How to Prepare for the Daniel Fast

Today marks 7 days until we begin our Daniel Fast!  Pastor Joel and I are massively expectant for what God is going to do in us and through us as we release some of our comfort in exchange for more of Him!  

Is this your first fast?  Congratulations!!   This signifies a MAJOR milestone in your spiritual maturity and journey.  I believe that you will be able to look back at this fast for years to come and recall the great things God reveals to you, the breakthroughs you encounter and the closeness you experience with Him.  

I wanted to take some time this evening to give you a few pointers and tips of how to prepare your heart, soul, mind and body for the fast.  

1. Fasting with a purpose.  Throughout scripture, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, people fasted not as a religious exercise, but with a purpose:  Esther, the Jewish Queen of Persia called for her people to fast & pray for 3 days.  They were in serious need of a breakthrough - plans had been made by an evil and powerful leader to massacre the entire Jewish race.  Esther desperately needed God to step in and fight on her behalf as she pleaded with the King to change the evil ruler's decree.  We can read that not only was her own life spared, but the lives of every Jew.  In the book of Daniel, we can read about 3 separate fasts that he went on - each with it's own purpose.  And throughout the New Testament, believers fasted whenever they needed guidance or answers to prayers.  So as you prepare for your Daniel Fast, what are the breakthroughs you are needing from God? Each week, we are going to be focusing on breakthrough.  In Week One, we will be focusing on personal breakthrough.   I encourage you THIS WEEK to journal some of the areas that you would like to see God breakthrough in your personal life.  Are there special needs in your family?  Is there a loved one who needs to meet or reconnect with Jesus?  Do you have financial pressures?  Do you or someone you love need healing? Do you need a new job or help with your business?  These will be your subjects for prayer and bible study.  Amazing things happen during our times of fasting and prayer!  Seek Him - He is our Almighty God and nothing, no nothing is impossible for him!  
2. Come up with a food & meal plan.  Preparation brings peace!  This could not be more true for the Daniel Fast.  You will want to make sure to have the right kind of foods in the house, and begin to "put away" the foods that will be a temptation for you during the fast.  You can see a complete list of foods that are ok and not ok here.  Planning for Daniel meals will take longer than normal meals because you will be using all natural ingredients and cooking from scratch.  So using the recipes on this site or others such as (UltimateDanielFast.com, Daniel-Fast.com), I would encourage you to plan it out on a calendar.  If this is your first time, take it a week at a time, as it can get a bit overwhelming when looking at brand new recipes you've never tried before.  
3. Begin to wean yourself from caffeine and sugar NOW.  Removing caffeine and even sugar from your diet cold turkey can be one big HEADACHE.  (Quite literally!)  If you are a big coffee drinker, I would suggest to start by going to a half-caf early this week, and then gradually go decaf.  Unless you drink your coffee black, you will be forgoing coffee during the fast so don't shock your system on day one.  Ease into it.  I crave coffee more for the taste than the caffeine - so on Wednesday, I am going to start drinking caffeine-free herbal tea instead.  Just so I'm used to the change when we begin the fast.
4. Block out a time for your quiet times.  Plan out where and when you will spend time with God daily.  For me, mornings are the best.  I don't claim to be a morning person, but I do know that when I start my day with God, the rest of the day flows out of that.  Some of you however are night owls and you are at your most alert state after dark.  So if that's the case for you - and you can stay away from the t.v. and find some alone time, then go for it!  The key is that God has a time of your day that is solely His.    
5. Determine potential distractions.  What are those things you fill your idle time with?  Is it Facebook or social media?  The gaming apps on your smart phone or iPad?  T.V.?  Are you a Sports Center junkie?  What ever it may be - I'm sure you're already thinking of what THAT THING is.  That thing that you know just might distract you away from the purpose of your fast.  Decide now what limitations you need to protect your time during the fast.  You may need to cut it out completely, you might limit yourself to a couple times a week or maybe even once a day.  I encourage you to prayerfully plan this out and perhaps ask your spouse or a friend to hold you accountable during the fast.  

I do believe that these 5 things will give you a jumpstart to your preparation as we look forward to the fast beginning in ONE WEEK!  (January 6)  If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in a comment!  God bless you in your preparation!

Christina Lowery
Co-Pastor
Crossroads Vineyard Church

---