Honoring the Temple
Your body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit
The Sacred Dwelling
God does not dwell in temples made by human hands—He dwells in you. Your body is not merely flesh and bone; it is the sacred space where the Spirit of the Living God resides.
"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."
— 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NASB
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body."
— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB
To honor the temple is to honor the One who dwells within it. What we consume, how we move, and how we care for our bodies is an act of worship—a declaration that we belong to Him.
SUGAR FREE
We reach for sugar to satisfy the flesh with a dopamine rush—this fast is designed to strengthen the spirit, not entertain the taste buds. Sugar hijacks our decision-making loop, causing us to prioritize a quick dopamine hit over long-term vitality.
By rejecting these cravings, we stop letting "taste" dictate our nutrition. We are not fasting to create a menu, but to create a mindset. We are retraining our minds to choose purpose over pleasure.
Let's break the cycle of immediate gratification now, locking in this discipline now to fuel a year of better choices.
Why We Limit Sugary Fruit Juices
Eliminating sugar (especially added sugar and high-fructose sources) triggers several powerful physical changes, many of which directly support the "repair and healing" goals of your fast.
The Fiber is Gone
A whole apple has fiber that acts like a "brake," slowing down the absorption of sugar. When you juice it, you remove that brake. The sugar hits your bloodstream almost instantly.
The Insulin Rollercoaster
Your body rushes to produce insulin to manage that sugar spike. Once the sugar is processed, your blood sugar plummets (the "crash"), leaving you feeling shaky, irritable ("hangry"), and craving more sugar.
It Breaks "Ketosis"
If your goal is to have the body switch to burning fat for fuel (ketosis), a cup of apple juice can stop that process because it provides easy, quick sugar fuel.
Physical Benefits of Eliminating Sugar
Here is a breakdown of the key physical benefits of eliminating sugar during our fast:
Stable, Consistent Energy (No "Crash")
Sugar causes rapid spikes in blood glucose followed by steep drops (hypoglycemia). This "crash" is what makes you feel shaky, irritable, and lethargic.
Benefit: By cutting sugar, your blood glucose stabilizes. You avoid the mid-day slump and maintain steady energy for your daily workouts.
Lowered Systemic Inflammation
Sugar is a primary driver of chronic inflammation in the body, which can manifest as joint pain, stiffness, and slow recovery from exercise.
Benefit: Without sugar fueling inflammation, your joints may feel looser and your muscles can recover faster from the daily workouts you have planned.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity
When you constantly flood your body with sugar, your cells become resistant to insulin, leading to fat storage and metabolic issues.
Benefit: Eliminating sugar allows your insulin levels to drop and your cells to "reset." This encourages your body to switch from burning sugar for fuel to burning stored fat (ketosis), which is highly effective for weight management and deep detoxification.
Sharper Mental Clarity ("Brain Fog" Lifts)
High sugar intake is linked to brain fog and difficulty concentrating due to neuroinflammation.
Benefit: Many people report that after the initial few days of withdrawal, they experience a significant boost in focus and mental sharpness—which aligns perfectly with the "spiritual focus" you are seeking.
Better Gut Health & Reduced Bloating
Bad bacteria and yeast in the gut feed on sugar.
Benefit: Starving these bacteria reduces gas and bloating, making your digestive system feel lighter and functioning more efficiently.
Clearer Skin
Sugar binds to proteins in the blood in a process called glycation, which can damage collagen and elastin.
Benefit: Reducing sugar often leads to a clearer complexion and a reduction in acne or skin irritation.
Health Check: Reversing Insulin Resistance
Type 2 Diabetes is primarily driven by insulin resistance—when your cells stop listening to insulin because they are constantly flooded with sugar. Fasting is the most effective way to break this cycle.
The System Reboot
When you stop eating frequently, insulin levels drop dramatically. This silence allows your cell receptors to "reset" and become sensitive to insulin again.
Pancreatic Rest
Your pancreas, which usually works overtime to pump out insulin, finally gets a holiday. This pause preserves the function of beta-cells (the cells that make insulin).
Mobilizing Visceral Fat
Fasting specifically targets visceral fat (the dangerous fat around organs). This fat is a major driver of metabolic disease; burning it off directly lowers your risk of diabetes.
Honor the Temple
This fast is not about deprivation—it is about restoration. By removing what harms and embracing what heals, we honor the sacred dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
Your body is not your own. It was bought with a price. Glorify God in your body.