The Daniel Fast: No meats, no sweets, no treats? Oh my!

The Daniel Fast: No meats, no sweets, no treats? Oh my! Continuing our Fasting Together in January Series. You can read the previous posts here and here. Praying that you are fasting unto the Lord, or if you have not begun your fast yet that you are bookmarking these posts for later! Today we will talk a little more about the particulars of The Daniel Fast and I will be sharing my favorite recipe, Daniel Fast Granola!

Daniel was born in the kingdom of Judah in a noble household. King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, taking 650,000 of Daniel’s countrymen into bondage, back to his Babylonian kingdom. King Nebuchadnezzar decreed that all of the young and handsome princes from Judah go into a training program to work in the king’s court. Daniel was among the chosen.

While in training, they were to be fed the very best. Rich meats, sweets and plenty of wine. But Daniel and his friends from Judah all strictly followed the Law of Moses and did not eat many of the foods presented to them. To make matters even worse, this food was usually part of a sacrifice to idols that the Babylonians served. Ugh. Daniel would have been mortified to consume food used as a sacrifice. He didn’t worship a god of stone, wood or any other material. He served the One, True God, Jehovah!

To solve this problem, Daniel asked if he and his men could abstain from the rich and pleasant food for only ten days to prove that their way of eating, only vegetables and water, was much healthier for their bodies. They agreed and at the end of the ten days? At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.” Daniel 1:15, 16 ESV.

Immediately it could be seen how much better this way of eating was for the body. Today, we notice it as well. With all of the preservatives in our foods, MSG, dyes and other unhealthy additives, we are making ourselves sick every single day.

Daniel wasn’t just fasting for the right way to eat. He knew his life was about to change and denying himself earthly pleasures set him on a course with the Almighty to be by his side.

Remember, you will miss out on so much if you are just cutting out meats, sweets, breads and your favorite fancy coffee but never take time to pray!

 

“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”  Daniel 6:10 ESV.

Daniel is recorded to have prayed at least three times every day, usually at the same time. It is so beneficial if you can start your day with the Lord, spend some time in His Word and get strengthened for the day ahead; you are going to need it.

If you have specific things you are fasting about, whether it is your job, finances, your marriage, children, extended family, direction, healing, restoration, whatever the need, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

If you have offended someone, or if there is sin that needs forgiveness, repent. Take care of that at the beginning of the fast.

“If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4 KJV.

You will also receive strength to resist and to be able to turn from sinful habits. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV.

Hopefully it goes without mentioning, (and in this case we aren’t going totally without food), but let’s go over it just for the record. We do not want to “appear to men to fast.” Let us see what Jesus said about it:

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:16-18 KJV.

We can understand clearly here Jesus was saying to not walk around with your head down, pouting that you have to fast. The Word says, “they have their reward”, meaning that is all they have, recognition. They gloried in the appearance of fasting!

This should be something between you and God, unless of course your entire church congregation is doing it, then of course, that is a corporate fast and it is not a secret. It is a time to come together in unity of purpose.

The Lord will bless the sincere heart that seeks Him! So do it with all that is within you, every day as a sacrifice unto your God, denying yourself pleasures that you would normally enjoy.

Remember, we are denying ourselves things that we enjoy, so we only eat until we are satisfied. We are not stuffing ourselves until we are sick.

One of my favorite things to make on the Daniel Fast is homemade granola. It is so good and healthy for you that I even make it when I am not on the fast. It is easy to do and makes a good large batch that can be put in an airtight container and eaten as it is or as a cereal in the mornings with some plain almond milk. (not vanilla or flavored almond milk that would contain sugar).

Be blessed as you continue on your fast. Comments and suggestions are so welcome; encourage one another!

Daniel Fast Granola

3 cups oats
3/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup coconut oil or favorite oil
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Your favorite nuts and dried fruits
 

This recipe normally calls for up to ½ cup of raw honey or agave but the Daniel Fast restricts honey calling it a precious food that Daniel would not have eaten while on his fast. Some still consume it, calling it a natural food. Others do not. I leave that up to the individual.

Mix the oats, coconut, and spices together. Grease a 9×13 pan and add the dry ingredients. Mix the oil and vanilla (and honey if you use it) and incorporate into the granola, stirring until well mixed. Smooth out and bake at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so it doesn’t burn on top. Let cool, then break up and store in an airtight container. Delicious alone or with unflavored almond or soy milk.

Add the fruit and nuts after the granola comes out of the oven. Some suggestions are cashews, sunflower kernels, raisins, cranberries and dates. This is a base recipe that you can adjust to your taste.

The Daniel Fast DevotionalMy book, The Daniel Fast Devotional, has recipes after every devotion. Have you got yours yet? It’s available in kindle and paperback on Amazon here! I also gladly offer discounts to churches or groups with multiple purchases! Be sure if you have any questions to either submit them in the comment box or email me at ynannette@gmail.com!

Fasting unto the Lord, Nannette

Drink your water. The Daniel Fast

Drink your water!

Drink your water! Continuing to help give you little bits of encouragement and instruction while on The Daniel Fast or any fast! Today we are talking about water! Catch up on previous posts here!

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10 KJV.

Water provides five vital functions in the human body:

  1. Cell life
  2. Chemical and metabolic reactions
  3. Transport of nutrients
  4. Body temperature regulation
  5. Elimination of waste

You can’t even live more than 3-5 days without water! That’s why it is imperative to drink plenty of H2O while fasting. You must replenish fluids lost and it also helps curb the appetite.

Watch this short video from Sci Show about what happens to your body when you go without water.

You will be flushing toxins from the body and the water will help keep you hydrated and the toxic waste moving on through like it should.

You may even notice some physical healing from your fast! Longer fasts of 21 to 30 days can definitely heal the body of physical ailments, but shorter fasts have been known to cleanse the human body of harmful toxins that will then heal whatever was causing the pain or disruption in the body’s ability to perform or operate. Cold sores, boils, blemishes, ulcers, even more serious diseases have been healed through the benefits of fasting.

The most important thing is that you take that time that you would normally be eating and spend it PRAYING!

I have a great recipe for you today if you are on The Daniel Fast. It is one that you will want to continue to use long after the fast is over. Enjoy!

This recipe is from RockRecipes.com and is for Lemon Herb Roasted Potatoes.  She has some great tips for cooking the perfect roasted potato in her post so head on over and check it out! Yum!

Serves: Serves 4-6
Ingredients
  • 6- 8 large sized russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1½ to 2 inch chunks
  • juice of one lemon
  • ¼ to ⅓ cup olive oil (butter or other oil will work as well; a butter/olive oil combination is very good too)
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1½ tbsp dried herbs, oregano, thyme and rosemary are good choices
  • 1 whole garlic bulb broken into about 4 pieces (optional)
  • Instructions
    1. Parboil the potatoes in salted water for about 3-4 minutes, no longer.
    2. Meanwhile in a 375 degree F oven, heat a baking pan of sufficient size to hold your potatoes without crowding them. A glass or metal pan is fine, as long as it is well heated beforehand. This will help to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan.
    3. After parboiling, drain the potatoes and let them stand for 5 minutes. Then toss the potatoes with the lemon juice.
    4. Toss together so that the potatoes absorb the lemon juice.
    5. Add the salt, pepper, herbs, garlic cloves and olive oil.
    6. Transfer the seasoned potatoes, garlic and oil to the hot baking pan. These should sizzle as they hit the pan; a good indication that they will not stick. Roast the potatoes for about 60-75 minutes or until they are nicely golden brown all over, turning them every 20 minutes or so. After the first 10 minutes, give the pan a shake to make sure the potatoes are not stuck to it. The roasted garlic may have to be removed before the potatoes are finished as it generally cooks faster.

Be blessed and encouraged! You are fasting unto the Lord!

The Daniel Fast Devotional would be a great asset to your fasting season. You can purchase the paperback or eBook by clicking on the image or one of these links. Devotions for 21 days with Biblical examples of fasting and recipes included every day. Three days of preparation devotions BEFORE the fast, it will be your go-to book when fasting for years to come!

The Daniel Fast: Drink your water

 

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Fasting changes the inner man

Fasting changes Me

Fasting Together in JanuaryFasting changes Me. We are posting every day in January for those that are beginning the New Year with fasting! You can read the previous posts here and here. I have a wonderful Daniel Fast approved recipe for those that are participating in that fast. Some have already begun the fast, others are starting later in the month. Some may be doing a different type of fast.

The more we know about fasting, the more we delve into the Word, the closer we will draw to Jesus Christ.

You will experience rewards from fasting! You will see chains broken, lives changed and prayers answered.

Most of all, in the days leading up to the fast, or the first few days of your fast, no matter when you start, (and it doesn’t matter when you start!), prepare your heart! Ask the Lord to show you things that need to be brought out into the open and dealt with, or done away with altogether. He will do just that because He loves you so much.

Your flesh is going to rebel during the fast, especially at the beginning. It is going to be a fight to stay away from the things that you normally put into your system every day. That is why it is so important to PRAY and FAST together! Keep focused on why you are doing what you are doing.

Always remember that God will honor your sacrifice. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 KJV.

But it doesn’t have to be that way with fasting. The New Year is a great time to begin implementing spiritual disciplines. January is an ideal month to detox your body and your mind but don’t make it the ONLY time throughout the year that you fast unto the Lord.

Fasting changes the inner man

Some particulars for those on The Daniel Fast:

In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel we read that Daniel and his three friends were put into a Babylonian training program while in exile under King Nebuchadnezzar. They did not want to defile their bodies with the rich food brought in by the kings’ servants so they requested that they be given only vegetables and water for ten days. Their meat was also likely sacrificed to idols, a strict no-no for the Jewish people.

At the end of the ten days, they were not only well, but had also prospered physically and spiritually above all the others in the court! Daniel was appointed an advisor to the king and began to interpret his dreams.

Later on, in the tenth chapter, Daniel had a vision of a great war that caused him to mourn and fast for three weeks. This is where The Daniel Fast originated. Daniel ate only plant-based foods for three weeks. That is why you see so many people, and now so many churches, starting the first of the year on a three-week Daniel Fast. They typically go without meat, dairy, sugar, breads and no artificial or processed foods. Basically, they eat only fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drink only water. (And plenty of it!)

There is nothing in the Bible that commands God’s people to fast as Daniel fasted but it certainly brings many benefits when done in the right spirit and for the right reasons.

Also, because you are cleansing your body of unwanted toxins you will feel so much better during those weeks and even afterward.

Did I mention to be sure to study and meditate on the Word during the fast?

Set aside time every day to meet with the Lord. Pray, and then pray again. He desires to meet with you, so do your best to keep at it and make time for Him. While you are denying yourself things that you enjoy, such as sweets, colas, coffees, breads, etc., remember WHY you are doing it. Don’t just check off the days on the calendar. It would be such a shame to only complete 21 days of a vegan diet and not accomplish something in your spiritual walk.

You may even want to journal. If you have never been one to journal, maybe now would be a good time to write down your thoughts as you experience this unique time with God. You might be surprised how He communicates with you during your quiet time. Keep your heart, mind and Bible open.

Here is the food list. As we mentioned in Part 1, there are no hard and set rules, but these are the given guidelines that most follow when on the Daniel Fast:

Foods included in your diet during the Daniel Fast:

All fruits. You may eat them fresh, frozen, dried, canned; anything without added sugar. Fruits include, but are not limited to: apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon.

All vegetables. These also can be fresh, frozen, canned or even juiced! Vegetables include, but are not limited to: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini.

All whole grains. Again, no added sugar. Be sure and read the labels. Whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds. You can have sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame and any other member of the nut and seed family. Nut butters are allowed, including peanut butter (but only all natural, with no added sugar).

All legumes. These can be eaten either canned or dried. Dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, navy beans and white beans.

All good quality oils. These include: canola, grape seed, olive, peanut, sesame and vegetable.

Beverages. You only consume water on the Daniel Fast! Spring water, distilled water or other pure waters. Water cleanses, will detox and purify your natural body; drink plenty of it! (You will be making some smoothies and all-natural juices but these are usually meal replacements, not just to drink for pleasure.)

Other: All herbs and spices are allowed, as are soy products, vinegar and tofu. (It is best to limit your salt intake.)

Foods NOT to EAT on the Daniel Fast:

All meat and animal products. This includes fish.

All dairy products.

All sweeteners. Sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice are not allowed on the Daniel Fast. (Some do consume honey; others consider it a pleasant food that Daniel would not have eaten.)

All leavened bread is excluded. This includes Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All processed foods.  Artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives are forbidden.

All deep fried foods. Examples are potato chips, French fries, and of course any breaded, fried foods.

All solid fats. This consists of shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages. Coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol are all prohibited on the Daniel Fast.

Again, not everyone does it exactly as it is written above. Some use honey as a sweetener or natural maple syrup. Others would strictly forbid it, which is just an example. Some use Ezekiel Bread, but it does have yeast in it, which is leaven, and would be forbidden on the normal Daniel Fast.

A good alternative would be whole grain flatbreads. Remember, WHOLE GRAINS. Regular wheat bread doesn’t count. If it contains wheat FLOUR, it is not a whole grain. If the ingredient list begins with whole wheat, rolled oats or whole corn as the first ingredient then it is likely a WHOLE GRAIN item. It cannot contain yeast, sugar, wheat flour, flour, high fructose corn syrup, etc.

You can find some good organic products at many health and organic specialty stores. They have many ready-to-eat foods that are acceptable, such as whole grain flatbreads and tortillas, which are great for making a veggie sandwich. Again, READ THE LABELS!

The Daniel Fast DevotionalSharing a recipe out of my book, The Daniel Fast Devotional. There are recipes after every devotion in the easy-to-read book. Have you got yours yet? Get it here on Amazon in either Kindle or paperback version. 

Tortilla Soup

1 carrot, chopped 1 celery stick, chopped 1 medium onion, diced fine 3 garlic cloves, pressed 2 Tablespoons olive oil 8 cups vegetable broth 4 cups water 1 can of black or kidney beans 16 oz. frozen corn 1 red tomato, chopped 1 yellow tomato, chopped ¼ cup chopped cilantro 2-3 teaspoons sea salt 1 lime 6 corn tortillas

Heat oil and sauté the first four ingredients until soft.  Add everything else except the tortillas.  Simmer for about 30 minutes.  Brush tortillas with olive oil and cut into strips. Bake in oven for about 15 minutes on 350 degrees. Top with tortilla strips, fresh chopped avocado and green onion to serve.

Blessings to you on your fast unto the Lord! Join us tomorrow for support and encouragement through the scripture!

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