As a child I never had much discipline with sugar. Although, I had plenty of direction and correction from my mom for my words and actions, she didn’t understand the damage sugar had on my growing body. Don’t get me wrong, she is a good mom who made me eat my vegetables and finish my protein. . . but sugar was our constant companion.
Therefore, her habits became my habits. Sodas, packaged cinnamon rolls, and sugar fortified foods are a way of life in the Appalachian region of Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky, where we grew up.
However, she began to learn about sugar through various magazine articles that taught about the impact sugar can have on our health. One page of delicious, mouth-watering recipes followed by how to lose 10 pounds in three days were subjects we devoured time and again.
Even though we learned sugar can pack on the pounds and rot our teeth, no one really talked about the damage it does to our blood vessels.
Nor did we understand the impact sugar has on growing children. Today I can give her, and myself, a little grace as I uncover the well marketed deception of sugar we’ve fallen for over the years.
The word of the day is discipline.
Discipline is defined as punishing, training, or controlling someone for the sake of obedience or moral character. An altered definition in this case includes basic self-control. Discipline is hard to find, and even harder to keep when it comes to an addiction like sugar because we are all susceptible to it and tempted by it daily.
However, we can be encouraged knowing we are giving our bodies a rest from a deceptive substance providing a short burst of pleasure yet sneakily offering a long list of complications.
Specifically, when we consider its effects on the heart.
Scientific Fact today:
“Recent epidemiological studies have now found that the consumption of total fructose from added sugar, but not from fruits and vegetables, were associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease.”
It took many years of caring for individuals with heart disease to see this play out, but now that I take the time to read the research, sugar’s contribution is clear.
Therefore, any discipline in regard to providing sweets to others or consuming them ourselves is valuable. . . even when it’s uncomfortable.
The Bible says discipline is painful, but it trains us to be more aware, more concerned, and ready to do the right thing when we understand its purpose.
Hebrews 12:11
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Prayer:
God, it feels like punishment when we remove something that has always been a huge part of our lives. We don’t know how to act, or where to turn for a replacement because we are so conditioned by its snare. Please help us find relief from the discomfort as we train our bodies to focus on the reward of better health. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Call to Action: How has discipline trained you in the past and how can you apply it to this fasting challenge?
Digging deeper into Bible Study for 2025 Sugar Fasting-Day 3
No one likes discipline, because it usually involves deprivation of something we love to do. It takes us away from our comfort and places us in confusion. I remember talking to a group of women at the jail several years ago about discipline and trying to explain incarceration as God’s way of protecting them from themselves. They weren’t ready to accept that answer or understand it, any more than the Israelites did in Israel’s early history.
In the Bible we see God warning people to do the right thing or be ready to face the consequences. Most importantly, He always gives us a choice how to proceed.
Please read the following passage and answer the questions that follow if you want to dive deeper into the sugar fasting challenge study time.
God tells the Israelites to remember him as they prepare to leave the wilderness and enter the promised land. During their 40-year travel through a barren wasteland, they had to fully rely on God for food and water. He humbled them, disciplined them, nurtured them, and taught them his ways.
According to verse 2, what was the purpose of the wandering and testing?
Hunger and thirst have a purpose in this passage, what is God teaching them through this experience? (vs 3)
When Jesus had fasted 40 days in the desert, and the devil came to tempt him to eat. What did he say to the devil? (Mathew 4:4)
Withdrawal from sugar can be painful and cause a similar gnawing hunger. It happens over a period of a few hours, then it passes. How does God’s reminder we do not live on bread alone help us embrace this discomfort?
In the big picture of life, is this feeling of deprivation so threatening that we have to give in to its power? Or is the Word of God able to convince us to push through and trust him?
What are the long-term rewards for them as they are trained by the discipline? (vs 7-10)
What are the long-term rewards for us when we are trained by discipline?
Discipline in physical and spiritual health are complimentary. When we fast from food we develop an amazing closeness to God. We also learn to listen to our bodies in a different way. God loves us and wants us strong. He also wants us to cling to Him for our needs instead of the world. As the remainder of chapter 8 text shows, we need constant reminding of who He is and what he has done.
It is for our good to remember Him and give Him thanks because it’s way too easy to give ourselves credit for things HE accomplishes through us. We get comfortable in our sin, too, and begin liking the created things more than the Creator. Adam and Eve made the same mistake as they fell prey to desire for the fruit, knowledge, and being like God. The first sin mimics many sins we continue to fall for today.
Prayer: God, you see, and you know the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. May we place them before you today and remember how much you love us, provide for us, show us grace, and train us in the way we should go. Thank you, for discipline, without it, we would be lost forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I hope this is helpful for you as you stay the course!
