A Time of Fasting
Our 21-DAY DANIEL FAST
GVCC begins each year by fasting
and praying. Our 21-Day Daniel Fast
will begin on Saturday, January 2,
2021, and end on Friday, January 22, 2021.
WHY WE FAST:
The Word of God teaches that fasting is a discipline that was used by those in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Those who practiced fasting was serious about getting into the presence of God and getting God to move on their behalf like never before. Even Jesus Christ spoke of fasting as a way to get God to move in a mighty way.
In Matthew chapter 17, a man approached Jesus with a complaint because he brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not help the little boy. Jesus healed the boy and then the disciples asked Jesus why they could not heal the boy as Jesus did? Jesus’ reply was, if they had faith in God and fasted before God, then they could have healed the boy. He says, “that this kind of breakthrough only comes by fasting and praying.” (Matthew 17:21 Amp) How many of us are missing certain blessings from God because we have not learned how to apply the discipline of fasting to our lives? Fasting is simply abstaining from food for a period of time to seek God and get Him to move on our behalf in a very special way. Many of us want God to take us higher, heal our bodies, fix our families, release us from debt and much more, but are we willing to sacrifice our physical desires to pray, study the Word, and focus on God in order to receive breakthrough?
Fasting will change our lives. It will allow us to think clearer, gain greater spiritual strength and better be able to deal with the enemy, the devil. Jesus Christ teaches us this in Matthew chapter 4. Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights and after He had concluded his fast, guess who met Him for a showdown, that’s right Satan, but Jesus was able to defeat Him. The question we must ask is how was Jesus able to defeat the devil? He had gone without food and water for forty days, so we know that He was physically weak, but what we must understand is that because He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He was spiritually strong and subsequently was able to defeat the devil. Fasting done the right way denies the flesh so that we can gain spiritual power. Eating is one of the greatest and most consistent ways we gratify our flesh, but when we fast, we deny our flesh so that we can become stronger in God and His Word. Aren’t you tired of getting whipped by the devil? Are you tired of your prayers not being answered? Are you tired of living on one level of life? Do you desire greater breakthrough?
Well, if so, then fasting is for you. As we fast, we must make sure that our focus is correct. Many times, we fast for the wrong reasons. Fasting is not a weight loss program. You don’t enter a biblical fast to lose those extra pounds. When we fast, our focus is solely on God and His Word. During the fast their needs to be a lot of time spent in God’s Word and in prayer.
Remember fasting, prayer and studying the Word of God must happen together in order to gain the breakthrough that fasting yields. During this fast, we as a ministry believe God for so much. We are praying that the God-given vision for 2018 will come to pass. During this fast, each member is asked to pray daily for the 2018 vision. We will all be stronger in the Spirit and able to clearly discern the will of God for our lives.
We are not only fasting for the corporate body, but we are also fasting for individual breakthrough and deliverance. Many of us need God to really move in a special way. Many of us need answers to prayers that we have been praying for a long time. Many of us want God to move in our families and destroy generational curses that have plagued our families for years. Let’s join together and fast, pray and believe God not just for Him to show up and bless our families, and us but to transform our ministry and the lives of others.
Our Specific Fast:
As a church family, we will commit to a period of consecration through the Daniel Fast. The concept of a Daniel fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 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.” So, he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”
The background of the “Daniel Fast” is that Daniel and his three friends had been “deported” to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians had conquered Judah (2 Kings 24:13-14). Daniel and his three friends were put into the Babylonian court servant “training program.” Part of the program was learning Babylonian customs, beliefs, laws, and practices. The eating habits of the Babylonians were not in complete agreement with the Mosaic Law. As a result, Daniel asked if he and his three friends could be excused from eating the meat (which was likely sacrificed to Babylonian false gods and idols). So, a Daniel fast is eating only fruits and vegetables for a certain amount of time, abstaining from meat products.
(Note: Before fasting, you should check with your Doctor. Some persons should not fast: those who are sick, pregnant women, those with certain conditions like Diabetes, etc. Persons in these situations can substitute the food by giving up something else. For instance, on a day, you could give up an hour of television (or all television for that day); replacing it with extra Bible Reading and Prayer or the reading of a Christian book (or listening on CD or Cassette).
Getting Started:
1. Prepare Spiritually:
Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2). You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship music. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.
2. Prepare Physically:
If you have health concerns, consult your doctor prior to beginning the fast and explain what you plan to do. This is especially important if you take prescription medications or have a chronic ailment. Some people should never fast without professional supervision.
3. What to Expect:
When you fast, your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. Naturally you will have hunger pangs. Limit your activity as much as possible, and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results.
4. How to End:
Don’t overeat when the time comes to end our fast. Begin eating solid foods gradually and eat smaller portions or
snacks. Food Guidelines for the Daniel Fast:
What you can eat:
1. Fruits (all kinds, as much as you want, even tropical fruits – examples: 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, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon)
2. Vegetables (cooked or raw, frozen, canned or fresh – examples: 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, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Zucchini)
3. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4. Legumes | Beans
5. Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts
6. Soy protein in the form of soy or whey protein powder. (Any flavor)
7. Natural Fruit Smoothies (be careful to make sure that the fruit is natural, some smoothies are made with fruit substitutes that are mostly sugar)
8. All salad dressings, spices, seasonings, marinade. Just try to use the purest kind you can find, like homemade or Newman’s own — not Kraft. Use your common sense, though — like don’t pour a bottle of sweet and sour sauce over your green beans.
9. Water only
10. Organic Eggs
It is advisable to take vitamins, minerals, and possibly protein supplements during the fast.
What you cannot eat:
1. Meat
2. Carbs (breads, rice, pastas etc.)
3. Fried Foods
4. Caffeine
5. Carbonated Beverages
6. Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
7. Refined Sugar and/or Sugar Substitutes
8. White Flour and All Products Using It
9. Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products
10. Sweets, Deserts
11. Salt
12. Dairy: milk, cheese, and yogurt (Important exceptions: Anyone with a medical condition related to eating or underthe treatment of a physician must consult his or her doctor. Children, especially small children, will have special needs that must be considered. Under these conditions, find some sacrifice in the area of food that can be made without endangering health. Also, if you have extreme difficulty with the fast, such as impairment of your ability to work at you job, you will have to make adjustments. This is not a failure of will, but it is wisdom. Seek the Lord and discuss it with other teammates involved in the fast to find alternatives.
“God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach … It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single mindedly serve Christ.” (Romans 14, The Message)