The Daniel Fast

“Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who at the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.” - Daniel 1:11-15

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, not did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” – Daniel 10:2,3

Beginning January 10 -31 Lincoln City Church will be participating in a church-wide Daniel Fast. The Daniel Fast is a time set aside for 21 days to pray and fast for the coming year. This is not just a dietary adjustment; this is a time to seek God for 2010.

During this time we ask you to pray for:

America – For a new Great Awakening; righteousness; our government; our troops

Lincoln Area – For Revival; our City; Civic Governments; Churches; Businesses; Children and Youth

Lincoln City Church – Our Pastors; Leaders; Members; Marriages; Children and Youth

Seven Tips for Observing a Daniel Fast or Daniel’s Diet in 2010

1. Be Specific – Daniel was very clear in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined his objecting immediately. (Daniel 1:8)

- The king’s food was likely not kosher, and against Jewish dietary laws.

- Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.

- The king’s food could have been offered up to idols or demons.

Write out a commitment that outlines: why you are fasting, how long you are fasting, and from what you are fasting.

2. Fast as a spiritual commitment – The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” – Daniel 1:8

3. Reflect inner desire by external discipline – Most people desire better health, but don’t discipline themselves to say no to junk food, and other unhealthy foods. A Daniel Fast will involve a commitment in four areas: your food choices, a spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the diet, your time commitment (determining to fast for a certain time and sticking with it), and your testimony commitment – your fast is a statement of faith in God.

4. Pray to see the role of sin in your relative health or sickness – let this be a time of repentance. Repentance is linked to our good health or healing (see James 5:13-20)

According to James 5:13-20 we can make the following observations:

o Our actions and attitudes are vital. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” (v.13)

o The sick person must call for the elders. (v.14)

o Sin is something related to the cause of sickness. (v. 15)

o Lack of health or healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion. (v.15)

o Lack of health or healing may be due to sin of wrong consumption, i.e., poor diet, drugs, pornography, etc. (v.15)

o Repentance is linked to health. (v.16)

o Prayer alone may not gain healing; faith in God is the major factor. (v.15, 17-20)

5. A Daniel Fast is a statement of faith to others – Daniel asked the overseer to compare the appearance of the 4 sons of Israel with the other people who ate the king’s food.

6. Learn the effects of the food you eat – What makes some food good for us? What negative effects does certain foods have on our bodies?

7. Yield all results to God – Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants.” We don’t really know if Daniel or his friends ever again ate the king’s food.

As Elmer Towns says:

“Fasting for an answer is similar to prayer. Sometimes you can pray once in an act of faith, and God hears and answers. On other occasions you must continuously ask in faith before an answer will come. We need to pray often and fast continually to build up our faith and our spiritual character.”

The 2010 Application of Daniel’s Fast or Diet:

- The Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “As for these four boys, God gave them knowledge and skill.” (Dan. 1:17)

- This Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for at least ten days.  (Dan. 1:12, 15)

- This Daniel Fast is a partial fast. Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables and drank only water. (Dan. 1:12)

- This application of a Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.

PLEASE REMEMBER: IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH ISSUES MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MAKE ANY DRASTIC CHANGES TO YOUR DIET THAT COULD PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK!

Food Guidelines for Observing the 2010 Daniel Fast or Diet:

1. You have freedom in this Daniel Fast to modify it according to your personal physical and spiritual needs. You can modify these guidelines as you feel led by the Lord. If you feel that it would be more productive for you spiritually or physically to avoid certain foods or spices, that would be great. If you feel led by the Lord to eat only vegetables and drink only water, then do so!

2. The main thing is to decide ahead of time how you are going to apply the Daniel Fast. Then stick to your commitment for the length of time you have decided to fast. Some people feel that it is good to make a permanent lifestyle change to the Daniel Fast. Daniel didn’t do his “fast” for a limited amount of time. It was his lifestyle. Daniel asked for permission to avoid the king’s delicacies over a ten-day period. Then, if he was still healthy looking, he could continue his “diet.”

3. Daniel’s reason for his “diet” are given in Daniel 1:8. The Message Bible says, “But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet.”

Foods to Eat:

Daniel seemed to eat only things planted for harvest and drink only water. You may want to keep it simple and eat only vegetables and drink only water.

· Whole Grains: brown rice, oats, rolled oats, oatmeal, barley, corn, popcorn, wheat

· Legumes: dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black-eyed peas, green beans, green peas, peanuts, etc. Grain legumes include beans, lentils, lupines, peas and peanuts (includes natural peanut butter).

· Fruits: apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, breadfruit, cantaloupe, cherries, coconuts, cranberries, dates, figs, grapefruit, grapes, grenadine, guava, honeydew melons, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, mulberry, nectarines, oats, olives, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelons, etc.

· Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, beets broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, any peppers, and potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, etc.

· Seeds: all nuts, natural peanut butter, natural almond butter, sprouts, ground flax, etc.

· Liquids: spring water, distilled water, filtered water, 100% all natural fruit or vegetable juices.

Foods to Avoid:

Basically, you want to avoid the King’s food. By application, that means that we are avoiding all those things that the Jews couldn’t eat. We’re also avoiding foods that only royalty in ancient days could afford. It wasn’t until recent history that most Americans could afford to eat meat or poultry. In most of the world today, very few people can afford to eat any kind of meat or processed foods, like the following items to avoid.

· Meat, because Daniel didn’t want to take the chance of eating non-kosher food and/or meat that was offered to idols.

· White flour and all products using it.

· White rice, white bread, hominy, and pasta.

· Fried foods

· Caffeine (Note: to avoid headaches from loss of caffeine, make sure you drink lots of water)

· Dairy products – including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, eggs

· Carbonated beverages, including diet sodas

· Wine or any other alcoholic drinks.

· Foods containing preservatives or additives

· Refined sugar

· High fructose corn syrup

· Chemical sugar substitutes

· Margarine, shortening, animal fat, high fat products

Have a great Daniel Fast!