Daniel Fast Guidelines

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Carbonated Beverages. •. Foods Containing Preservatives Or Additives. •. Refined Sugar. •. Sugar of all kinds incl


Introduction Welcome to a beautiful and exciting new year and to another 21 Days Daniel’s Fast!

 Last year, we conducted our first 21 days Daniel Fast and it had fantastic results. Many that got involved lost some weight, changed some eating habits, and some even got a deeper walk with God! Some of us committed to the fast without a real knowledge of what it’s all about up to what we were allowed and not allowed to eat during the fast. This year we really want to establish the reason and the intended outcome for this particular fast and some guidelines to what we can and what we cannot eat while on this particular fast. Of course the intended menus or ingredients is not meant to be comprehensive or even strict rules, rather it’s a guideline for your own deeper walk with God. So, here we go! I pray that this fast will bring you closer to God and bring you higher in Him. Pastor Jones Special Note: If you have health issues, please be sure to contact your health professional for advice before committing to any fast including the Daniel Fast. Content from: http://danielfast.wordpress.com. Portions were edited (including deletion of paragraphs, sentences, and hyperlinks) to fit WPCC’s needs. Edited by: Pastor Lemuel Jones A. (indicated by brackets)

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Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Oranges, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy. Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices. You may drink protein drinks if they do not include dairy products. Others: Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Foods to Avoid:              

All Refined or Processed Food Products All Animal Products (Meat, Dairy, Fish, Etc.) Meat (Beef, Poultry, Lamb, Etc.) Bread And Other Baked Goods Dairy Products, Including Eggs, Milk, Cream, Etc. White Rice Fried Foods Caffeine Carbonated Beverages Foods Containing Preservatives Or Additives Refined Sugar Sugar of all kinds including Sugar Substitutes White Flour And All Products Using It Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

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No Wine: This restriction, coupled with previous fasts where Daniel drank only water (which is typical for biblical fasting), is where today's Daniel Fast finds its roots for water only. Fruit and vegetable juices are acceptable.

Be Prepared

For a collection of recipes and menu plans that will take you through an entire 21-day Daniel Fast, go to http://danielfast.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/daniel-fast-cookbook-2/

The 21-Day Fast is popular, primarily because that is the model set out by Daniel in Chapter 10:2, 3 – “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

Spiritual Fasting: The Daniel Fast is a restriction of food for spiritual purposes. So the fast addresses not only the body, but also ones spirit and soul.

First, have the right kinds of foods in the house that you can eat for the Daniel Fast. (See the Daniel Fast Food List). Also, plan your menus and prepare the foods so they are available to you.

[* We encourage everyone to take part in any form with this church-wide fast. Due to the spiritual nature of this fast, it is the sacrifice that is, we believe, the preeminent character of this fast. So, if you can participate in this church-wide fast by slight variation of the diet restrictions, you are encouraged to do so by committing the additional foods to the Lord. ]

Second, you might want to get rid of or at least put away foods that are tempting. ([…] like the biblical accounts of Jewish women as they prepared for the Passover by cleaning their houses from top to bottom and removed all yeast from their homes.) Many Jews engage in this same practice today when they prepare for the Passover.

Daniel Fast Food List

Third, plan time to prepare meals as they will likely take a little longer than when you are not fasting. Most of the meals you prepare will be from scratch since there are so few prepared products that don’t have chemicals in them. You will want to set aside enough time to prepare your meals, not only for those you will have at home, but also those you will have at work or when you are traveling.

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." Daniel 10:2, 3 One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food, but rather to the kinds of food you can eat. The Daniel Fast is limited to vegetables (includes fruits) and water.[*] Foods You May Eat:   

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries,

Fourthly, you want to prepare your heart for the 21-Day Fast. Seek the Lord’s guidance as you get ready to start the fast. Are there issues in your life that you need to address? Are their needs in your family or ministry that can use special attention? Are you seeking healing? Do you feel oppressed by financial bandages? These first few days of the fast are an excellent time to search your heart, open yourself to the Lord, and allow Him to lead you along in your personal 21-Day Fast. [You can visit http://danielfast.wordpress.com/ where you can find this guideline as well as other tips on this fast, including a cook book.] God bless you and I hope the very best for you as you set aside this time to give the first of yourself to Almighty God. Remember, He rewards those who diligently seek Him. So keep your mind on Christ and your focus on righteousness.

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The Daniel Fast is ALWAYS a Spiritual Fast!

You can see that in all three instances, Daniel fasted for spiritual reasons. Once to stay pure before the Lord and two times to seek the Lord's wisdom, direction and answers to prayer.

[This next 21 days is called “The Daniel’s Fast” – that’s right:] Daniel FAST and not a Daniel DIET!

Daniel didn't fast because he was overweight or needed a health tune-up. He fasted because of God in his life. [There are obvious other benefits of this type of fast namely:] healthy eating, losing weight and even the wonderful health benefits of the Daniel Fast [;] but to call eating the way Daniel did a "fast" without a primary motivation to draw closer to God just isn't accurate. Biblical fasting was always about restricting food and always for the purpose of drawing closer to the Lord, observing spiritual laws, or seeking God in prayer.

The reality is that the Daniel Fast is much more than the types of food consumed. If you are looking for the Daniel Diet then [check on] the food list and call it a "twist" on a vegan diet. Entering the Daniel Fast without a spiritual purpose is like going golfing without clubs. You may have had a great time walking around the course and even yelling, "Fore!" But the reality is that you really weren't golfing. You were doing something else . . . which is fine, but it wasn't golfing.

[You are encouraged] to use Daniel as the model and do it all the way. Seeking and finding God is the most significant benefit of the Daniel Fast. Improving ones health is a great side benefit!

The Daniel Fast originated with the prophet Daniel! The reason Daniel fasted was because of his devotion to God. The devotion came before the dietary restrictions, not the other way around.

Daniel Fast Guidelines [*]

Daniel records three times when he fasted, but he most likely did so more often. The first fast was recorded in Daniel 1. The food and wine the king wanted Daniel to eat had been offered to idols. However, he had already consecrated (set apart) his life to God. If he ate or drank of these things, he would defile his body. So that's why Daniel requested that he eat only vegetables (which actually included fruit) and drink only water. Chapter 9 has the second recorded time of Daniel fasting and when he was deeply distraught over the nation of Israel being in exile. Jeremiah had already prophesied that Israel would be set free after 70 years of captivity. The time had come and so Daniel prayed and fasted. This time, it was probably what is called a "normal fast," which is water only. Chapter 10 has the third recorded time of Daniel fasting. He was concerned about a powerful dream he had received. The Scripture says he mourned for three weeks and ate no delicacies and no meat and drank no wine. This three week fast is the hub of the current day's form of fasting commonly known as the “Daniel Fast.”

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In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Daniel 10:2, 3 The Daniel Fast is a form of partial fasting. It is based on the Prophet Daniel when he was under the rule of Babylonian kings for their personal service. [As previously stated,] Daniel recorded three occasions of fasting, though he likely fasted many more times since he was a man of God. Daniel 10:2, 3 is where we find the model for the 21-day Daniel Fast. From this passage, guidelines have developed over the years, primarily by Christians who use this as a form of fasting. The Daniel Fast has grown in popularity over the last 3 or 4 years as it's been championed by Pastor Jentezen Franklin of Gainesville, GA. No Pleasant Food: This would include breads, sugars and sweet foods. No Meat: All animal products are restricted on the Daniel Fast. That includes meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products (milk, eggs, cheese, butter, etc.) 4