Kingdom of God Fellowship
~A Church Without Walls~
The Way of Salvation Messianic Congregation
"Touching People, Training Leaders, Teaching Ministry"
Getting Ready for the Harvest that is to Come!
As we begin this new year let's make it our priority to humble ourselves before the Lord in corporate prayer and fasting. This allows us to remove the noise and distraction that so easily drowns out God's voice and leading in our lives.
James gives us a clear and compelling course of action to ensure our hearts are not divided and our affections are focused correctly of God. The tendency of our gaze is to become blurry and fixed on the world's ways and systems, by humbling ourselves before the Lord, as James encourages, we can remain clear in vision and focused on the things of God. The best way to humble ourselves is to combined deep prayer with extended fasting.
Deep prayer leads to repentance and a heart that is singularly focused on pleasing and serving God. Extended fasting humbles our flesh and reveals the things we are enslaved to and distracted by.
James 4.7-10 NKJV
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
CLICK HERE to get your 21 day Guide of Scriptures to read. If the link does not work, email us at info@kogfellowshipchurch.org.
We accomplish this in multiple ways:
1. Fasting Food
A major part of this spiritual activity is fasting from food. By not eating we allow our physical hunger to reveal our spiritual need for Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.
2. The Off Button
The TV, computer, Xbox, etc. remain off. Surfing the web or engaging in social media for a brief time is stopped. By doing this we give new room and focus to the leading of God in our lives.
3. Deep Prayer and Repentance
By giving time to prayer and listening, God will do the deep heart surgery required to bring lasting change and renewed focus.
4. Extended Reading and Study of the Bible
Taking in large amounts of God's word brings faith and a deeper awareness of God's working in and through our daily lives.
Join us wholeheartedly in this season of focused prayer and fasting.
Apostle Rose M. White-Brown
Daniel Fast
The Daniel Fast: Its Origin
The Daniel Fast is based on verses from the Bible found in Daniel 10:2-3. “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” These three weeks refer to the observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which take place during the first month of the year (Exodus 12:1-20).
Some also may cite the example in Daniel 1:8. However, in this verse Daniel did not want to eat the king’s delicacies because it would have included food that was forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11); to eat it would be defiling his body. Another reason would have been because the king’s meats had probably been dedicated to the false Babylonian idols as was their practice. Daniel believed to do so would have been to acknowledge their idols as deities, against God’s commandments.
The Daniel Fast: Its Purpose
While the Daniel Fast is cleansing your body by omitting certain foods for a limited time, the deeper and true basis of intent is for spiritual connection. The purpose of Christian fasting is to seek a more intimate relationship with God while ridding your physical body of unnatural, self-gratifying food and drink. Your focus is to be on God, not on the fleshly things of the world. Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God.
During the Daniel Fast you will want to concentrate on prayer, Bible study, and reflection. The Daniel Fast is a great way to enter into preparation for growing in the Lord.
If you have a medical condition or are undergoing any medical treatments it is advisable to first consult your physician. You may also want to pray, consult a mature Christian or your pastor before fasting. Remember, fasting should be periodically and for limited days.
The Daniel Fast: The Guidelines
The basic guidelines for the Daniel Fast include eating:
fruits, nuts
vegetables
water only to drink (to flush out toxins) Some say natural fruit juices may be included if they contain no preservatives, sugars, etc., but even those juices should be very limited. Coffee and tea are not permitted.
With these things listed, it is concluded that any food having artificial additives, chemicals, or that is processed should be totally avoided during the fast. Fruits and vegetables are the mainstay of the Daniel Fast and can be acceptably prepared in a variety of ways. Many fasting recipes and several cookbooks are designed for the Daniel Fast.
The Daniel Fast is a powerful spiritual discipline. With the coupling of fasting and prayer, one can open themselves to God’s Holy Spirit. Having a sincere desire to seek God, you can come to Him with a contrite and repentant heart and He will minister to you in a powerful way. God’s awesome power is transforming and you will know that with God, all things are possible.
It is important to note that the Bible nowhere commands believers to observe a Daniel fast. As a result, it is a matter of Christian freedom whether to observe a Daniel fast. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial. The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; Acts 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; Luke 5:33).
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning” (Joel 2:12).
WHAT DO YOU THINK? - We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus
Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus
7 BASIC STEPS TO PRAYER AND FASTING
How to Begin Your Fast
How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these seven basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.
STEP 1: Set Your Objective
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.
Through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches, and heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Make this a priority in your fasting.
STEP 2: Make Your Commitment
Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15) For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following up front:
* How long you will fast - one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts.)
* The type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as water only, or water and juices; what kinds of juices you will drink and how often)
* What physical or social activities you will restrict
* How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God's Word
Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life's pressures tempt you to abandon it.
STEP 3: Prepare Yourself Spiritually
The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Un-confessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:
* Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.
* Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
* Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
* Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
* Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
* Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
* Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8. 11-13).
* Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
* Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).
STEP 4: Prepare Yourself Physically
Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without professional supervision.
Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer.
* Do not rush into your fast.
* Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
* Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a fast.
While You Fast
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:
* Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's supervision.
* Limit your activity.
* Exercise only moderately. Walk one to three miles each day if convenient and comfortable.
* Rest as much as your schedule will permit.
* Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.
* Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the "blahs." Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.
The first two or three days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.
STEP 5: Put Yourself on a Schedule
For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.
• Morning
* Begin your day in praise and worship.
* Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees.
* Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13.
* Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond.
* Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will.
• Noon
* Return to prayer and God's Word.
* Take a short prayer walk.
* Spend time in intercessory prayer for your community's and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached millions, for your family or special needs.
• Evening
* Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking His face."
* If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer.
* Avoid television or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus.
When possible, begin and end each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God. Longer periods of time with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often better spent alone.
A dietary routine is vital as well. Dr. Julio C. Ruibal - a nutritionist, pastor, and specialist in fasting and prayer - suggests a daily schedule and list of juices you may find useful and satisfying. Modify this schedule and the drinks you take to suit your circumstances and tastes.
5 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Fruit juices, preferably freshly squeezed or blended and diluted in 50 percent distilled water if the fruit is acid. Apple, pear, grapefruit, papaya, watermelon, or other fruit juices are generally preferred. If you cannot do your own juicing, buy juices without sugar or additives.
10:30 a.m. – noon
Fresh vegetable juice made from lettuce, celery, and carrots in three equal parts.
2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Herb tea with a drop of honey. Avoid black tea or any tea with caffeine.
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Broth is made from boiling potatoes, celery, and carrots with no salt. After boiling for about half an hour, pour the water into a container and drink it.
Tips on Juice Fasting
* Drinking fruit juice will decrease your hunger pains and give you some natural sugar
energy. The taste and lift will motivate and strengthen you to continue.
* The best juices are made from fresh watermelon, lemons, grapes, apples, cabbage, beets, carrots, celery, or leafy green vegetables. In cold weather, you may enjoy a warm vegetable broth.
* Mix acidic juices (orange and tomato) with water for your stomach's sake.
* Avoid caffeinated drinks. And avoid chewing gum or mints, even if your breath is bad. They stimulate digestive action in your stomach.
Breaking Your Fast
When your designated time for fasting is finished, you will begin to eat again. But how you break your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well-being.
STEP 6: End Your Fast Gradually
Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods immediately after your fast. Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your stomach and digestive tract will likely have negative, even dangerous, consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks each day. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health.
Here are some suggestions to help you end your fast properly:
* Break an extended water fast with fruit such as watermelon.
* While continuing to drink fruit or vegetable juices, add the following:
-First day: Add a raw salad.
-Second day: Add baked or boiled potato, no butter or seasoning.
-Third day: Add a steamed vegetable.
Thereafter: Begin to reintroduce your normal diet.
* Gradually return to regular eating with several small snacks during the first few days. Start with a little soup and fresh fruit is such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Advance to a few tablespoons of solid foods such as raw fruits and vegetables or a raw salad and baked potato.
STEP 7: Expect Results
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God's face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.
A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh in-fillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christians.
It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.
I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we truly experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and throughout the world.
Apostle Rose
DANIEL FAST MENU ITEMS
Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast
Please make sure to READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged, canned, or bottled foods. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free. Keep this in mind as you review this list of acceptable foods.
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 butter 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 include but are 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.
Remember, READ THE LABELS!
Click HERE or the picture above to open up and download your document for daily Scripture readings and more information. Let's expect God to do some mighty things during these 21 days of Prayer, Fasting, and being Set Apart.
Also, scroll down past the recipes and review the vital information regarding the second vital component which is Prayer. Why fast if you are not going to Pray? Master "Personal Revival" in your life through the power of Prayer. Fasting + Prayer = Empowerment.
Tips for Getting Your Mind Off the Food and onto the Lord
The Daniel Fast requires some unique balancing moves. It’s not like a “normal fast” when you drink only water and that’s it. And it’s not like a “juice fast” when your choices are clearly defined.
On the Daniel Fast, which is a “partial fast,” some foods are eaten and others are allowed. And the choices are wide and many. So you will need to spend some time thinking about food and food choice for meals. But you don’t want food to become your focus . . . and you don’t want the Daniel Fast to become another way to satisfy the desires of the flesh by concocting “yummy, delicious, scrumptious” meals.
Does that mean your meals shouldn’t taste good? No. But it does mean that you want to keep the first thing the first thing. Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” We want to keep Jesus and our growing relationship with Him as the foundation of the fast . . . and not the food!
So how can you still eat according to the Daniel Fast Guidelines and not get carried away? Here are a few simple steps you can take so you are sure to keep Jesus first.
Decide to eat more simply for this period of prayer and fasting.
Prayerfully consider the purpose of fasting and how it can be a powerful time for putting the flesh under the authority of the Spirit. Don’t make the Daniel Fast more complicated
than it needs to be or should be! Humble meals. Simple dishes. Flavorful and pleasing is fine . . . but in balance for the purpose of fasting, which is to restrict food for a spiritual purpose.
Plan a few simple meals. I like to tell the people I coach about the fast to plan just 3 breakfast menus, 4-5 lunch menus (using leftovers from dinners is great), 5-6 dinner menus and then about 3 different snacks.
Then you can rotate these menus and get good at preparing them and making sure you have the ingredients on hand. Keep your meals uncomplicated and undemanding. Then you won’t have to be so consumed about meal preparation and about satisfying the flesh! Instead you can focus on God, study and prayer.
Prepare several meals at one time. For example, make a double recipe of Vegetarian Chili and freeze one and eat the other for dinner and lunches. Using this pot of flavorful and nutritious chili as the center of your menu makes it easy to add a simple green salad and flatbread for a nutritious and satisfying meal. I like using Saturday as my meal prep day. I plan and prepare five or six meals and I use the time to pray, listen to worship music, memorize scripture or listen to a teachings. The time flies by and meanwhile my spirit is fed and I experience the joy of the Lord during my labors.
Using these simple approaches will do two things. First, when you plan and prepare ahead you will be ready and have the primary parts of your meals on hand! You won’t have to worry about, “What’s for dinner?” You’ll know and it will be simple and easy for you to finish up the meal and stay on the fast.
Second, you won’t be anxious! I hear from many people who end up quitting the fast because of one of two reasons:
1) they felt preparing all the meals each day took too much time and energy;
2) the meals were too complicated and too expensive. You can avoid both these issues by keeping your meals simple and preparing them ahead of time.
But the most important benefit about all of this is that you won’t be centered on the food. I’ve had people write to me and say, “Susan, I spent too much time trying to make all these special meals and new recipes each day. I realized I was really on nothing more than a diet . . . and I totally missed the blessing of the fast.” The good news is that you can make sure you don’t miss out. Keep your meals simple. Plan only a few menus that you like and can rotate them over and over again. And prepare ahead so you have the food on hand and available so you don’t have to think about food too much . . . and so it won’t take up too much of your time!
Be blessed as you grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus during your fast.
A question I frequently receive from readers is, “Will I experience side effects on the Daniel Fast?”
Yes, you probably will. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not all side effects are negative in nature. For example, during the January 2017 Online Daniel Fast, one woman (a diabetic), emailed to share how the fast decreased her blood sugar levels. On day 9 of her fast, her blood sugar was 114 (it’s normally 130-140). She was excited and encouraged by how the Daniel Fast was impacting her health in a positive way.
Many Daniel Fast participants have reported having significantly lower cholesterol numbers after 21 days. Other have testified to having more
energy and being able to sleep more soundly at night while on the fast. Several men and women have lost weight by making healthier food choices and following the Daniel Fast Food List.
Sometimes, though, people do experience unpleasant symptoms on the Daniel Fast, such as body aches, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and digestive distress. Such side effects usually occur within the first few days of the fast as the body adjusts to a different way of eating. My advice to people who are struggling is, “Just hang on! You should feel better in a few days.” And, in most cases, they do.
Following are a few steps you can take to avoid uncomfortable side effects on the Daniel Fast:
Drink plenty of water –The Daniel Fast includes many high-fiber foods, so it’s important to consume plenty of water to keep your body hydrated. Water is also necessary to flush out any harmful toxins that have built up in your system over time. Try to drink a minimum of 6-8 glasses of water each day (you may need more, depending on your weight and activity level). If you’re not used to drinking that much water, take it slowly. You may have to work up to that amount.
Exercise – God created your body to be mobile, and it will work much more efficiently when you exercise on a regular basis. Plus, going on a walk, run, or bike ride will do wonders for you mentally.
Consider taking digestive enzymes – A digestive enzyme enables your body to break down food into smaller particles, making the food easier to absorb and assimilate. For example, if beans tend to make you gassy, you can take a digestive enzyme before eating them to reduce and sometimes prevent digestive distress. Digestive enzymes can be very helpful on a Daniel Fast. Sometimes the best route is a broad-spectrum supplement that covers a wide variety of foods, such as fruit, vegetables, etc. But any physical challenges you may encounter on the Daniel Fast pale in comparison to the wonderful spiritual benefits you receive. You can expect to:
Hear God’s voice more clearly– You’re probably not going to hear the Lord speak audibly to you on a fast, although that would definitely be an amazing side effect! God typically chooses to communicate with us in a variety of other ways – through the Bible, other believers, prayer, and our circumstances. As you spend focused time in prayer and in God’s Word on the Daniel Fast, you’ll have greater understanding of truth as you’re led by the Holy Spirit.
Become more spiritually sensitive – Fasting changes your perspective and allows you to “see” things differently and more clearly. I believe it’s partly due to the fact that you’re hungry, which causes you to realize how dependent you are on the Lord for strength. When I’m on a fast, I’m usually more in tune with the struggles of people around me, which causes me to pray more fervently for them.
Participate in the suffering of Christ – Jesus fasted from all food for 40 days and nights in the wilderness in preparation for his public ministry (Matt. 4:1-11). When you and I commit to a fast, even a partial fast, we’re choosing to undergo one of the spiritual disciplines Jesus practiced while on Earth. By following Christ’s example, we are becoming more like Him, which leads to great joy and blessing. “Instead, be very glad–for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:13 NLT).
Enjoy God’s favor – Even though the Bible doesn’t contain a direct command to fast, God’s Word indicates that fasting should be a regular discipline in the believer’s life. The Lord is pleased when His children seek Him wholeheartedly, and He promises to reward our efforts when we do.
Know God in a deeper way – The main goal of a three-week Daniel Fast is to grow closer to the Lord. As you devote yourself to studying the Bible and spending time in prayer, you’ll learn more about the Lord and His ways.
TYPES OF FASTS
Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
COMPLETE FAST
In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
SELECTIVE FAST
This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
PARTIAL FAST
This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sun down.
SOUL FAST
This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
RECIPES
NOTE:
In the frozen food section is a large variety of meals for vegetarians/vegans. Please read the labels carefully as they have wonderful veggie burgers. Taste almost like real beef burger.
Vegetable Bean Soup
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped carrots
½ cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
6 cups water
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5-ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can French-style green beans, drained
1 cup chopped yellow summer squash, unpeeled
½ tablespoon chili powder
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until vegetables are softened. Add garlic, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly so garlic doesn’t burn. Pour in water and all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, and then lower heat. Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf and stir in parsley before serving.
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about 1 ¼ cups)
Recipe Notes
Use 2 cups chopped fresh haricots vert beans instead of canned green beans. Haricot vert beans resemble regular green beans. However, they are a bit more slender and long , and they are also stringless (a nice benefit!). When lightly cooked, haricot verts are tender, crispy, and very tasty, with a hint of sweetness.
Vegetables
Vegetables are wonderful additions to include in your daily diet. Like fruits, they contain fiber, which promotes bowel and overall digestive health. All vegetables qualify as permitted foods for the Daniel Fast. For best results, steam a variety of vegetables or eat them raw. Canned or frozen foods are available if no additional sweeteners or artificial preservatives are added. Vegetables can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner or as snacks.
Whole Grains
Whole grains such as grits, plain oatmeal, brown rice and wild rice can be consumed whole on the Daniel Fast. Whole grains are sources of plentiful fiber, B and E vitamins, magnesium, copper and zinc. Refrain from adding anything but water to your whole grain dishes, notes Dr. Susan Gregory in "The Daniel Fast." Refined grains, such as enriched flour or most cereals, are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.
Liquids
Consuming an adequate amount of liquid is important while on your fast. MayoClinic.com recommends you consume 64 ounces daily, which is equal to eight standard 8-ounce glasses. Although water is the only liquid you can consume, Daniel-Fast.com notes that you can also juice, puree or blend fruits for your drinking pleasure.
Protein
Since the 21-day Daniel Fast restricts meat and seafood, you can derive your protein from permitted sources, such as beans, seeds and nuts. Consuming these foods during your fast is a beneficial way to improve your protein intake, states Dr. Susan Gregory in "The Daniel Fast." Examples of these foods include kidney beans, black beans, lentils, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and almonds. Check the nutritional labels to ensure your nuts or seeds contain no added sweeteners or artificial preservatives.
Fruits
Fruits are important sources of nutrition to consume on the Daniel Fast. They contain essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body needs to properly function. For example, C and B vitamins are powerful antioxidants that protect your body from free radical invasion and strengthen your immune system. They also contain starch and sugars for added energy during your fast. All fruits are considered good to eat during the 21-day Daniel Fast. Frozen and canned fruits are allowed if they contain zero amounts of preservatives or sugar, reports Daniel-Fast.com
Appendix
How to Experience and Maintain Personal Revival
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life.
2. Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you. Make restitution where God leads.
3. Examine your motives in every word and deed. Ask the Lord to search and cleanse your heart daily.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your walk against complacency and mediocrity.
5. Praise and give thanks to God continually in all ways on all days, regardless of your circumstances.
6. Refuse to obey your carnal (worldly) nature (Galatians 5:16,17).
7. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Develop utter dependence on Him with total submission and humility.
8. Study the attributes of God.
9. Hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).
10. Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).
11. Appropriate the continual fullness and control of the Holy Spirit by faith on the basis of God's command (Ephesians 5:18) and promise (1John 5:14,15).
12. Read, study, meditate on, and memorize God's holy, inspired, inerrant Word daily (Colossians 3:16).
13. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
14. Fast and pray one 24-hour period each week. Prayerfully consider becoming one of the two million Christians who will fast for forty days before the end of the year 2000.
15. Seek to share Christ daily as a way of life.
16. Determine to live a holy, godly life of obedience and faith.
17. Start or join a home or church Bible study group that emphasizes revival and holy life.
Six Vital Questions About Prayer
Q: What is Prayer?
Simply put, prayer is communicating with God. Real prayer is expressing our devotion to our heavenly Father, inviting Him to talk to us as we talk to Him.
Q: Who Can Pray?
Anyone can pray, but only those who walk in faith and obedience to Christ can expect to receive answers to their prayers.
Contact with God begins when we receive Jesus into our lives as Savior and Lord (John 14:6). Praying with a clean heart is also vital to successful prayer. We cannot expect God to answer our prayers if there is any unconfessed sin in our life or if we are harboring an unforgiving spirit (Psalm 66:18; Mark 11:25). For God to answer our prayers, we must have a believing heart and ask according to His will (Matthew 9:29; 21:22; 1 John 5:14,15).
Q: Why Are We to Pray?
God's Word commands us to pray (Luke 18:1; Acts 6:4; Mark 14:38; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1,2).
We pray to have fellowship with God, receive spiritual nurture and strength to live a victorious life and maintain boldness for a vital witness for Christ.
Prayer releases God's great power to change the course of nature, people, and nations.
Q: To Whom Do We Pray?
We pray to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. when we pray to the Father, our prayers are accepted by Jesus Christ and interpreted to God the Father by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26, 27,34).
Q: When Should We Pray?
God's Word commands us to "Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We can be in prayer throughout the day, expressing and demonstrating our devotion to God as we go about our daily tasks.
It is not always necessary to be on our knees, or even in a quiet room to pray. God wants us to be in touch with Him constantly wherever we are. We can pray in the car while washing the dishes, or while walking down the street.
Q: What Should We Include in Our Prayers?
Although prayer cannot be reduced to a formula, certain basic elements should be included in our
communication with God: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (ACTS).
A-Adoration
To adore God is to worship and praise Him, to honor and exalt Him in our hearts and mind and with our lips.
C-Confession
When our discipline of prayer begins with adoration, the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to reveal any sin in our life that needs to be confessed.
T-Thanksgiving
An attitude of thanksgiving to God, for who He is and for the benefits we enjoy because we belong to Him, enables us to recognize that He controls all things - not just the blessings, but the problems and adversities as well. As we approach God with a thankful heart, He becomes strong on our behalf.
S-Supplication
Supplication includes a petition for our own needs and intercession for others.
Pray that your inner person may be renewed, always sensitive to and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Pray for others - your spouse, your children, your parents, neighbors, and friends; our nation and those in authority over us.
Pray for the salvation of souls, for a daily opportunity to introduce others to Christ and to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.