Jeff

The Daniel Fast - Fasting For Health And Healing

This information was primarily taken from the book “Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts� by Elmer L. Towns, published in 1996 by Regal Books, Ventura, California.

Our body is designed to heal itself. When a disease enters our body from bad dietary habits or from the outside, our bodies begin to fight it. Doctors, surgery, or medicines are most often designed to remove the source of the problem, but the healing is done by the body itself. Many common diseases are easily prevented with basic good nutrition and exercise habits.

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STEP ONE: BE SPECIFIC

Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined the problem immediately.

1. The king’s food was against dietary laws.
2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
3. The king’s food had been offered up to idols/demons.


STEP TWO: FAST AS A SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT

The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. “Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself� (Dan. 1:8).


STEP THREE: REFLECT INNER DESIRE BY OUTER DISCIPLINE

Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can’t discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that were not good for health. The physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health may be linked to any of the following factors:

a. Your food choices.
b. The level of your spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the fast.
c. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast 10 days, don’t stop on Day 9.
d. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith to God that you want Him to heal your body.

Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.


STEP FOUR: PRAY TO PERCEIVE SIN’S ROLE IN POOR HEALTH

Notice James 5:13-16:

• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.
• Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.
• Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.
• Repentance is linked to health according to James.
• Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.
• Sick people must desire to be well
• The anointing oil could mean
1. medicine for healing,
2. symbolic of the Holy Spirit, or
3. it could be baptism
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.
• In Greek there are several words for “sick�. James uses “Kanino�, which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.
• Attitude is important. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.�


STEP FIVE: FAST AS A STATEMENT OF FAITH TO OTHERS

Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king’s food.


STEP SIX: LEARN THE EFFECTS OF THE FOOD YOU EAT

Why are some foods good for us, and other foods not? What does certain food do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.


STEP SEVEN: YIELD ALL RESULTS TO GOD

Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants� (Dan. 1:13).

REMEMBER:

• The Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “to those four young men God gave knowledge�.
• The Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for ten days.
• The Daniel Fast is a partial fast. They ate, but only vegetables and water.
• The Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.
• There is no indication that they ever began to eat the king’s food.


GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST

(Foods We May Eat)

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley

Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed
Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boy-
senberries, Cantelope, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rasberries, Strawberries, Tangeloes, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

(Foods to Avoid)

Meat
White Rice
Fried Foods
Caffeine
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It
Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

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there is nothing too hard for God
Jermiah 32:27

violet

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Beloved

Thanks alot
I'm trying to loose weight and now I
m hungry again ...

BTW I've tried to get use to Brown rice but it taste like boiled cardboard no matter how I prepare it.

So I eat Baby's whole grain Brown rice cereal in which you only add hot water to... It taste great and is quick.

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Shalom

( SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. )

Beloved
1 Corinthians 14:1 Let Love be your highest goal.

butterflywings

Thank you for info on the Daniel Fast. I think the Daniel Fast is a wonderful introduction to fasting for those who have never fasted at all. A sacrifce is definitely involved especially for those who eat the SAD (Standard American Diet) way, and fasting is about sacrificing and offering ourselves to the Lord, and a level of committment and faith is to be embraced aswell. Spiritual and health blessings await those who try it.

I have an auto-immune disease, and eating as closely to all natural, whole grain, unprocessed food has helped my condition.

Beloved, I can understand about the brown rice. Have you ever steamed rice, and just adding a flavourful seasoning? I like using mrs.Dash.

There are also a variety of wonderful rices to try. Aromatic rice, wild rice, basmati etc, different flavours and textures. You can buy blends of different rice in one package, they are really nice. Rice is also gluten free so that is helpful to many people with health conditions. I myself avoid gluten as it helps me. Gluten is a protein in many grains that alot of people are intolerent or sensitive to and don't even realise it. Wheat being #1 grain to avoid. Eliminate wheat and all things with wheat and it's derivative from your diet for a week and I would suspect many people will be relieved of all sorts of ailments.

God bless all

Butterflywings

Beloved

These foods I eat already and was raised on...

Whole Grains: Oats, Barley

Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed
Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boy-
senberries, Cantelope, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rasberries, Strawberries, Tangeloes, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts I'm getting hungry again....

Not sure if I've ever had Basmati rice... I do eat Wild Rice, but mainly Jasmine white rice...

I'll try steaming alittle brown rice (((once)))

I cook a combination of Italian, Spanish, Cuban, Americn and Cajun food... So there's alot of spices, herbs, onions, garlic, and peppers and tomatoe products...

I eat raw nuts and seeds as well and all the above foods you mention...

Gotta go and fix breakfast now

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Shalom

( SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. )

Beloved
1 Corinthians 14:1 Let Love be your highest goal.

Boanerges

1st rule of Cajun cooking- put Tony Chachere's on almost everything!

NoDoubt

I've been cleaning up my diet significantly over the past few weeks (no refined sugars and virtually no processed food for 2 weeks, now!), and I want to fast ~ but I'm delaying because I want to finish a muscle building regime first, and for that I need lots of meat :/

I'm just concerned about muscular health. By many standards, I'm fasting now, with the exception of my meat intake.

I've been doing some reading on fasting, and most of the sources say start slow, with 1 day fasts once a week, then 3 day fasts once a month. They also mention all sorts of cleansers and probiotics. Do any of you incorporate cleansing elements into your fasts?

gratefulgrace

For the person who said brown rice tasted like cardboard. Do you have a rice cooker. It makes all the difference and try cooking it in vegetable or chicken stock instead of water. I think it is great now and I never used to like brown rice. gratefulgrace

Love_Mercy

I am so glad yall are talking about this. I haven't fasted in awhile and need to do so soon.

About the rice cookers, the best ones can be found at Asian markets. They really make the very best rice Now, I'm hungry

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