The Daniel Fast 2017

January, 2017

First post of the year and like most of us, I have much expectation for this year. To describe last year in a few words would be rewarding, unexpected, exhausting and I think the list could go on and on. My personal struggle was maintaining my connection with the Lord.

At the beginning of the year my church began fasting. I hadn’t fasted before and was open to the idea of starting the year off with a clean slate. Honouring God with my eating habits was the main reason of the fast for me, I’d been having a problem saying ‘no’ to sugar and I knew that the same had to be done this year.

Last year however, I found the fast enjoyable and easier than this year. I can’t give a specific reason as to why but needless to say God is always good and refreshed me throughout the process. The theme my pastor came up with this year was about bringing the flesh into submission of the spirit, so as a church we fasted for three weeks, in total. We meditated on the Psalm 119, reading seven verses per day which I found useful for my morning prayer. As well as honouring God with my body I also wanted to establish a connection with God that I will be continuing to maintain throughout the year, as last year I became inconsistent.

The first week of the fast is always the best, you’re fresh and ready to try new recipes and of course the health benefits are great, you feel better for it all over.

My first encounter was as clear as day, I regularly dream and I feel that it’s the primary way God communicates with me. Three days in, I received a dream that seemed so vivid I knew it was from God. It was as if I were looking at my room from a distance, a butterfly was flying in my bedroom making its way to the head of my bed. I was startled as I woke and knew that God was behind this, I tried to look up the butterfly I saw, but after scrolling through the internet I gave up and thought God will let me know what this means in His own time. A few days later as I woke to have my morning prayer with God, suddenly the word ‘Monarch’ came into my mind. I thought, maybe there is a butterfly species with the same name, after searching I quickly came to find that it was in fact the butterfly I saw in my dream. The species is a brightly coloured type and uses the colours to warn predators that it’s poisonous. God was surely speaking and I was excited to gain revelation and I feel He was saying that we, His church are a threat to the enemy.

The second week in I had a major break-through in prayer and God continued to communicate with me in dreams to confirm what was about to take place. So all in all the journey up to that point had been amazing, but I began to struggle with the diet itself and it became increasingly harder to fast. It felt as though the dial had been turned from doable to difficult and no matter what I tried nothing was satisfying. So I resorted to eating simple foods, rice crackers, brown pasta and rice, along with most vegetables. I was definitely feeling more alert but craving sugar and cheese, I became a bit of a whiner and I knew that this had to stop ASAP. After all God had done the last thing I wanted to do was complain, so an attitude adjustment was put in place and I learnt the only way I would be able to bring my flesh into submission was to actively seek the Lord, in worship and prayer. Although it was hard He strengthened me and made me realise how blessed I am to be able to have the variety of foods I eat on a regular basis.

The third and final week had been a time to reflect on all that God had done and begin to start the year as I mean it to go on. The end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one, with God leading every step of the way. If you feel you’d like to take part, its not too late, visit the Daniel Fast Website for recipes and steps on how to begin. I hope this has been helpful for those who may be interested in participating.

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