Life in the FAST Lane...

Fast

Does this word describe your life? The concept of acting or moving rapidly, done quickly or running ahead of time? For most of us it does and we wish, if only for a second, things would slow down and we could catch our breath. Here is your chance. The word fast doesn’t only mean rapid movement and speed. In the Scripture the word fast is used to convey a spiritual discipline designed to get you to slow down, clean up your body and spend some time with God.

I want to invite you to take a trip, experience life in the FAST lane over the next 30+ days with me and my youth group. It is called the Daniel Fast. Below are the guidelines, but feel free to modify them to fit your needs or your heart. The important thing is that you slow down and spend some much needed time with God.

The Daniel Fast

Below is the information you will need in order to embark on the spiritual journey known as the Daniel Fast. Prepare to be spiritually formed and shaped in some way over the next 30-40 days.
Time: Now until Feb. 15 (Winterfest Friday Evening)

STEP ONE: BE SPECIFIC IN YOUR OBJECTION:
Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined the problem immediately. 1. The king’s food was against dietary laws.2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.3. The king’s food had been offered up to idols/demons.

STEP TWO: FAST AS A SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT
The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. “Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8).

STEP THREE: REFLECT INNER DESIRE BY OUTER DISCIPLINE
Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can’t discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that were not good for health. The physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health may be linked to any of the following factors: a. Your food choices.b. The level of your spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the fast.c. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast 10 days, don’t stop on Day 9.d. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith to God that you want Him to heal your body. Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.

STEP FOUR: PRAY TO PERCEIVE SIN’S ROLE IN POOR HEALTH
Notice James 5:13-16: • Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.• Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.• Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.• Repentance is linked to health according to James.• Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.• Sick people must desire to be well• The anointing oil could mean 1. medicine for healing, or 2. symbolic of the Holy Spirit • Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.• In Greek there are several words for “sick”. James uses “Kanino”, which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.• Attitude is important. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

STEP FIVE: FAST AS A STATEMENT OF FAITH TO OTHERS
Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king’s food.

STEP SIX: YIELD ALL RESULTS TO GOD
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants” (Dan. 1:13).
REMEMBER: • The Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “to those four young men God gave knowledge”.• The Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for ten days.• The Daniel Fast is a partial fast. They ate, but only vegetables and water.• The Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.• There is no indication that they ever began to eat the king’s food.

GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST
(Foods We May Eat) You may break the meat portion of the fast on Sunday only but it must be with a low fat cut of meat/poultry/fish and can not be a bigger portion than the palm of your hand. Unless you choose not to eat any and continue the fast on Sunday.
Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantelope, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Pomegrante, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rasberries, Strawberries, Tangeloes, Tangerines, Watermelon
Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Green Beans, 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% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

Foods to Avoid:
Meat White Rice
Fried Foods
Eggs
Dairy
Caffeine, Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

Was it Manna from Above or Red Oak? Hmmmm.

Have you ever been in a situation or a place in life where you just did not know how you were going to survive or get through it? Kind of like the people in Exodus 16. Do you remember the Old Testament story of the people of Israel going hungry in the desert? You know the one where a million + people are walking around after been freed in the middle of desert looking for something to eat. Sounded and looked like an impossible situation, you know the story. Where was Moses going to find enough food to feed 100 people, much less over a million? God has always looked out and looked to bless His people! God looked down from His throne and did the unexpected and unimaginable. Verse 4 says “God rained down bread (manna) from the heavens” The people ate for days and were filled. Keep this in mind…

I was visiting my sister in Mississippi over my vacation/Christmas break/conference/moving furniture escapade/trip. For those that don’t know my sister and her husband have been trying desperately to finish a house that he had started before they got married. The idea behind the house was to finish it and sell it. With the gas prices going out the roof, building supply prices have sky rocketed. So to say the least they ran out of money from their original plan. They are soooooo close to finishing it (by the way a beautiful house) but were struggling trying to figure out where to get the money to finish the kitchen cabinets. Keep this in mind…

My sister and Jarred came home a few nights ago and the electricity was out at their house. Now the odd thing about this was it was on at both neighbors. They had paid their electric bill so what was the problem? Jarred calls the electric company to inquire. They told him to go out to the pole and listen for a humming sound at the transformer. He grabbed a flashlight, went to the road but didn’t hear anything. The guy told him to look up at the transformer for a fuse. He said sometimes a bird or a squirrel would bump or break the fuse. Nothing seemed to be wrong. Look around the bottom of the pole for a dead bird or squirrel the guy told him. As Jarred looked around he found the problem. Early that afternoon a log truck came through, lost a log that went end over end, bounced up and hit the electric pole and knocked out the electricity. So laying at the foot of the pole in the weeds was a 12-14 foot long, 18 inch round RED OAK log with no markings. Oh I forgot to mention that Jarred’s dad owns a portable saw mill and can cut the wood into usable, cabinet ready, house finishing lumber.

God seeks to bless us in situations that we see no solution. Whether it is manna or Red Oak it all comes raining down from above. WOW, how good is our God?

At the end of the day God is still God, and He is good!