The 40-Day Sugar Fast: Where Physical Detox Meets Spiritual Transformation

by Wendy Speake, Asheritah Ciuciu (Foreword)

What would you be willing to give up to experience the presence of God in your life again?Many of us sign up for a physical detox program, thinking that if our bodies are healthier, then we're healthier. But a healthy body doesn't do us a lot of good if we are spiritually malnourished.Welcome to the 40-Day Sugar Fast, a fast that begins with us giving Jesus our sugar and ends with Jesus giving us more of himself--the only thing that can ever truly satisfy our soul's deep hunger. On this 40-day journey you'll learn how to stop fixating on food and other things you use to fill the voids in life and instead fix your eyes on Christ.Anyone who runs to sugar for comfort or a reward, who eats mindlessly or out of boredom, who feels physically and spiritually lethargic, or who struggles with self-control will discover here not only freedom from their cravings but an entirely new appetite for the good things God has for us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Health, Self Help, Faith, Christian Living, Food

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2019

About the author

Wendy Speake is an actress who appeared on shows such as JAG, Star Trek Voyager, and Roswell, where she discovered a longing to tell stories that edify women. Today she ministers to women through storytelling and biblical life applications. Her first book, Triggers, was released in 2015.

Reviews

[Angela Henderson]

This book. What it's not. It's not a diet book. It's not a fluffy devotion that you mindlessly read every day, and tick it as done. What it is. It's a book that has 40 days of devotions that make you take a very good look at what "sets us off and causes us to eat compulsively or emotionally" For me, this book has made me look at my life and how I process life's triggers, or pressures, and what response I have to them when they arise. Do I go to the pantry, mindlessly scroll social media, or play a word game, when instead, will I pause, grab my bible, find a verse, pray it, meditate on it. and make God's word what I run to when I'm feeling worn out, stressed out and life's pressures squeezing me hard? Wendy has a writing style where it feels like you're sitting with her and she's personally mentoring you through the journey of fasting and turning our lives back around to our heavenly father instead of filling the gaps with chocolate or other mindless activities. This is a book that I will go back to time and time again. Thank you Baker Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to participate in the very first 40 Day Sugar Fast with Wendy years ago on Facebook. It was just what I needed at the time, being a young mom and wanting to get pregnant again. (Which I did shortly after finishing the 40 days!) Then through the next few years I tried to join in annually, but I had a hard time committing. I'm so very thankful God saw it fit to give me a new drive to stick to it this year and really has worked in me through this fast as we launch this wonderful new book. Wendy's 40 Day Sugar Fast book is such a helpful companion along the journey to drawing closer to God. She has such an eloquent way of leading you into scripture and encouraging you to feast on the WORD breaking free of the strongholds that the world has to offer. You will find the words in the book are timeless and inspired...something you can use every year or multiple times in a year as you desire to fast and feast with the Lord. Here is a line that struck my heart and I hope it will yours as well, "If you want a flourishing life, you must abide beside nourishing streams. Similarly, if you want to bear the fruit of God’s Spirit in your thought life, your thoughts must be rooted in His Word. If you want your work life and your eating life and your home life to bear the right kind of fruit , you must be firmly planted by the right kind of water." If you desire a right and intimate relationship with the Father, this book will lead you right to the throne through daily scripture and prayer in a beautiful and simple way. It's just what you need sitting right next to your Bible as you dive into all he has planned for you.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to turn to in order to get your spiritual life back in order.
Many of us when we are having distress in our lives turn to sugar in the many forms it takes as a substitute to make ourselves feel better, as a quick pick me up.
This book shows us how to how to get past the quick pick me up and spiritually detox our mind and spiritually transform our lives. To do this instead of turning to sugar we turn to God for our pick me up . By focusing on God in our troubling times instead of sugar you will not only lose weight but strengthen our faith journey .
"Jesus is the only master that gives freedom to those who are bound to him."

Published November 5th 2019 by Baker Books
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my Lent book for 2023.

I plan on revisiting this book during another Lenten season or possibly around the fall/winter holiday season.

While reading this insightful book, have your Bibles, a journal, and a big box of tissues at the ready. This will be a book to revisit during different seasons in your life.

[Jennifer Malech · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read while doing a sugar fast. Wendy brings wonderful biblical truth and insight to fasting. There is a reading for each day of the fast and is a wonderful way to stay focused+learn+regain strength in your walk with God. Definitely recommend reading+doing this!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this book focuses on fasting from sugar, I used it to guide my fasting from mindless eating and snacking which were my bigger issues. I don't have much of a sweet tooth other than Starbucks specialty drinks which I did fast. I don't keep sweets in the house in general. However, I did do a lot of mindless eating. I wouldn't be hungry but I'd just see food and snack on it. I also loved salty snacks - potato chips, almonds, and nut mixes especially. And so, I fasted the types of snacks that I'm most attracted to versus something that doesn't have that much of a hold on me. The results are the same. The process of breaking the stronghold is the same. And after 40 days, I feel as if I'm just beginning. I've decided to take Wendy's advice and adopt a fasting lifestyle. I will fast from fasting for special occasions but otherwise, I will continue on the path that I've started. Before I started this snacking fast, I had started a regimen of intermittent fasting that was likewise to last 40 days. So I combined the two during the past 40 days (and extended the intermittent fasting since it would have ended earlier). I am now ready to make how and when I eat an act of worship on an ongoing basis. I will eat with purpose, not mindlessly.

[Ada Tarcau · Rating 3 out of 5]

The experience of going through these 40 days searching sustenance in prayer and God’s word rather than any other addictive distractive crutch (sugar/cacao/coffee, notifications, social media, online defocalised searches or shopping) has really been freeing, created head space and focus. I plan to keep this sort of fast regularly, probably a few days a week.
I must say though, that I have expected more from the actual devotionals. More depth, more meat, so to speak. There were some days when I really enjoyed and benefitted from the chapter, having a lot of thought-food for the day. I just wished there were more like that.
But besides this, the book is helpful to keep you going and if you have an extra scriptural plan to keep meditating on during the fast (as it is advised anyway), it can really be so worthwhile...

[Laurie DelaCruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The daily encouragement as I went through the 40 days without sugar was always timely, and challenged me to grow in my walk with the Lord.

Would recommend everyone try this at least once!

[Mary Befus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Pastors wife and a mom of 2 little kids. I'm always looking for a good book to encourage and challenge me in my relationship with the Lord. This book is AMAZING! 100% recommended for your personal use, your small group or to use it in your discipleship. Why?
1. Each devotional is based on a Bible verse/ story or passage. Great foundation! 
2. Its so easy to relate to our problem of looking for food before God. Gives you also a practical way to challenge you in your faith and in your personal life.
3. Started for me as a sugar fasting but ended in so much more. Its pointed to the idols I had in my life. All that we put before God.
4.Throughout this book you will find encouragement to pursue and seek God even more. To go back to your first love, Jesus.

This is the book I needed to get back on track on my spiritual life to stop making excuses for not reading my Bible on a daily basis just bc I have 2 little kids who needed me 24/7. Definitely using this book on our womens ministry. I guarantee you will be challenge and God will use this book in amazing ways in your life. :) 

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just completed the 40-day fast and found this book an essential element of the fast. It was both encouraging and convicting. The devotions were short enough to easily include in my day, but lengthy enough to have some real truth each day.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fasting, good idea.
Cheap theology, flimsy exegesis.
Read Piper’s “Hunger for God” instead.

[Lisa Brewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a good way to start the new year. Yes, I went cold turkey off of sugar.
Except for carbs.
And fruits.
And cough drops.
And that ice cream at Glenn's the night my neighbor passed away. And my favorite grape/brown sugar/cream cheese dessert dish sweetly made by one of the sweetest deacon's wives to walk the earth. So, yeah, there were a couple of exceptions.
But otherwise, I went for savory, salty, and bitter tastes, not even using artificial sweeteners. And at the author's suggestion, I placed my Bible (and her own book - not her suggestion!) on a place of honor on a cakestand. Fasting from sugar (mostly), I feasted on Jesus (more than usual).
Any time I begin my day with the Bible and a devotional book, I am more prepared, typically, than not. Some days more than others, we have to venture into "enemy territory" as a bluegrass girlfriend of mine says, and being scripturally prepared is essential. This book was great for that.
If you're like me, you find yourself needing to examine not only your unnecessary, emotional eating but your unnecessary, emotional purchases, conversations, and wasted time. With so many good things on which to feast, let's choose the good over the not-so-good.
This devotional packed a gentle 40-day punch. Hopefully, its excellent influence on me will continue.
And no, I didn't lose any weight, except for a burden or two from off my shoulders.
My Bible will remain on a cakestand as a reminder to feast reguarly, endlessly and joyfully.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book/devotional. We should definitely turn to God instead of sugar, social media, shopping, etc. That is 100% right and true.

I have found myself turning to sweets or Dr. Pepper instead of God in times of stress, upset, celebration, whatever. Any excuse to have an ice cold DP! 😋 That's why I picked up this book. I wanted to remind myself that God is my only true comfort and the only one who can truly satisfy.

All that being said the author of this book misused scripture and had a lot of prosperity gospel "wisdom." Fasting from sugar for 40 days won't be a miracle cure for your physical ailments or broken relationships. And, I don't care how much you pray God does not directly speak to people anymore.

There were a few useful tidbits but not enough to make it worth reading. Plus, the non Biblical tone was too much.

Fasting IS Biblical, and you should practice it in your private life. But, turn to the Bible as your guide for fasting NOT this devotional.

[Fanaticmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BEST Christian devotion about eating I have ever read. Applicable, scripturally based and do-able. Inspired me to take a deeper look at my intake of food. So good! Highly recommend.

[Kristina]

I enjoyed this, but am DNFing as I failed my sugar fast. I'll definitely come back to it and this book when I'm feeling better overall and capable of improving my diet.

[Jung · Rating 1 out of 5]

** MOST NONSENSE BOOK TO EVER EXIST **

Give up sugar to get closer to God.

A jilted suitor reaches for a pint of ice cream. A loving grandfather hands out cookies to his grandchildren. An anxious worker scarfs down a candy bar as she races to meet a deadline. These scenarios are stereotypes – but they serve to illustrate a deeper point. 

Sugar is empty in more ways than just calories. For too many people, it serves as false cheer or artificial comfort. Relying on sugar to help us through pleasure and pain can actually damage more than just our teeth; it can distract us from what’s truly important. 

In this book by Wendy Speake’s The 40-Day Sugar Fast, we’ll explore the idea that the only true substitute for any earthly pleasure or distraction is the Word of God. Through a series of sermons, you’ll learn how a sugar detox can bring you clarity and understanding – and help you live a richer, more spiritual life.

---

Sugar: A false savior to the bored and sad

It’s midafternoon on a dull Wednesday at the office. Yawning, you glance at your watch – still two hours left in the workday. While in search of coffee in the break room, you see that someone has brought in a plate of brownies. Nice. You grab one, fill your coffee cup, and settle back to let that spike of energy carry you through the rest of your day.

Here’s another scenario. Your best friend asked you to be her maid of honor – but planning isn’t really your forte, and now the bridal shower is just weeks away. You’ve just gotten off the phone with the bride’s pushy mom, who called you – yet again – to check on your progress. Stressed, you head straight to the kitchen for a bowl of ice cream.

Or maybe it’s your daughter’s graduation day – a celebration with the whole family! You put in an order at the best bakery in town, because how can you celebrate without cake?

See a pattern here? Whether we’re wallowing in our lows or soaring in our highs, all too often, we reach for sugar as both a cure and a commemoration.

But can that cookie, candy, or ice cream really cure your boredom, your anxiety, your depression? And is it really the only way to celebrate?

You don’t need this book to tell you that sugar won’t just not fix those ailments – it will create a host of other health concerns.

Past hunger, anxiety, and boredom lies the real abyss – an emptiness that can’t be filled by anything corporeal. This emptiness can only be filled by a spiritual cup. Only by replacing sugar with the word of God can you truly address the root causes that cause you to turn to sugar in the first place.

Undertaking a 40-day sugar fast is an excellent way to commit to that process – and rediscover the true source of joy.

---

Setting the detox ground rules

You’ve made the important decision to jump in and commit to a 40-day sugar detox. Now, let’s get into what that actually entails.

When will you schedule your fast? Ideally, don’t pick a time when you have travel plans, big family events, or are hosting out-of-town friends in your home. You want to reduce the potential for confusion – and not place added temptations in your way.

Here’s another question: How exactly will you define “sugar?” Will you just cut out candy, chocolate, cake, and other sweet treats? Or will you take it one step further by refusing anything that includes sugar or high fructose corn syrup – think ketchup or certain seasonings – as well? Will you keep stevia or monk fruit on hand to sweeten your morning coffee, or do without completely? How about carbs such as pasta or bread, which contain sugar and will break down into sugary substances in your body – will you find ways to substitute those through these 40 days? 

There’s a lot to think about! But the key here is to relax. There are no formal rules. It’s your detox, and therefore your personal decision about how you want to structure it. Once you’ve drawn up the ground rules for yourself, go through your pantry and home, and clean out the items you’ve decided to avoid. Stock up on nut butters, dried and fresh fruits, and lots of seasonal vegetables.

A word of caution before you start: be careful not to turn one obsession into another. In the process of eliminating after-dinner sweet treats, it may be tempting to dive deep into cookbooks and social media in search of sugar-free alternatives. But the idea isn’t to replace one kind of dessert with a slightly healthier one. Instead, the goal is to dispense of that need altogether by filling yourself up with healing spiritual comfort. 

---

Faith: The most powerful weapon in your arsenal

If you’ve read the Book of Joshua, you’ll know the triumphant story of the Battle of Jericho.

While journeying in search of their promised land, the Israelites encounter an obstacle: the walled city of Jericho. A man with a sword appears to Joshua, telling him to take off his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. Joshua then follows God’s commands to lead the Israelites around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they walk around the city seven times and then blow their trumpets. At the sound of the horns, the walls collapse. The battle is won, and Joshua rejoices.

Now what does this have to do with a sugar fast? Well, the Battle of Jericho is a lot like our battle with sugar addiction. Joshua takes off his sandals because he was on holy ground. What if you thought of your body as holy ground that was worth protecting and fighting over?

The average American consumes 150 to 170 pounds of sugar annually. That’s an enormous amount – the equivalent to drinking four sodas a day for a year. What’s your nemesis? Knowing what you’re up against will help you face your enemy clearly – whether it’s your morning cinnamon bun, 4:00 p.m. Dr. Pepper, or after-dinner piece of chocolate. 

If that mountain of sugar is the enemy, and your body is the battlefield, consider your weapon to be your faith in God. After all, that faith got Joshua through his battle. It can help the walls of your addiction come crashing down as well.

As you wage this war, you may feel discouraged, cranky, irritable, and snappy. But look to Joshua once again. As soon as the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, Joshua celebrated. Even before he set foot in the city, he knew he’d won the battle because he trusted God to help him see it through. Celebrating your daily victories with the same faith will help you stay the course.

---

Seek out enemies that hide in plain sight

Every story has a hero – and an antihero.

Just as Christ guides our steps through the battlefield, Satan walks among us, tempting us … even rooting for us to fail!

When you face the enemy – for instance, that pie you’re covering with Saran wrap before refrigerating, the one that beseeches you to slip a fork in and carry a soft, gooey, caramelized mouthful to your waiting lips – remember that it represents something that can never fill the emptiness you seek to fill. And that’s why it will never be enough. One forkful of pie will often lead you to a whole slice. A fun-size candy bar will lead to three more.

Instead, seek to fill the void with knowledge. Satiate yourself with righteousness and with God. Sugar may temporarily help you overcome your midafternoon slump or ease your heart after breaking up with your girlfriend, but it won’t truly help you in the same way that a sincere reading of Biblical passages can. You may love sugar, but sugar will not love you back – only God will.

While you fortify yourself with the study of the Word of God, help others do so too. Jesus fed others and shared his food with them. If you see salvation as the food with which you fill your plate, serve it to your community as well. Even if people don’t notice your efforts or give you praise, keep reaching out to those who haven’t heard the word of God, and help them in their fight.

Remember that enemies on the battlefield may be hiding in plain sight. Say you feel unsatisfied and restless from your sugar fast, and turn to things other than God for fulfillment – maybe you reach for your phone and mindlessly scroll through Instagram for an hour. You may have stopped yourself from overindulging, but ultimately, all you did was exchange one enemy with another.

Examine your compulsive behaviors. Seek out their root causes. And rest only when you understand that nothing but God can fill the holes in your soul. 

---

Beware of false idols

In the previous section, we discussed how social media might replace sugar as an addictive behavior. While social media is an easy target at which to take a shot, it’s not the only villain.

Think of anything in your life that you feel an unhealthy attachment toward. Now, you may not initially recognize this attachment as unhealthy. For example, let’s say you volunteer for the Humane Society, and love for animals is a huge part of your identity. You take in foster dogs, you help organize an event for dog adoptions, and you donate frequently. All of this is wonderful.

But if your dedication to this activity grows to a point that you can’t live without it, then you’ve merely substituted another filler for sugar. Matthew 5:29-30 says, “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

If you are Christ-centered, your life is automatically meaningful. You don’t need to replace Christ with any other form of validation – be it food, an activity, or a romantic relationship. If you find that something is trying to fill the space that only spirituality should flow through, identify it for what it is: a false idol standing between you and your belief.

One such idol that really causes waves is alcohol. Suggest abstaining from alcohol for 40 days to your friends, and you’ll definitely feel some pushback. It’s easy to convince people of the benefits of sobriety, but when you tell them to skip their daily glass of wine, they balk.

Why?

Question that denial. After all, there is no real benefit to drinking alcohol. It provides empty calories, affects your blood sugar levels, and can throw off the balance of gut bacteria and hormones. Do you really want that drink? A friend may respond that they need that drink … and there you have it: another foe to battle so that spirituality can regain centrality in your life.

---

Choose your focus wisely

Until now, we’ve talked about sugar as an enemy that has to be fought so that it doesn’t take the place of Christ in our lives. Here’s another analogy to further illustrate the point.

Think of your bank account with its finite resources. You pay the mortgage, the utilities, your car payments, and credit card bills. How will you spend the money that’s left? You might want to donate to a mission project, take a trip, and buy that new dining table you’ve been eyeing. How do you prioritize?

If you equate your attention and care to your bank account, you’ll see that there’s a limited amount you can spend on any one item. Caring for your house and turning it into a home for your family is a laudable task – but you shouldn’t pay more attention to it than to God. Traveling and broadening your horizons is a worthwhile pursuit – but the search for other pastures should not override your spiritual journey toward God.

In short, when you cut out sugar, you’ll have more time for God. But all this fasting and abstaining – can it get boring?

The truth is that boredom is probably not a result of a sugar fast; it’s actually a trigger that will spark your cravings. Think about the afternoon after a typical Thanksgiving meal, for instance. You’ve gorged on turkey and pie, and the resulting combination of serotonin and insulin makes you lethargic. To wake up, you may indulge in a hot espresso. The resulting adrenaline induces your body to try and calm you down with cortisol, which in turn produces glucose and causes your blood sugar levels to rise. It’s like being on a chemical roller coaster that eventually wears itself out. Being exhausted or sleepy can also trigger this chain of events. 

On the flip side, fasting often creates the very opposite feeling. Fasting can lead to mental clarity and alertness. Many who have tried sugar fasts for various reasons (not just spiritual ones) describe how it feels like they’re coming out of a fog when they give up sugar – even after just a few days. When you substitute refined sugary snacks for nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and water, you’ll likely find that your brain health improves.

---

The ultimate reward: A closer relationship with God

Toward the end of your 40-day fast, your mental acuity will become sharper and even more powerful. The clarity you have now can help you help others. When you’re not focused on eating sugary foods – or obsessing about food at all – you can create the kind of mindset that is able to cultivate compassion and generosity of spirit.

Detoxing from sugar teaches you how to shift the focus away from serving yourself, and toward serving God. The best way to do that is by serving others. You could take a very practical and direct approach, such as taking the money you saved by not buying sugary treats and donating it to a worthy cause. Or you could serve Jesus by generously spreading his word to others. Through prayer, hunger and sugar-deprivation can be transformed into something exalted.

Beyond the spiritual perks, a sugar detox also has definite benefits for the physical body. On top of better mental clarity, people who have completed sugar fasts talk about reduced aches and pains, less inflammation in the joints, fewer headaches, better complexions, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. 

Hold on to your clarity, in particular. It’s a powerful tool, and you don’t want to waste it – especially as you head into the last few days of the fast. It’s easy to become complacent and to think of a sugar detox as simply another habit. So don’t allow your hard-won victory to be anything other than a thoughtful practice! Continue to couple your practice with daily prayer and focused worship.

Perhaps the most useful thing you can take away from the 40-day detox is this: You were searching for a reward, but in all the wrong places. The truth is that the reward was never dessert. Sugar – or whatever other crutch you relied on – is not the golden apple. There is, and only ever has been, one true reward: a closer, more loving relationship with God.

---

Sugar is an enemy that seeks to distract you from the Word of God. By committing to a sugar detox through prayer, reflection, and dedicated discipline, you can regain your health and clarity. The biggest benefit is your renewed relationship with God – weight loss is merely a happy side effect!

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study! Excellent challenge! It is not a “diet book” or “how-to-be-sugar-free-in-40-days” — Wendy Speake is your coach leading you to becoming reliant on Jesus rather than sugar (and/or social media, shopping, alcohol, etc.) It’s a 40 day journey to detox your body to see clearly why God doesn’t want your sugar, He wants all of you - especially our imperfect selves. We cloud that truth when we run to sugar (or anything else) for the quick dopamine high that sends us crashing afterward… usually feeling worse off than where we started. I left this challenge freed from the spiraling habits that put this book into my hands. Each day was a kick in the pants that helped me realize that I put myself in bondage to the wrong things. I am Jesus’ bondservant (1 Corinthians 7:22). This will be one of those studies that I will be returning to when those old habits try to wean their way back into my life, or just use as a fantastic reminder to run to Christ and not my worldly addictions.

[Jennifer Fluegge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great accompaniment to the 40 day sugar fast although I’ll confess that I didn’t read one a day - started off well but then got behind. 🤪 However, I enjoyed the encouragement to really focus on spiritual things during this fast and not allowing sugar or anything else to take the place of God in my life. I enjoyed how the chapters built on top of each other and also addressed different aspects that all tied together spiritually. A good challenging read about really pursuing Christ in our daily walk.

One thing that I personally did not care for and I know people have different opinions on this matter, but I didn’t care for the use of all the different versions or even paraphrase versions of the Bible. Minor detail but if you, like me, have a strong preference for the KJV, well, just be aware, going in.

[Amanda Schneider · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t finish reading this. I decided to fast sugar for Lent and thought this would be a good resource. While the introduction had some good advice and thoughts, I found the devotions lacking.

[Allison Hoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transformed my thinking. It makes you intentionally think about why you are doing a fast and what specifically you want to fast.
But most importantly, I loved it because it finally got me into the routine of spending time with the Lord consistently and I’m forever grateful for this book.

[Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ✨

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Spending time with God, being still, especially in this season of fast pace, thankful for God always being enough. Always there. Always active. Thankful for His love and caring. Giving you praises throughout the days!

[Claire Steckbauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read along through a Lenten journey. I enjoyed connecting my fasting and prayer pillars through one book. The beginning days of this daily read had me super excited and inspired. The middle of the book got dull for me, as it focused more on fasting from not only sugar but other things… which yes that’s good- but it wasn’t my intention when picking up this read.

[Alicia Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was biblically grounding in the midst of sugar fasting and a wonderful reminder of the feast the Lord provides. Highly recommend! Also amazing how much of a sugar addict I was and this helped me to break free and be more mindful, first spiritually of turning to God when I would at times to sugar; and secondly have how I am fueling my body.

[Ailey Leman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great way to start my year! Not only was I feeling healthy from being sugar free, but this book also encouraged me to deepen my hunger for the Lord and His Word.
I’ve never really done a fast but it is really following the example Jesus showed and gives you the right focus for a diet.
Would definitely recommend this one!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book isn't a diet book it's a book about learning about the reasons being turning to sugar on a daily basis and craving it and turning it around for a more spiritual release from god.
This was a good book if your looking for recapturing or enhancing your spiritual wellbeing, but was a little too much for my taste.

[Emilee Breanne Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not exaggerating, this is one of the BEST Bible study books I've ever read. The fast and the important truths shared in this book have been so helpful for my body, mind, and spirit. Even though the 40 days are over, I plan to continue a lot of the habits I established throughout the fast.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed the way I saw fasting. It’s one I’ll visit annually.

[Madam Book Worm]

Favorite Quote:

"God is our reward.......When we turn to sugar-substitutes for our reward, we end up both physically and spiritually malnourished."

About the book:
I enjoyed reading the book each day. Whenever I felt the craving of sugar I tried to apply some of the things that Ms. Wendy said in the book or I would reread the message for that day and it worked. She made me rely on God for those cravings that weren't really needed. I appreciated the tone of writing. I will keep this book on my bookshelf because I plan to do this fast each year.

About me:
I successfully completed this fast. I learned that sugar is everywhere. I consumed sugar only when it was already added in food like when I had coffee creamer, apple sauce, dried mangoes, peanut butter and in my gummy multivitamins. One day, around day twenty something I tried eating BBQ sauce but it was too sweet. I will do this fast again and I will try to rid even the sugars included in food items next time. I also rid myself of bread and pasta. I did cheat and I had bread one day of the 40 days. I learned how much sugar is not needed and things still taste good. I was surprised at how much my taste buds changed because I loved sugar and before the fast nothing was EVER too sweet for me. I hid all the sweet stuff and I did not have any sugar in my house during that time.

For the ladies, who are wondering if I lost weight-I did not do it for weight loss although, I could drop a few. But I did not weigh myself consistently. However, I will say that I wear African waistbeads and the beads are now larger than when I first started. So if I did not lose weight, I lost inches that I can see.

[Christian Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate that The 40-Day Sugar Fast does not solely include health reasons for fasting from sugar, as I've read that information in other books specific to this topic. Where this book differs is in the spiritual application of what refraining from sugary foods looks like and what it means for our Christian walk with God. Having this book cover 40 days is perfect for Lent or any other season in life and is a book I could easily go through again. These last 40 days, the bite-sized devotionals came to be my treat each day in lieu of having a sugary snack or dessert. The continual pointing to God's Word and how only He can truly satisfy is a theme that reverberates through each chapter.

If the focus of these devotionals is to lessen our dependence on anything in this world, including sugar, Wendy did a wonderful job of asking readers why we tend to turn to substances rather than God in times of sadness, loneliness, or even happiness. Though the book is primarily about sugar, it's not afraid to venture into other possible strongholds such as alcohol, social media, and food as a whole. I love that beyond the 40 days, the aim of this fast is to turn our eyes toward what is eternal rather than temporal while not neglecting our daily needs. Those looking for accountability while fasting will enjoy this book as it keeps readers on track and on point about what will long outlast our bodies and cravings.

Review link: https://christianshelves.blogspot.com...

[Natalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Baker Books for an ARC copy of this book!

Who here loves sugar? Because same. Honestly, sugar is probably more of a part of my everyday life than it should be. That's why this book was a perfect read. 

Wendy Speake addresses a problem that plages every Christian. We tend to put things in the place of God. When times are rough where do we run? To the pantry. To the internet. To the bar. Pretty much everywhere, but the one place we should be going: to God. 

Speake recognized in herself, that often the culprit was sugar. And it's the same for a lot of women. When times are hard, we eat junk. Or we drink things loaded with sugar. And then we gain weight, feel sad, and eat more sugar. What a vicious cycle. But then Speake wondered what would happen if we didn't run to sugar... Further, what if we eliminated it all the way?

This book was really interesting on a few different levels. For starters, I don't think as the church in America we fast much. Maybe we fast to lose weight, but we don't typically fast, especially not religiously. It was also interesting because Speake recognizes that maybe sugar isn't your distraction. Maybe it's your phone or a certain friend or some other habit. Maybe you need to focus your fast on something different. 

Speake makes fasting feel attainable and interesting. Overall, I felt like this book was an excellent read.