NLTC Daniel Fast Guidelines for 2013

Here are the Daniel Fast guidelines for NLTC members. If you have any questions please feel free to ask your question in the comment section of this blog and we will do our best to answer speedily, or you can email mel_anne@msn.com.

Foods Allowed On 21 Day Fast 

Ezekiel Bread (can be found at Whole Food or Kroger’s in the health food section)

Pam Spray Olive oil

Olive Oil

Salad dressing (non–dairy)

Balsamic vinegar

Apple vinegar

Can vegetable soup (with vegetable stock)

Can vegetable 

Honey

Stevia  (sweetener)

Silk (soymilk)

Silk creamers

Coconut milk

Soy milk

Almond Milk

Rice milk

Tofu

Whole wheat/grain crackers

Wheat or soy Pasta

Nuts

Unsweetened nut/ fruit trail mixes

Caffeine Free Herbal teas (recommended: Red/Rooibos, Chamomile, Mint, Hyssop and detoxing)

Pure extract (i.e. Vanilla)

Ensure/Boost ( for those who are on medication or have low immune systems.)

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley, whole grain cereal
Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed
Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boy-
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

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger-root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini
Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% juice, fresh smoothies

Please Drink plenty of Water (flavored water does not count)

Foods the children only may enjoy

Morningstar (soy burgers, hotdogs, corndogs and chicknuggets.)

Bocca (burgers and hotlinks)

  

Foods to Avoid (as much as possible)  
Meat
White Rice
Fried Foods
Caffeine
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It

Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products 

Daniel Fast - 21 Days

 Jan 2-23, 2013

Theme of the Fast: “Building Up Your Faith”. There are three major areas that we need to fast for…

1. Ourselves: Let us examine ourselves. (I Corinthians 11:28a, 32; II Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:5). If we have any offenses or faults against each other, let us go in a humble spirit now and take care of the matter (Colossians 3:13). The fast is not complete without it. Pray and seek God. He will reveal our hearts to us.

2. Compassion for souls: The heart beat of God is souls. Romans 10:1 is Paul’s prayer. Each One Reach One is about reaching those that are in need in the house, and those that are lost without Christ (Romans12:9-13; Matthew 28:19-20).

3. Healing: For the body, our soul and mind. (Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24). Jeremiah 17:14 says it so well. (Hosea 6:1; Isaiah 26:3-4). The last Sunday night of our fast there will be a healing service, (physically and spiritually). Come believing.  

Biblical model:  Fasting is still biblical for us today; with the uprising of evil even more so. Matthew 17:21. In the book of Daniel, chapters 2 and 10, Daniel describes two examples of his personal fasting and the dramatic results. Isaiah describes God’s chosen fast in Isaiah 58. Fasting is one way we respond to the admonition throughout the Scripture to die to our self-will and not to accommodate the desires of the flesh.

Overview of the Fast: The Daniel fast drastically restricts normal food intake by cutting away many of the foods you commonly eat to satisfy your appetite The start of the Daniel fast you will experience a craving of delightful foods for a few days, but keep pressing toward the mark and drink plenty of water.

Types of food included in this Daniel fast:  You will find a list of food enclosed with this letter. It is advisable to take vitamins and minerals and some protein supplements during the fast. Various nuts (natural) help serve as a protein supplement. Peanuts are not much in nutritional supplements. Proper nutrition will help to eliminate hunger and bad unhealthy cravings. (God’s grace will help us in this area if we seek Him.)

Foods not included in this Daniel fast: Sugar and sugar products (desserts, soft drinks, etc.). Drinks including caffeine (coffee, non-herbal tea, etc.). Breads, white rice, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs, heavy spices, regular salt (Kosher and sea salt is allowed). People need potassium and sodium in their bodies. If you are not able go to the health food store (Whole Food), to purchase extra supplements please use the products on the list to help increase the potassium intake.

Water: Drink 8 glasses of water daily throughout the fast. This is very important. We recommend distilled water for the first 3 to 5 days. It helps to speed up the detoxification process.  (Please drink more than one glass of water). You may a fresh lemon juice or sliced lemon to help with the taste. It also helps to detox the body.

Side Effects: You may experience moderate to severe headaches for the first day or two as your body rids itself of caffeine, salt, sugar, and various impurities. You may need to take Advil, aspirin, Tylenol.

Important Exceptions: Anyone with a medical condition related to eating or under the treatment of a physician must consult their 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 your job, you will have to make adjustments. This is not a failure of will but is wisdom. Seek the Lord and if you need further assistance you may call the church office.

Please be mindful of your medical condition. Continue to take your medication.

“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)

How to Enjoy the 21 days

During the time of your 21 days of fasting here are some helpful tips to enlighten, empower and strengthen you during this time.

Worship:  Play your favorite CD or tape.  Sing along unto the Lord. (Eph. 5:19)   

Word:   Read your Word daily and have your personal devotional time with the Lord. If you still have your TWB devotional book it would be nice reading material.

Warfare:  Pray the Word!  Arise in faith, and in the authority of Jesus’ name.  Claim the promises and the power of His Word which is alive and active.  Adopt an attitude of prayer as you go about each day’s duties at home, at work or at school.  Apply what you have learned from Acts or any other reading of the Word.

Scale down your normal activities. Slow down and avoid rigorous exercise (meaning excessive activities). You can take advantage during this time to obtain extra needed rest for your body and also catch up on your reading and studying. 

Besides fasting from food, fast from things that distract such as television, movies, internet, computer games, excessive talking on the telephone, or things that destroy such as careless words.  It will be difficult for you to consecrate yourself if you feed yourself on television and movies during this time. 

How To Involve Others

AS A FAMILY: It is very important to agree in your fasting and pray as a family.  Please include your children in daily devotion of God’s Word.  As a family write out some of your expectations, prayer request of loved one’s that are in need of salvation, healing, deliverance etc...

ACCOUNTABILITY: You will probably be most successful with this fast if you make yourself accountable to at least one other person during this fast. You may want to form a group of from 3 to 5 people who met occasionally or talk by phone. Encourage one another. If someone falls and eats the wrong food, do not condemn them. Help them start again. Walk in love and mercy.

GROUP:  Involve your regular prayer partners and others to stay encourage, help motivate, rejoice together and also to touch and agree for your prayer request.   

CORPORATE: This is the gathering together as a church body in a time of prayer, worship and meditation. This is also a time to give testimonies of the things that God has done or is doing during your fast.

Special time for daily prayer and bible study. You can come and pray during the normal office hours of the church if you so desire.