The New Year Fast
Beginning at Sundown on Sunday, January 5th*
Prepare Meals in Advance – Keep Your Meals Simple
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5
Okay, here again is my broken-record chant: the Daniel Fast is NOT about the food. Please, dear soul, get truth deeply rooted in you. The Daniel Fast is an experience to help you draw nearer to God, learn more about crucifying your flesh, and developing your skills to walk in the Spirit.
I know keeping the balance can all be challenging. We do eat on the Daniel Fast. However, remember that spiritual fasting is “restricting food for a spiritual purpose.”
So keep your meals simple. Keep them nutritious. And don’t let the whole issue of changing your eating plan for 21 days instigate stress. Instead, plan to eat very easy to prepare meals and as much as you can, make your meals in advance.
One of my favorite meal prep plans is to make several meals at once. For example, I’ll cook a big pot of vegetarian chili. I can eat some that day, more for lunch the next day, and still save more in the freezer for future meals. Pair the chili with flatbread or a simple salad and DONE! Easy. Good. Healthy.
At the same time the chili simmers, I make roasted vegetables and cook a large batch of brown rice. I slice and cut veggies for salads. I plan breakfasts of muesli and also smoothies (considered liquid meals).
You can find all these recipes and make-ahead cooking tips in any of my Daniel Fast books. Also, even more is included in the brand new Daniel Fast 2020 course I created called Only Believe. Check out the course, which includes all you need for a successful fasting experience, plus a powerful set of video teachings about learning to develop your faith so you truly believe Jesus and His promises for you.
Here is the big deal about the food on the Daniel Fast. Over the last few years, a lot of folks have been led to believe that the Daniel Fast is more like a new diet. Many people search out ways to continue to satisfy the desires of the flesh, so they don’t experience the denial. Sadly, the Daniel Fast has been hijacked, and a lot of people have been led down the wrong path.
Consequently, many folks focus so much on the food that they miss out on the deep and profound spiritual lessons and experience with God that is available to them. Just like the Bible warns us, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5
Learning to control our flesh, rather than cater to is, is one of the most powerful lessons you can gain during your Daniel Fast. Will it be challenging? Yes, most likely. And that’s good. We grow in these times. We learn. We see more of ourselves and the holds on our lives that we can break as we lean into God and His truths.
Here’s what I strongly encourage you to do:
1. Plan 6-7 simple entrees that you can make easily.
2. Consider ways you can “cook once and eat several times” by preparing meals in batches.
3. Keep your meals simple. Plan your menus.
4. Focus on God and not on the food.
I hope the very best for you on your fast. God is so very good, and He’s calling you. He wants to be with you to shower you with His truths, His blessings, and His immeasurable love and grace.
Please, share your thoughts, comments, insights, and questions in the comment section below. Be a blessing to others.
Only Believe
Jesus says, “I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Unlike how we operate in the world where we “believe it when we see it,” Jesus calls us to enter into a partnership, level of trust, and position of faith with Him to believe that He will fulfill the requests we have for our needs and desires.
Sadly, most Christians are told “to believe,” however rarely are we taught “how to believe.”
That’s the focus of our Daniel Fast course for 2020. A series of online teachings that you can access from your computer, tablet, phone or other digital devices, will lead you on a path where you will learn how to ask the Lord for your desires and needs. Then how to enter into a place of trust and assurance, so you do “only believe.” And then how to receive from the Lord as He fulfills your requests.
Check out the course using this link: Daniel Fast – Only Believe
Enter into a life-changing experience with your Father. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you as you learn how to increase your faith, deepen your trust in God, and discover how to “only believe.”
Your Next Steps
- Decide that you will not indulge the flesh during your Daniel Fast. Instead, begin thinking about your spiritual life and what you want for your faith.
- Consider your upcoming fast. Start thinking about when you will begin. Examine your heart and what the purpose of our fast will be. Think about how you can lighten your load during your fast so you can receive more from the loving Father.
- Start to collect recipes and meal plans for simple, nutritious, and easy meals, so you don’t spend so much time preparing meals, but instead focus on God.
- There is no hard rule for when to start the New Year Fast. Most often, the fast begins at sunset on the first Sunday of the New Year. However, if you or your community choose another day, then that is 100 percent ok. Allow the Lord to lead you on when you can be most successful for your fast.
Now is the perfect time for you to begin preparing your spirit, soul, and body for the upcoming New Year Fast. You’ll join hundreds of thousands of followers of Jesus Christ as you dedicate the coming year to your Lord. Plus, you’ll enter into one of the most influential spiritual experiences as you commit yourself to the 21 days of extended prayer and fasting.
We always value your thoughts and insights. Please leave your comments below and be blessed on your fast.