Day 5 - The Sugar Challenge Lesson

Recap and Live for Others

I truly hope and pray that as you’ve worked through this plan, something has clicked inside your mind and heart. I hope you are feeling that now is the time you will achieve victory over your sugar cravings and that you won’t go back! Your thoughts matter, and if you do not believe that you will have success, it won’t happen. You must believe that today is the day that you are set free from sugar!

As I shared on Day 1, cutting back on sugar is one of the best ways to stay healthy. When you’re healthy, you can enjoy so many wonderful activities and live life to the fullest. Not to mention, you can lose unwanted fat, lower your blood pressure, and reduce your cholesterol levels. By reducing added sugar in your diet and adding exercise, you can also increase your metabolism, strengthen your bones, and help prevent heart disease, dementia, and cancer. Ultimately, it just makes you feel better!

Taking care of your health is not just about feeling better physically, though; it’s also about the privilege of fulfilling the purpose God has planned for you. God has had a plan to use you from the moment He created you! He wants you to share His message and the love of Jesus with others. He wants you to enjoy your passions and be able to use your gifts and talents. He wants you to be able to help and encourage others. He wants you to be His hands and feet. With that said, if anything is hindering His plan in your life, it needs to be removed.

Tying this all together, the health issues I listed can prevent you from being all God created you to be and doing all God created you to do. Do you want to miss out on that amazing opportunity?

Something else to consider is that staying healthy gives you more energy and vitality to enjoy time with friends and family. When you feel good physically, you will be able to join in fun activities and create lasting memories. Whether it's playing with your children, going for a walk with your spouse, or having a meaningful conversation with a friend, being healthy allows you to be fully present and cherish those special moments.

Ultimately, by prioritizing your health, you can be sure to maximize your God-given purpose and serve others well. Remember, this journey is about more than just cutting out added sugar. It’s about finishing this race on earth knowing that you have done everything you can to be obedient to God and that He was able to use you for His glory. Who wouldn’t want to get to the gates of Heaven and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:23) Make today the day that you kicked sugar out of your life, and you never went back!

Prayer

Lord, give me the strength to make a permanent change in my life. I pray for a strong body to accomplish all that You have set before me to do. I believe that you will give me the power to end my sugar addiction. I find new strength in You. I will soar high like an eagle. I will run and not get weary; I will walk and not faint. I thank You that I am Your creation, and I am truly seen and loved by You. Amen.

Challenge

1. Get the sugar out of your house! Go through your freezer, refrigerator, and pantry and remove food that has added sugars.

2. Your challenge for today is to write down or spend time thinking about those you love. How does your health affect them?

3. How can you use your body/health to glorify God? What can you do to show Jesus’s love to others?

EPHESIANS 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

ROMANS 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!