Daniel Fast

Over the past few weeks, we have slowly began preparing to do a Daniel Fast for three weeks in January. I have really debated on whether or not I wanted to write about it on here. A fast is something intimate between you and God a time you are cleansing your body of worldly wants and praying. When it came down to it I started this blog to hold myself more accountable, because if I write it down for me it seems more real than if I just think it, also for something I can look back on and remember what we were doing or how we felt. This blog, though others can read it is mostly for me and I want to be real, this is something that I will be doing and I wouldn't be genuine if I left it out.
 So what is a Daniel Fast and why are we doing it?

"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink"    Daniel 1:12

"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." Daniel 10:2-3

During this fast us, and everyone in our church will be eating fruits (which would have been called vegetables during that time) and vegetables and drinking water. We won't be eating any added sugars, caffeine, meats, bread or pastas etc.

Fasting really is not about the rules you follow it's about prayer and seeking after God and his Kingdom. Prayer is the key to fasting. We are fasting as a covenant commitment to God.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

And to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then you light with break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear; then the righteousness will go before you, 

and the glory of the Lord your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say:

Here am I...

The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land  

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well watered garden, 

like a spring whose water never fail.

Isaiah 58: 6-11

I love that, you will call and He will answer. You will cry for help and He is there! Thanks God.

So, we started fasting on sunday, and truthfully I really love doing this every year, it's something I really forward to. But I was feeling really anxious about Monday morning, waking up again at 5:30, after not having to wake up that early for two weeks and not having any caffeine. 

It's Tuesday, and I had a little headache yesterday but I feel good. God is great, and showing me how to be patient. Also how to be fully reliant on Him, everything should be for His glory. 

So far, because of money and time I haven't really made any new recipes. I have been eating lots of apples, grapes, strawberries and other fruits. Then for dinner/lunch I've had potatoes with carrots, mushrooms, onions and garlic. I love potatoes, I could probably eat them everyday. A struggle for me so far has been one, work because I see alot of delicious food that I'm not eating, but I need to remind myself why am I fasting? Why am I not eating those foods. and also, being at practicum I'm not in a restaurant setting but there are always goodies up for grabs there. And every friday we eat at a little restaurant there and so I haven't really come to a decision of what I'm going to do Friday. Is it rude to bring my own food? Should I just have a salad? I'm not sure, I'm still working through it.