40-Day Sugar Fast

If you were to ask me if I lost weight while I was doing the 40-day Sugar Fast, I would not lie, I lost 10 pounds. Yes! Bonus! However, that was not the main purpose of the Fast. I “GAINED” so much more. The goal of my fast, was to help me see food (sugar, carbs) in a different light. It wasn’t until I did my fast that I realized how food can act in a way that only God can satisfy. I’m learning to “ingest the love of God” rather than turn to sugar for a snack.

“Fasting is merely denying yourself something temporary and ordinary in order to experience the One who is eternally extraordinary.”

It’s a shift in perspective from just reaching out for a snack when in reality, I just need to hear a word from scripture to replace that ‘snacky feeling’ and be filled by God’s word. I remember one day, I was texting my Sister telling her that I felt like snacking! I just wanted something salty, … like chips! And in that moment, I wrote “quick, ask the Lord for a scripture passage for me because I am craving!” Out of all the times I texted her when I felt a craving, this one word stood out, James 5:17,

“Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.”

I took this passage to heart. If God answered the prayers of Elijah, then he could do it for me.  I prayed earnestly to the Lord and the craving, snacky feeling was gone! Thank you Jesus! I am able to turn to the Lord in these moments (not to say that I snack all day :). I didn’t use to go to the Lord. When I feel snacky, I would just go and eat. And sometimes when I reach out for food, it’s simply because I am feeling bored or even nervous. But today ‘snacky’ has a new feeling of how I can go deeper with the Lord in the smallest ways. I am not perfect at it yet but, I can detect when boredom, for instance, creeps in my heart, and I can be quicker to turn to the Lord who wants me to know that there are so many opportunities for me to include him in my day. Really, it’s not about the food. The Fast has opened my eyes to see how personal God wants to be with me and how I want to be with him. It’s so surreal and yet so simple how I can include God in such a tangible way.

Every day I read and pondered on a scripture passage and a reflection. I was able to take these words to heart and sit with the Lord. This was the moment I needed every day to soak in God’s presence and receive his love and allow His words to mold my heart. I would like to share with you one of the scripture passages and my own reflection from one of the day’s reflection.

Day 14 focused on Psalm 139:13,

“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

This passage led me to speak to the Lord from my heart, “You know me better than anyone else, Lord. You created me in your image. You know my desires, my needs, my struggles. Please forgive me for the times I give into temptation. You, the One who made my being, who knit me together in my mother’s womb, are the only one able to fill me. You fulfill my desire to be loved in this world. Let your words speak to my heart and let me feel your loving presence. I need you, I thirst for you – lead me to your living water, so that I may be filled.”

Once again, I realized that God is the only One who can satisfy me. I can try to fulfill my desires and needs with food or online games (no judging please) or other earthly things but instead God wants me to crave Him, need Him and to long for Him.

Only His living water and His Word can fill my heart with love and a feeling that I am satisfied (I am ‘full’). I need to be filled by God’s love every day.

One way to understand why it seems I may be repeating myself is to experience this Sugar Fast yourself. You can join us in journeying together in this Fast throughout Lent!