Hi, my name is Danielle, and I am a sugar addict.
I eat pretty healthy about 90% of the time, but I indulge in some good ole refined sugar at least once (sometimes usually more) daily.
I am coming to the realization that it is NOT okay for me to be addicted to sugar.
Sugar has NO benefits, and we are ONLY supposed to eat food as fuel for our bodies. (I’m not talking about natural sugar that comes in fruits and whole grains….I’m talking about candy, cookies, ice cream, chocolate, etc.) Refined sugar causes weight gain, inconsistent blood sugar, sluggishness, belly fat, wrinkles, etc. I know that is not scientific, but I have read lots of research to back all of that.
For some reason in our society, we put weight and rank on sins. I am totally guilty of this. We think an addiction to food, sugar in my case, gambling, reality t.v., or (fill in the blank here) ___________ is better than an addiction to drugs or alcohol or pornography.
Really, anything we make an idol in our lives is displeasing to the Lord and separates us from Him.
We are no better than anyone else. I know the results of drug and alcohol and pornography can be more harmful to the lives of others (I have seen it first hand), whereas with some of the other issues we aren’t necessarily harming anyone other than ourselves. We justify and minimize because it makes us feel better….saying things like “I just have a sweet tooth…” But a sin is a sin is a sin. We need to stop claiming self-righteousness and thinking we are better than others; stop judging them; when we have our own issues. All of us do.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? – Matthew 7:3
Goodness, we would all be SO much better off if we could just mind our own business and focus on our own sins, because we all of plenty of shortcomings.
I heard a super interesting sermon the other day about this. Well, it wasn’t all about this issue in particular, but he did address this topic throughout the sermon. Click here to listen to it. Perry Noble is a real, tell it like it is preacher, and he is HILARIOUS.
Anyway, I said all of that to say this. I am going to really start praying for help with this issue. I don’t think it’s realistic, nor do I want to, say that I will NEVER eat it again. I want to enjoy birthday cakes with my kids in the future, and pancakes my hubby makes on the rare occasion we get to have a lazy Saturday afternoon. BUT, I need to be realllly conscious and aware. I know they say everything is okay in moderation, and some people can handle eating just one cookie or whatever. But it always leaves me wanting more.
I rarely turn down dessert, but I need to start. If for nothing else, to practice having the fruit of the spirit known as SELF-CONTROL.
If you get a chance, download a FREE song on i-tunes called “It’s Time” by Joel Goddard. Really, really powerful.
4 comments:
While I agree with everything you say about addictions being harmful and displeasing to the Lord, I don't think I'd count a sweet tooth as an addiction :) I completely agree with you about MYSELF needing to turn down dessert and sweets. I need to practice self control for sure. But if I am exercising, eating right, getting the right amount of sleep, drinking more than enough water, and doing everything else I can to keep my body healthy... I shouldn't feel bad if guilty for indulging in a treat... or two ;) But like I said before, I DEFINITELY need to practice self control :)
I've been going through the book Love to Eat, Hate to Eat with a group of women from my church and it has been really helpful to see that when my destructive eating habits (eating too many sweets, eating too much in one sitting, etc) are sin for me personally because I do it for emotional reasons and am seeking satisfaction and comfort in something other than God. I agree with Courtney B that it's not sinful to eat sweets across the board - it's your intentions/motivation that makes it sinful. It's a good book if you haven't read it.
I too LOVE sweets but try to keep it to homemade sweets rather than storebought/prepackaged cookies etc..
I am a sweet addict too... and it is totally a comfort. I agree that it is a sin to seek comfort anywhere but the Lord. Everything about this new life I'm trying has been so HARD, but this is my number one! And the real sin is not trusting that God will see me through it. That I CAN give up sweets (or in reality for me soda) and KNOW and TRUST that as bad as it is God will be my comfort instead. I just keep chanting to myself "food is fuel, not comfort." I will be praying for you and me both!
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