Hi everyone! I am so excited about how eager all of you are to participate in this fast! How encouraging to see all of you who are willing and ready to learn! I’ve already gotten so many questions about this from my first post I thought I would just do a clarification post rather than respond in the comments so that everyone who logs on from here on out can see it.
First, let’s talk about what a Daniel fast is. There are two fasts I’ve referenced in the book of Daniel. In the first (Dan. 1:11-15) Daniel eats only veggies and water to the exclusion of everything else. In the second, (Dan. 10:2-3) Daniel simply eliminates, “Choice foods, meats, and wine.” In neither of the fasts is Daniel specific about what exactly he deems a vegetable or “choice food.” Within these broad boundaries there is a lot of freedom and room for interpretation.
If you google the words “Daniel Fast” you will come up with several good sites devoted primarily to this type of fast. All of them are similar. But the truth is, that no specific menu plan is outlined in the Bible. Someone, just like me, read these verses, got the gist of it, filled in the gaps with their own rules, and called it a Daniel fast. And that’s how the Daniel Fast has made its way into the 21st century.
If you feel led to add legumes, whole grains, and nuts, then by all means, do so. As I stated in my earlier post, I am showing you how I conduct the Daniel Fast according to the convictions that God spoke to my heart. You need to see what the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart and follow that. But yes, those of you who wrote that legumes, nuts and whole grains are within the boundaries of what can be called a “Daniel Fast” are correct.
I choose not incorporate those foods for 2 main reasons:
1. Legumes, nuts, and whole grains are part of my typical diet. So if I eat those things during the fast,the truth is, I don’t feel like I’m fasting. Even without the meat I just feel full. I LOVE those foods! So because I want to sacrifice during this time, I take it a little farther. For many of you, giving up meat and dessert IS taking it farther and that’s great! I commend you, and I know that God is going to do something amazing during this time in your life!
2. Since this is the only time of the year I go on a prolonged fast (longer than seven days), I want to use this time in a way that is maximally effective for cleansing and purifying my body. So I intentionally eat foods that are exceptionally easy to digest and have a very high water content. I personally find that starchy foods (i.e. potatoes, legumes) are not easy to digest so I don’t eat them even though they are within the boundaries of a Daniel fast. (plus, POTATOES!!! That’s, like, better than ice cream to a carb freak like me!) The less energy my body has to spend digesting food, the more energy it gets to spend on healing and restoring my body. The less I take in, the more toxins I filter out. I also take liver support supplements and several other concoctions to boost detoxification which I will write about tomorrow.
I hope this helps. And I can’t state enough that my way is simply that — my way. You find your way and do it with all of your heart!
Thanks for the posts today Pastor Kerri. I have found that adding the extra nuts and whole grains help with the kiddos. They also choose to give up drinks if we eat out during this time.
I am honestly afraid to ask this question, but this question of mine that has plagued me every time I fast. I have eating issues. Not in the over indulgent department, but the deprivation department.
If you tell me not to eat: No problem.
The very first sermon I ever heard from Stovall was on fasting. I was all about it and ready to jump in headfirst. I had many chains that needed breaking.
I do not know if it was something to do with my past, but I found myself falling back into the trap. It started to become about my body image rather than Gods image.
I want so desperately to fast in a way where my body image has nothing to do with it. I am desperate for God, not a different body.
How does someone with a past eating disorder fast?
Dear Anonymous,
I just read your post and it struck a cord with me also. I too have had the same issues when it comes to eating disorders, and I have tried to fast but prayed and what I was shown was I was not ready to fast back then But Im able and ready for this one. Now that being said, Here is something I just figured out, if you do the Daniel Fast, You will be eating more food then you are use to. I am standing and believing for you that this fast will set you free of the eating disorder. As I believe for myself. Im not a DR. the only thing I would suggest is if you are being seen my a DR, and or someone who is helping you with any eating disorder please clear it thru your doctor first. you can print out the list of foods and I have found that some of the things that I know I can eat are on there, Im standing in faith with you right now sister.
I spent almost 30 yrs with the eating disorder of Bolimia and the addiction of smoking. The Holy Spirit spoke to me almost 3 yrs ago that in order for me to continue to raise my daughter who was 12 at the time, I had to stop these addictions. God set me free instantly from the eating disorder and through constant prayer every time the desire for a cigarette came, He allowed me to pray through that craving for nicotine and with each craving, no matter where I was,(because I realized I could call out to Jesus with my eyes open, if need be),He brought me through that battle also, with the victory. If you ever want to talk to someone that’s been through what you’re going through, I’d be more than blessed to talk, pray and help you in any way I can through believing that His word say’s, I (You) can do all things through Christ. Contact Pastor Kerri if you would be interested in talking, she will know who I am. I’ve just been praying for you before responding after reading your comment and the Holy Spirit led me to reach out to you. Love in Christ, Judy
My Dear Sister Judy,
I want to thank you for your prayers and your honesty, GOD bless you. It is amazing to me how so many women I am seeing who have struggled with eating disorders and the cry for help. I would welcome prayer for my eating disorder and I will for the first time take a step in faith and say I too smoke and so desire to stop. But when you talk to Dr,s etc they all want you to take meds. I dont want meds. I want to stop smoking for myself and my family, Something that has been strong in my spirit is this, and it is hard for me to say But I will, GOD gave me this body and it is his temple in which he dwells and it bothers me so deeply everytime I pick up a cig. I do it when Im upset, or not to eat, or to be 100% honest its a control thing with me the food the smoking cigs. and not taking care of my body this gift GOD has made and given me this life to take care of his temple and I have prayed, But maybe not as hard as I need to be praying to stop these self habits. We all have some sort of addiction in our lives from vaccumming the floor to make sure the lines in the carpet are perfect, to the floor being so clean we can eat off them, the list could go on forever, what I want is to live the life GOD (OUR FATHER) has given me and that I can go forth and do his will and work for his GLORY. I am fasting, I am believing that thru this fast GOD will take the craving away and I will be set free or smoking, and set free of my eating disorder. So Judy,
I dont know you but if you are willing to pray for me I would love that more than you know. Its hard to go public with personal issues even ones that we might be afraid to share.
But I BELIEVE we can not change what we dont acknoldge, and that we have to place our faith and trust in GOD to deliever us from these issues. So if your praying for me, I will agree in your prayers for the chains to be broken, that lives will be healed, Eyes wide open cause Christ will be reveled by breaking these strongholds in our lives.
Judy thank you for being so open and honest and for making me feel safe to air my issues in public. For that I love you sister.
I believe that there is going to be so many break thrus in everyones lives during this fast, I can not wait to see the prayer reports come pouring in from the heavens above.
I know I didnt use my real name but Kerri can tell you per the system who I am and hopefully put us in touch with one another.
I stand in full aggreement and I am praying for all of the women who are fighting eating disorders, smoking, you can label it I JUST BELIEVE GOD WILL DELIVER US FROM ALL THESE ISSUES IF WE FULLY RELY ON HIM…..
GOD BLESS my Sister in Christ,
again thank you….
BTW: Kerri I have to give you props sister you have been so busy with things and for you to address the fast in a way that is clear and filled with more than I excpected, You rocked it sister and I love you madly….
For Angel12 & Anonymous,
I am praying for you both to be set free from eating disorders & any other addictions, (I include also during this time of prayer and fasting) any other young girls, teenage girls and women that need to be set free from any types of addictions in their lives. I know that eating disorders are especially common when we as girls and women have problems with low self esteem. I struggled with that issue for so many years and finally through the ministry at Celebration Church, especially with Pastor Kerri’s ministry and our Shine Conferences, which let us know as women that we are so loved and accepted by our Heavenly Father and we are beautiful in His eyes, it finally sunk in. I now know that I don’t have to look a certain way or be a certain height or weight to try to fit into this world’s idea of beauty because as a child of God, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, I only need to know that real beauty comes from within. Real beauty is what only God can put inside of each one of us as we live our life to serve Him and let His love flow from our hearts to minister to others in this hurting world. I know another reason God was able to touch my life and set me free from the addictions I fought with for so long was because I never had a problem with the faith to pray for another person, but I had a problem with the faith to pray for myself. I never felt worthy of God’s love for me so my faith to believe I could be healed or I could be delivered took a lot of years to accept and realize that God sent His Son Jesus, (even for me). So my deliverances finally came when I had the faith to believe that God not only wanted me to be set free but I believed He would set me free. Just know that God not only loves each one of you, but that if you’ll just allow Him the opportunity by trusting and believing Him that He wants to bring victory in your life. I’ll certainly be praying and believing for you so let God do the miracle He wants to do in your life. Trust Him with your life because nothing is too big or too small for Our God!
Love in Christ, Judy
This is so helpful. Thank you.
You said that you did not include legumes, nuts, etc., to the Daniel fast because they were a part of your normal diet. Aren’t vegetables a part of your normal diet as well?
Hi Donnie! Yes, vegetables are part of my typical diet as well. The difference is that legumes, nuts, and whole grains actually fill me up and constitute a large part of my typical diet. As I said, if I were to eat those, I wouldn’t really feel like I was fasting. I LOVE those foods! Vegetables and fruits are not as filling and they are easier to digest. I want to reiterate that this is a personal decision and each person must decide what is right for them. Thanks for asking!