Well, I survived Day 1 of my Sugar Fast. I know, I know. It was one whole day. And I promise I won’t blog on this topic every day for the next 40 days, but I did want to say a few things tonight, as this first day is drawing to a close. Also, I’m super excited to have a few of you joining me!
I’m reading the 40-Day Sugar Fast as I attempt to turn away from sugar and turn more fully toward Jesus. As I perused the first day’s reading, here are a few things that jumped out at me:
- “It’s possible to pray and fast and read God’s Word yet remain unchanged. You have to put God’s Word into practice.” I don’t want to remain unchanged. Help me, Lord, to meditate and actually put into practice Your divine Word.
- “If Jesus truly came to set me free, why am I still running to food?” My whole adult life, I’ve struggled with running to food instead of running to Jesus. Probably even before I reached adulthood. But I never realized what I was doing because we don’t talk about this sin in the church. We gloss over it or blow it off. No more glossing over here.
- I don’t want sugar to be my go-to habit. I want Jesus to be my go-to habit.
Let me tell you a quick story that really opened my eyes to just how ingrained my sugar habit is.
Vivienne recently decided that she wanted to get her ears pierced. She had reached the grand age of 8 (the ear-piercing standard in our family), and she was ready. Our plan was to call our favorite tattoo parlor in town when they opened and get an appointment for later in the week. It was all she talked about. FOR DAYS.
I dialed the phone number just after noon and spoke to the receptionist who gave me some devastating news. Because of COVID-19, they were no longer piercing ears of children under the age of 9.
To say Vivienne was crushed would be an understatement. She was shattered. She had been looking forward to this milestone and had set her expectations in accordance with her desires. She cried and moaned and cried some more and I felt terrible for her. So guess what I did?
I offered her a piece of chocolate cake.
Even as I offered her this “treat,” I knew it was wrong. Why would I offer cake as a comfort for her uncomfortable emotions instead of just taking her in my arms and talking about her feelings? And to be fair, I did pull her into my lap and hug her and tell her that I understood how disappointed she felt. But instead of just leaving it at that, I offered her that dumb piece of cake.
And as I reflected on this choice, I realized it’s exactly what I do every single day. I run to chocolate or sugar or cookies or whatever is available anytime I’m sad or mad or upset or happy.
Food is how we celebrate. It’s how we mourn. It’s how we drown our sorrows.
But that’s gotta change.
And that’s what I’m trying to do.
Wanna join in? Grab a copy of this book and get started!
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