Daniel Fast Day 20

Won't be long now. Of course that's what the monkey said when he got his tail stuck in the lawnmower.

Some thoughts/reflections on the Daniel Fast experience

-From a food perspective, it is amazing to think/experience how the body detoxes. In 3 weeks, eliminating meat, sugars and dairy (along with preservatives, additives,etc) will cause the body to detox. This is a bit alarming in regards to what we put in our body that is pretty harmful.

-Fasting with wrong motivations is not good. If I'm doing it because I put a few lb's on over Christmas, it might be good for the body, but wrong motivations don't nourish the soul.

-Satisfaction in Jesus is really the sweet spot. But for me at least, it was so hard to stay there. The first couple days it was feeling the body's 'needs' for substances or foods. Then all throughout the rest it was a battle to stay honed in on God's presence and prayer rather than meals, ingredients and temptations. But those moments that you throw off everything that hinders and fix your eyes on Jesus, are moments where your ears have been dug out and your eyes have been opened.

-It is easy to see a self-rightoeousness flair up in me as I think I'm something impressive or what I'm doing is something sacrificial. When the fast was working the way it should, I was not puffing myself up, but puffing God up as my sustainer and provider.

-Won't be long now.

Daniel Fast Day Nineteen

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Hebrews 12:1-4

This passage speaks for itself. We don't grow weary or lose heart because He didn't do so on us.

The writer of Hebrews is basically saying, "If you haven't endured the humiliation, pain and blood of the cross...you really don't have it that bad. So buck up and keep your eyes on Jesus, who began your salvation and continues your sanctification.

Daniel Fast Day 17-18

Sorry I missed yesterday.

This passage is pretty much where I'm at right now:

Romans 7
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

For all the smooth sailing and closeness to God I felt in the first two weeks, I feel bombarded in this last week. I can identify with Paul in this passage. I know what I want to do and what I don't want to do, yet there is a war raging in me to taint or flip my desires. v.24 What a wretched man I am!...I am prone to wander...I am prone to live out of my own strength...I am prone to cast my affections on inadequate lovers (food, money, me, my wife, my career). I am convinced they will satisfy me...that they will complete me. And this divided allegiance is taking me to certain death. Who will save me from my self? From this path of destruction?

v. 25 is the answer...THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO DELIVERS ME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

Daniel Fast Day Sixteen

Song of the Week this week: Bethany Dillon's "You are all I need"

When the day is done
And there's no one else around
While I'm lying here in bed
You're in my heart, You're in my head
You're all I need, You're all I need
There are a million voices
Calling out my name
But You're the One I want to hear
So make the others disappear

You are all I need when I'm surrounded
You are all I need if I'm by myself
You fill me when I'm empty
There is nothing else
You're all I need

When the morning comes
And Your mercy is renewed
There's a fire in my bones
I'm not afraid to go alone
You're all I need
You're all I need
The sun on my face
I hear You whisper loud
You're still the God that opens seas
Every flower, even me
You're all I need
You're all I need

I'm drawn to everything that You do
Nothing compares with You

Daniel Fast Day Fifteen

Back in the saddle again today. Breakfast: a whole wheat tortilla with all natural peanut butter, bananas, mixed nuts and raisins. Lunch: A sweet potato with olive oil, salt and pepper and herbs de provence and some grapes. Dinner: chili!

Philippians 2:
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

If you remember back 2 days...the WAY of Jesus was to make himself low...always taking the role of servant...always being subservient to the Father and to those around Him (and this is to be our exact same attitude!)

Then comes this section...THEREFORE, (anytime you see therefore in the Bible you need to ask what its there for. Its saying Jesus was humble and became obedient to death on the cross...therefore...God exalted Him. The lower He went by our standards, the higher He went in the Father's standards.

Why did this whole process of humility and exaltation take place? FOR THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.

The lower we get, the higher He will be placed in our lives. The more I decrease. The more He increases.

It is all about making much of Him! Whether fasting or not...make much of Him.

Daniel Fast Day Fourteen

Doh!

I encountered my first flub up on this fast in terms of diet regiment.

I'll confess my story then give some application to how this works universally then tomorrow we'll pick back up with Philippians 2.

I was pretty much smooth sailing all day yesterday (Saturday) and was filled spiritually by spending some time with lifeWorth Group leaders in the morning.

But then 4 p.m. came. I was hungry and it was Shaina's birthday. My option was leftover rice and natural salsa in a all wheat all natural tortilla wrap or I convince Shaina that it would be good for us to go to dinner to celebrate her birthday and that one flub up for her birthday isn't that big of a deal.

I convince her...namely because leftovers for a birthday dinner aren't exactly exciting her. So we go to Ruby Tuesdays. I order water (still the only beverage I've had for two weeks). Then I order the Salad Bar...with Cheeseburger Sliders...with french fries. Then, we stopped at Giant Eagle on the way home and Shaina picked up a little chocolate cake for her birthday treat. And I ate a piece.

I'm back on the wagon today...but let me tell you a couple things 1) It wasn't nearly as satisfying as my mind told me it would be. 2) My body didn't (and still isn't!) responding well to such harsh treatment. (Curse you John Kohler!) :-)

But here's the point...we will employ any number of tactics to get what we think we want that we're not supposed to have...Here's a few:

Justification...This was a big one..."But its Shaina's birthday...But I've been good to this point...But, others have failed already...etc." Some of us need a good ol' fashioned but amputation.

Blameshifting...Adam said "but the woman you gave me..." Our first way to get out of responsibility is to put it all on someone else...or God. Its as old as Adam...and doesn't help us grow in the area of integrity. I found myself blaming others on the Fast who had slipped up, modified or quit for why I shouldn't be faithful.

Entitlement...13 days of faithfulness ought to land me one day of indulgence right? Wrong...The minute you think you're owed something is the minute your judgment and spirit are clouded. The only thing you and I are entitled to is our sins being punished by banishment from God's presence...But for those who have been changed by Christ, the reality is that we have been set free and are Sons and Daughters of the King.

Flesh is Weak...Some of us try to do it all in our own strength rather than abiding in God's presence and love to sustain us, equip us and rescue us. Then we fall hard. We know that a flashlight without batteries doesn't operate very well...but yet we go around without our batteries all the time and wonder why things are too tough or we are caught in sinfulness.

NOW...IF AND WHEN WE DO MESS UP...ITS NOT ABOUT US RESIGNING OURSELVES TO THE STATUS OF FAILURE...ITS NOT ABOUT US PULLING OURSELVES UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS AND TRYING HARDER...ITS NOT ABOUT SOME TYPE OF DIVINE KARMA THAT GOD CATCHES US WITH BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LESS THAN GOOD...EVERYTHING...ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING...IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE MUCH OF HIM.

I'm doing the Daniel Fast...to make much of Him as the God who is my portion.

I messed up on the Daniel Fast...which today has me seeing more clearly that He isn't my entire portion and I need more of Him. So I can make more of him in my shortfalls.

I am granted my health to make much of Him.

I am diagnosed with a bad report to make much of Him.

I am healed to make much of Him.

I'm not healed, to make much of Him.

Do you understand? The point of this fast...The point of the Christian life... is not ever to be dictated by life's circumstances! It is today and always about
the Glory of God and our opportunity to make much of Him...BECAUSE OF and DESPITE OF our circumstances.

Make that your goal in this final week of the fast. That He would really be the center of our motivation, our sustenance and our victory!

Daniel Fast Day Thirteen

Philippians 2:
5 Let the same mind be in you that wasa in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Remember yesterday...sacrifice and humility begin by taking your eyes off of yourself and looking to bless, serve, and help others.

v. 5 "Your attitude" is how other translations put it...not LIKE Jesus' Not CLOSE TO Jesus'...THE SAME AS JESUS' (What's that like you might ask?)

v.6 Didn't exploit or grasp for power or authority. (But that's so un-American!?)

v.7-8 Emptied Himself...All the power Jesus had over Creation, over others, He relinquished for the cross. He chose to get low.

He took on Human Form (Low)
He became a slave (Lower)
He became obedient to death (Lower Still)
Even death on a cross (Lowest)

Every time we jockey for position, favor and recognition we seek to elevate ourselves. But our minds (and attitudes) need flipped. What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means to empty yourself...to become like the Eucharist...broken and poured out for the world...not for your own fame...but for HIS.

We are entering the final week of the fast and the prayer from the beginning day of this thing was John 3:30...He must increase BUT I must decrease. Let that be true over this last week. Get low.

Daniel Fast Day Twelve

Philippians 2: 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Going to walk through Philippians 2 over the next couple days of this fast.

Paul is in prison and he is writing to the church in Philippi to encourage them not to give up or give in, but to continue in the faith.

v. 1 If Jesus has any impact on you...If He's made any difference. If He's comforted you, encouraged you, show you compassion or tenderness...

v.2 Then be united in love, spirit and mind. Don't do this thing on your own...Don't live in judgment of others. Don't live in self-righteousness.

v.3-4 But instead root more for those around you than for yourself. Treat others more than you treat yourself. Seek blessing for others more than you seek blessing for yourself.

The temptation when we sacrifice is to turn our eyes to ourselves and what we're lacking...but Paul is saying the best way to live sacrificially and humbly is to think more about others than ourselves. So today, if there are challenges with your fast, get your eyes off yourself and get them on serving others.

Daniel Fast Day Eleven

Thought it would be good to put a song on here that is pretty much what the Daniel Fast is all about. Let it be your prayer for today.




All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

Daniel Fast Day Ten!

Matthew 6:16 “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is at the center of all of Jesus' teachings. He unpacks a year's worth of sermons in one sermon.

He addresses fasting in the above verses...but notice where He went right before that...Matthew 6:1 Be careful of practicing your piety for others to see, for then you have no reward from your Father in Heaven.

He then talks about giving (Matthew 6:2-4) and says if you're showing off when you give resources to the Kingdom, your reward will only be that others will see you (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)

He then talks about praying (Matthew 6:5-15) and warns that if your prayer life is only geared toward the public eye, the public eye is essentially all who will hear your prayer (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)

He then goes into fasting. Again, if you are putting theatrics to your fasting, then you will receive nothing from God and only have others watch your performance (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)

This can manifest itself in lots of ways...You might announce that you are fasting everytime there is food that is not on your "To-Eat-List". It can show up as you dramatize excruciating suffering, whether headaches, hunger or some other drama. It can show up in self-righteousness as you scowl at people who are eating far less healthy than you. It can show up in your focus being solely on the weight you're shedding (or not shedding) on the scale.

Jesus is warning...Check yourself before you wreck yourself. He knows our motivations and if we are out of tune with the rhythms and melodies of His grace, He will know...and so will others around us.

But if we press in more and more to His presence...more and more into His sustaining love and grace...more and more into the cross...He will reward us (not with a juicy burger...not with a check in the mail...but with MORE OF HIM. That is the ultimate reward. So the blessing we receive when we give, when we pray and when we fast with pure and right motives is HIM.

And those who have experienced this truly and richly know there is no greater reward.

Daniel Fast Day Nine

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enablede you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col 1:9-14

Lets walk through this passage real quick.

v. 9 Paul is praying that the Colossians would be filled...meaning they weren't already full. Our lives need constant filling of the knowledge of God. I need filled...not with vegetarian chili or vegetable medley or a fruit salad...I need to be filled with knowing God today.

v. 10 How do we lead lives worthy of God and fully please Him? BY BEARING FRUIT WHICH COMES FROM KNOWING GOD. I can't even do lasting good without knowing God more.

v. 11 Where does my strength come from? Not by me pulling myself up by bootstraps! But by tapping into HIS GLORIOUS POWER (By KNOWING HIM!) Want to make today's fast simpler...don't go it alone!

v. 12 Is life going to be peachy smooth sailing when I know God more? Apparently not...Why would Paul talk about patience and endurance if everything was going to be perfect when I followed Jesus? Hardship is guaranteed. But those who know God more will endure WITH JOY AND THANKFULNESS.

v.13 God has enabled us to share in His riches...another word for enabled is qualified. You have not earned the Gospel...You've been qualified for it by the grace and sacrifice of the cross. That should leave no arrogance or self-confidence in you, but should leave you humble and desperate for grace to live every day.

v. 14 We've been rescued from darkness! Transferred to His Kingdom! Redeemed by His Son! And forgiven of our sins.

Have a good day today. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

daniel fast day 8

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20

Week two begins today. For me, I no longer want to make this about diet. This week I want to press in more and more to God, the grace and power of His cross, and the wisdom of His presence.

We need to shift from 'survive mode' to 'thrive mode'. God wants to do more than just get you through these 3 weeks. He wants to do immeasurably more...do we believe that? Do we believe that as we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, He will reveal His will to us.

God wants to take us deeper into Him today...so when your flesh is weak, but your Spirit is willing, ask God to work in power.

An area to focus our prayers on today is the process of finding our new lead pastor. So pray for the Staff Parish Relations Committee...that they would seek God's face and will in this process. Pray for the candidates that are recommended...that he or she will know clearly whether God is calling them here or not. Pray not for your own agenda, but pray for God's will to be done!

Daniel Fast Day Seven

Powerful Message today in worship.

Couple take aways that should help us with the Daniel Fast

"Sacrifice...Sacrifice"

Making Jesus Lord is not about a resolution. We don't resolve to do it...to make it happen...to try harder to be a good person or a faithful Christian...we surrender...we yield.

Its not enough that we just know Jesus as our Savior...we need to know Him as Lord.

The reason churches are dying is because often they are filled with narcissists who think its about themselves rather than about the God who made them and their church.

How can anyone worship the Most High Living God and be in His presence on Sunday morning and then say "Ok, that will last me all week." Making Jesus Lord is a 24/7 endeavor.

One week down, two to go...you can do this...because the Living God gives you the strength and the grace to do it!

Daniel Fast Day Six

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (Matthew 6:9-13)

In some ways, the rote-ness of this prayer may steal its potency.

But pray this multiple times today focusing on what all this prayer conveys.

Our Father (It's corporate not private...He's Father/we're children)

In Heaven (He is divine (we aren't)

Hallowed (Worthy of Worship)

Be Your Name (His...Not's ours)

Your kingdom come (He's King...we're not)

Your will be done (He's Sovereign...we're not)

On earth as it is in Heaven (He's a God who gets involved)

Give us this day our daily bread (He is provider/we are provided for)

And forgive us our trespasses (Redemption is on Him/not us)

As we forgive others (We are called to go and do likewise)

And lead us not into temptation (He protects, we're protected)

but deliver us from evil (He delivers, we're delivered)

Amen. (So be it)

Daniel Fast Day Five

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

God is disciplining me on this. Last night during Sweet Hour of Prayer I really felt conviction about being prayerful and thankful through this season.

It's not what we are lacking during this fast, but who we have. There are moments where my concern is on what I'm going to eat for my next meal...but I'm missing the blessing that God is still providing richly for me. In Kenya, when our team went two summers ago, these three kids and others like them had orange hair that was receding. This meant that they were severely malnourished and were eating about an average of one meal every three days. I am eating essentially 5 or 6 small meals a day...and when I'm not in the presence of God, I eat them begrudgingly. God forgive me.



Then, I go to the fridge to get a drink and I have one option, good ol' h2o. And I'm not content. I think I'm suffering. Then I see this add from charity:water a non-profit trying to provide clean water to the world.




Again, its not what we are lacking, but what and Who we have. That is what this is about...I'm getting a swift kick in the pants today from the Lord who wants me to know Him deeper and cast off dependence on food, drinks and substances. If you're in the same boat as me with the struggle for contentment...feel free to receive this kick in the pants too. Press in to Him.

Last night, Jennifer Satink shared a little saying she read on a chocolate wrapper (not doing the Daniel Fast). It said "Blessings come to those who notice."

God give us eyes to see.

Daniel Fast Day Four

"The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.” (Exodus 16:1-8)

It's a pretty bold statement that the Israelites make..."We were better off as slaves back in Egypt." God miraculously brings 10 plagues against Egypt...rescues the people who'd cried out to be rescued...parts the Red Sea to save them, then swallows up their enemy by closing the sea at just the right time...That's what God has done in recent days, weeks and months...and Israel's short term memory has fizzled. Their appetite is bigger than their heart for God. They'd rather choose bondage and oppression than to stick with the God who has proven trustworthy over and over again.

And 3500 years later, we're not a whole lot different. The minute a trial or hardship comes our way, many of us start to question whether God is good, whether God is faithful, whether it might have been better for us to choose a life of bondage and sin rather than the freedom we have in Christ.

Even in this 21 day fast, we are tempted day after day to go back to Egypt, rather than stay on the path we're heading. I had a dream last night that I snuck 3 pieces of greasy, artery clogging, stuffed crust pizza. Every time I go to the fridge and have the singular option of H2O, I think about Egypt.

But God IS good. And God IS faithful. He provided manna (in the Hebrew, literally "What is it?") in the wilderness. It was exactly what they needed to be sustained.

So let's practice the Manna Principle today...GOD WILL GIVE ME EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO LIVE TODAY.

Daniel Fast Day 3

Can I tell you a secret?

Philippians 4: 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Its the secret to contentment...Paul, who was imprisoned for the gospel, beaten for the gospel, shipwrecked for the gospel, shamed for the gospel, and ultimately would give his life for the gospel knew this secret well. He could do all this through Christ who gave him strength.

That's what this journey is about...is learning this secret. And if I'm honest, my focus through 48 hours has been more on food than it has on Christ. Even now, though our bodies are being detoxed and we're missing out on some staple foods, we are still well fed.

I woke up with this on my mind...that even now, though I feel hungry...I've never once in my life experienced the true depth of hunger. We can do this...because He gives us strength.

So, CONTENTMENT is the word of the day...when your stomach growls, when you feel like being irritable, when you want to cut corners or quit...Whisper this prayer..."Show me the secret of contentment Lord, Give me Strength."

Daniel Fast Day Two

Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

True Life won't come from food. It will come from me feasting on the presence of God. Too many of us are malnourished in this. The symptoms of Jesus malnutrition begin small; short tempers, sarcasm, selfish motives...but the more we starve ourselves of Christ, the more bitterness, hatred, broken relationships, lack of self-control and dissension that will rise to the surface.

This is the perfect time to change our most important diet and pray life our lives depend on it...because they do.

Daniel Fast Day One

Our Church is going through a season of intensified prayerfulness. Along with the sermon series, ONE PRAYER, we are also inviting the entire church to partner in one (or more) of 8 unique prayer initiatives.

The first initiative to be launched is one of the most challenging. It is known as the Daniel Fast. In the Bible, Daniel fasted in two different contexts, the first was to abstain from the foods king and his men ate, which ended up being a testimony to God's ability to sustain and strengthen him on an unlikely diet. (Daniel 1) Then, Daniel fasted for three weeks to discern God's will and seek out the plan that God has for Him. (Daniel 10)

So, starting today, a group of about 40 of us are entering into a 21 day fast that will press us deeper into prayer and cleanse our bodies and minds of years and years of mistreatment. The 21 day fast is not a fast from all foods, but instead is 21 days eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking water. Here is the description of the 'shalls and shall nots'

Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast:

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, 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.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast:

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

So, over the next 21 days, I'm going to walk through the struggles, victories and revelations of what God is doing. If you're doing the fast, feel free to journey with us in the Comment section...give us updates to how to pray for you, some meal options that you've found pretty tasty, etc. If you're just checking out the blog, please continue to do so and pray for me and others doing this fasting journey.
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Day One Update:
Apparently, mountain dew has caffeine in it...and apparently if you randomly stop drinking a bunch of caffeine, it will cause headaches. :-) But I am content today. I am convicted that food is a borderline idol for me...and I will not find my security or dependence there any longer.

Prayer Focus today: John 3:30 "That God might increase, but I might decrease." God will you help our eyes to be fixed on you and not on hunger or discomfort. Let this be a day where we can make much of you and continue to work more and more on making less and less of ourselves. Amen.

Day One Food

Breakfast...piece of cantaloupe and an orange with a glass of water

Lunch...Some whole wheat, all natural, unleavened crackers with some all natural peanut butter (Didn't realize that natural peanut butter had oil separated from the peanuts that you have to stir back together...learn something new every day) and some raisins with a glass of water.

Snack...Grapes and Blueberries

Dinner...Homemade Vegetable Soup (Recipe below)
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped leeks, white part only (from approximately 3 medium leeks)
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
Salt
2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped into rounds (approximately 2 medium)
2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
2 cups fresh green beans, broken or cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 quarts vegetable broth
4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
2 ears corn, kernels removed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup packed, chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 - 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice