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"Honoring God
Through The Daniel Fast"
a free Ebook by Terrance
Day.
Hello! My name is
Terrance and I felt inspired to write this Ebook after doing the
Daniel Fast! You can read it free right here (below)! I hope you
enjoy this and are inspired to do the Daniel Fast!
Sincerely,
Terrance
Day
From Valentines Day to Easter Sunday (2008) my
wife and I set out on a mission. This mission was to limit certain
foods, pray, and let God heal our bodies from the inside out. As
an incredible experience, I can testify to growing closer to God,
learning from his word, looking and feeling healthier, and living
better. As a guy not too concerned about losing weight, I lost 2 inches off my waist, and 10 lbs
of body fat. This was with almost no exercise! I believe my wife
lost more than me, but I didn't ask, I can see.
The Daniel Fast is for
those who want to honor
God by fasting from certain foods for a designated length of time.
There
are also big health benefits for those who choose to do the Daniel
Fast. However, this fast is primarily a spiritual experience for those who use
this time to draw closer to God.
The reason Daniel's diet is
called a fast is because Daniel gave up certain foods to honor God. He was fasting from "Royal Food" that would defile his own body, and
also defile God. In doing this Daniel honored God with his body, mind, and
soul.
Genesis
1:29 (NIV)
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be
yours for food."
God gave us the wonderful gift of food. That food is fuel for our body. As a Christian, I
have learned that our bodies are a temple of God. We are given our
bodies to use, and care for as long as we are on this earth. Unfortunately, much of the food we eat is
no longer of God, it man made.
When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden they were given a wide
variety of delicious food to eat. The Garden had every sort of fruit and
vegetable we could imagine. All of it fresh and healthy to provide fuel for God's new creation, Man and Woman. The food was not processed,
there were no preservatives, or chemical sprays on that food.
However, In the 21st century food is not so natural and organic. The
Daniel Fast takes a commitment to not only eliminate certain foods,
but to be sure that the foods that are eaten are natural and
organic.
The average person in America has a heavy body. Not just heavy with excessive weight, but also heavy in toxins. These toxins cause many known
and unknown health related issues. When those toxins are removed, health is often restored.
God can offer restoration to those who eat as healthy as Adam and Eve once
did.
Daniel 1:11-16 (NIV)
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
12 "Please test your servants for
ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal
food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they
looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the
wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Daniel asked only for vegetables and water because he did not want to eat any "Royal Food". In some ways this sounded funny to me the first
time I read it. I imagine him starting off that first day with a plate of
vegetables, and a cup of water, determined to not eat any other foods.
Doing this did not only restore Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azaria to better health, but they
physically appeared healthier and better nourished. Within just 10
days, they looked better than the guards that watched them!
Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
8 But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king's food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff
to exempt him from the royal diet.
Daniel was determined, as mentioned in the Bible. It was this determination that helped Daniel to accomplish this mission. Without that
determination, Daniel may have given up before experiencing the results. How often do we give up before
getting to the results?
Through his choice of food, Daniel sacrificed temporary satisfaction for long term benefits.
Everyday we see advertisements about fast food, or un-natural food that
are convenient, but not healthy. Perhaps overweight people or people with health problems should be in
the commercials for unhealthy food.
Instead we see commercials with healthy looking people eating unhealthy food. Is this not false advertising?
Regardless of advertisements, or food packaging, we are responsible
for our food choices.
Even food or drink labeled as "diet" is often very unhealthy. This is due to the artificial
ingredients and dangerous chemicals and toxins added. During the Daniel Fast, it is important to read the
label of any package. Usually, if the ingredient list is longer than a paragraph it is a good indication of artificial ingredients. This is especially true
when you cannot even pronounce the names of the ingredients on the list.
Daniel 10:2-3 (NIV)
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 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 fasted
for 21 days. This does not mean that you should not commit to a
longer, or shorter time to fast. While 21 days was ideal for Daniel,
you do not need to commit to this exact length of time. However, I recommend a minimum of 7
days in order to see and feel the immediate health benefits,
and realize the spiritual benefits.
Even lotions were avoided during the time Daniel set aside to fast. Since lotions are absorbed directly into the skin, they too
can be a threat to any
person's well being. This is especially true over time if unnatural lotions are used daily.
There are many different versions of what has become known as the
"Daniel
Fast". What is more important is your commitment to God during this
time. Ideally, one should do without the following:
-No animal products -No Sugar -No
Caffeine -No Alcohol To get a bit
more specific this means absolutely No Meat, Milk, Fish, Fried Foods, Butter and Margarine, Shortening, White Flour, Preservatives and Additives, Refined
Sugar (high fructose corn syrup, etc.) Sugar Substitutes (Nutrasweet,
etc) , Caffeine (coffee, black tea, green tea, white tea) and
Alcohol (Beer, wine, etc.) Note: Decafe coffee is
also off limits since it still contains a small amount of caffeine.
Organic Foods to eat during the Daniel fast::
WHOLE GRAINS: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
LEGUMES: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
NUTS: Peanuts, Cashews, Walnuts, Almonds, Sunflower seeds, etc. FRUITS:
Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries,
Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins,
Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangerines, Watermelon,
Oranges, Coconuts, etc..
VEGETABLES: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn,
Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Green Peppers, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Red
Peppers, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini,
etc..
Drinks: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% Fruit Juices, 100% Vegetable Juices,
naturally decaffeinated teas (Peppermint tea, Chamomile, etc.)
Find good vegetarian restaurants in your area. During this fast you may discover just how good some
vegetarian restaurants can be. During our Daniel fast, my wife and I were amazed at how
delicious some
vegetarian food can taste. In addition to this, Arabic and Lebanese restaurants are
perfect for
anyone on the Daniel fast. You will find various salads, vegetable plates,
and even soup that fits within the guidelines.
Making frequent trips to the grocery store is also beneficial during the Daniel Fast. Stock up on a
wide variety of Whole Grains, Legumes,
Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, water and juice. Having a variety of foods to eat can be an enjoyable experience throughout
each day.
There are several foods that I consider treats even though they fit within the Daniel Fast guidelines.
-Dry popped corn made with an air popper
-Peanuts and pistacios (I prefer them in the shell)
-Pinapple chucks (Canned in water, not syrup)
-Baked Corn Chips (made from 100% Ground corn) and salsa (fresh with no preservatives or sugar)
In order to buy food that is appropriate for the Daniel Fast you will need to buy Organic Food. This means
you will be buying food without chemicals, preservatives, or other
similar additives. Organic food is simply better. It is the way God intended food to be, in it's natural state
unaffected by unhealthy man made processes.
Often I hear people complain about the price of Organic food. To
save money on Organic food, shop at stores that specialize in
selling Organic food. When you buy organic food at a
regular grocery store, you can pay too much. Fortunately, organic food stores buy
organic food in greater quantities for less money. They pass that savings onto their customers. In
fact, the more people who shop Organic, the cheaper Organic food will be.
The Daniel Fast does not have to be more expensive than your normal grocery bill. For the average person, the amount spent on
caffeine (coffee), alcohol, snacks (chips, pop, cookies, ice cream, etc.) is much more. You might
be surprised at how much you save when these "Royal Foods" are eliminated from your grocery list temporarily. During the first 3 days of this fast, your body will begin to flush out toxins. You may find yourself
making trips to the bathroom more often. As your body starts to eliminate excess toxins, be
prepared to feel great. You will feel lighter and healthier than you might remember. Your stomach will also
begin to shrink so you will not feel as hungry. This is a great bonus for those trying to lose weight,
and help flatten their stomach or slim down.
If you are a heavy coffee drinker or sugar addict you won't be able to depend on those things for energy. You may need
much more sleep than usual, but
this is a natural reaction. Give yourself permission to sleep more.
Eventually, your body won't need to rely on the caffeine and/or sugar just to get through the day. Once you eliminate
these addictions from your diet you will also release your body and mind from this
dependency. Last but not least, you will save money and time by eliminating trips
to the local coffee shop, or dessert isle at your grocery store.
After the first week, you will not feel the same hunger like you
might be used to. You will no longer crave the many unhealthy
ingredients that can keep you overweight, and even addicted. This is due to the body's natural reaction to eating healthy. Instead of filling your body
addictive sugar, excessive salt (sodium), and other toxins, your body can
now rely on " healthy fuel". Your body will not have to work as hard to break
down the natural foods eaten during the Daniel Fast. That leaves more energy for you once your body starts to
adjust.
In our daily routines, we are often so accustomed to eating without thinking. The Daniel Fast requires that you think
about the food you put in your body. By planning
meals in advance, you save time and money when shopping at the grocery store. Don't buy what you won't eat, and
don't waste what you buy! This fast is a commitment that takes the
same determination that Daniel had. Don't worry, you can build this determination as you go. It is important to take those first
steps before convincing yourself that you might not be able to stay on
track. Of course it will be difficult to break the daily food habits that have been formed over many years.
With each healthy meal you will become stronger not only physically,
but mentally and spiritually.
Eating many times a day is best for maintaining higher energy. By constantly giving your body fuel, you will have more energy. Doing this also
increases one's metabolism, and more calories are burned daily. This can mean eating more small meals, and snacks. Even a piece of fruit such
as an apple will serve the purpose. Losing weight while
doing the Daniel Fast is a given. By eating healthier with these
natural and organic foods, your body can lose excessive weight.
This can be done without exercise, however a combination of exercise
and a good diet will certainly help lose weight faster. The
best remedy to losing weight and keeping it off is to make long term
dietary changes. I recommend life long changes to keep unwanted, and
unnatural weight from ever coming back!
As you reap the benefits of doing the Daniel fast, you can gain
insight and knowledge about the fuel you put inside your body.
Hopefully you will find many things you can change with your normal diet. Unfortunately, a "normal
diet" to most people still contains foods that are unhealthy. This
can contribute to illness and even disease over time. For example there is refined sugar (and fructose) in more items than most people
realize. This can cause contribute to weight gain, high blood
pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. I challenge you to look for items without high fructose in your average grocery store. You will find this ingredient in
basic everyday items. This includes cereals, pasta sauce, juice drinks, bread, and other items that you might normally consider healthy. Another ingredient to watch for is
MSG which an addictive ingredient used as a preservative in many foods. It is no wonder why so many children
and adults
in America are hyperactive, obese, and ill.
Genesis 9:3
3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
While you are also fasting from meat you may also start to feel
relief from minor health issues like greasy skin. For some there
will be relief from other more serious health issues. You may also discover
relief from the effects of hormones, another major problem with with today's
meat. The meat you buy may be from animals that have been injected with hormones (bst). This is also true of the milk, and eggs found in typical grocery
stores today. After
the Daniel Fast, you can continue to avoid eating unhealthy foods. One way to be sure that you
are not eating this "defiled" food is to buy meat, eggs, and milk
without added hormones. You can often find a statement on the
packaging such as "This milk is derived from cows that have not been treated with BST". Some people have
reasonably suggested that the reason so many of today's children and young adults are taller and
bigger is because of this hormone epidemic. Take time to pray about this and all food you have put in your body in the past, and how you can honor your
body, your children, and God in the future. One of the biggest
things I learned was at the end of the fast just before
Easter Sunday. This was simply that I often spend my time craving
something more than I need. It used to be hard to sit still and
just enjoy a bowl of Oatmeal with Soymilk without turning on the
T.V., or finding another distraction. It's distractions that rob
us of our very lives each day. On any given afternoon, I would
have to make a run to Starbucks for a coffee, and at night often
had a beer or two. Then there's the snacks. Even though I usually
had eaten healthy, I was still snacking too much, having too much
caffeine and sugar, and sometimes too much alcohol. I was always
trying to fill a void, even if in a small way. Over time it adds
up and can cost us our health, joy, freedom, time, and
money. Remember, only God can fill the void. Daniel's fast was a time that Daniel set aside to honor God. Regardless of the amount of time spent fasting, the Daniel Fast is a time to spend with God.
During this fast remember to read the bible often. Continually Pray and ask God for guidance, and
for grace
with each food choice you make. While fasting ask God for forgiveness,
forgive others, and use that time to renew your body, mind, and
soul. Constantly seek the light and truth through our Savior Jesus Christ
during your fast. He will be your strength.
The Daniel fast is being done by
Christians and non-Christians all over the world. Begin your Daniel
Fast and discover what God has in store for you! This eBook is by Terrance
Day, who is also a Musician. If you enjoy
this e-book please make any purchase at makemusichistory.com!
100% of the proceeds will go to charity.
BOOKING
/ CONTACT: Terrance and
his wife Sarah travel the US frequently seeking music performance,
speaking and ministry
opportunities! For more information please call (586) 480-3000
or write info (at) terranceday (dot) com
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