic: Charging with counterfeits.

(If you haven’t read my first post yet, be sure to check it out. https://thewholetemple.blog/2025/05/03/why-im-choosing-to-heal-my-body-soul-and-spirit-together/ )

The pastor talked about counterfeit chargers, how they might seem to work, but over time they damage the phone. Even while you’re using them, they don’t charge as efficiently. That really hit me because it made me pause and ask, What have I been using as a charger?

Let’s be clear: if you’re alive and breathing, you’re charging from something.

We often think about the obvious things like drugs, alcohol, or toxic relationships. But we also need to pay attention to the little things. The subtle habits. The everyday choices. The things that seem harmless.

Ask yourself:

What is charging me right now?

When I have a bad day, what do I turn to?

When I’m overwhelmed, where do I find comfort?

When I’m alone, where do I find peace?

Sometimes it’s scrolling on our phones. Venting to a friend. Binge-watching a show. Meditating. Enjoying comfort food after a long day. 

And let me be clear. I’m not saying you can’t enjoy the things you love. I believe God created us with joy in mind. This isn’t about guilt or cutting out everything that brings happiness.

It’s about a mindset shift.

It’s about recognizing where our true joy, peace, and comfort are meant to come from. Because when we start turning to other things first, they begin to replace God as our source. And over time, they just don’t hold up. Like a counterfeit charger, they stop working, and eventually, they leave us even more depleted than before.

Only God is the real source.

Only He restores.

Only He truly satisfies.

Only He charges us fully — body, soul, and spirit.

So today, take a moment to check your connection.

Are you using God as your charger or something just pretending to be?