New Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church:
The Daniel Fast: 21 Days of Experiencing God A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR
Dear Member, Fasting is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. It’s all about aligning ourselves with God and what He really wants to do. As a church, we are fasting together in order to deepen our relationship with God as well as get in step with His plan and purpose for us during this coming year. Over the next 21 days, we will substitute our regular food intake with those disciplines that help us better connect with God—reading the Bible, praying and journaling. The overall goal is to experience a genuine hunger for spending time with God. Remember, the idea is to be realistic, not legalistic. Focus more on the details of connecting with God than the details of the menu and you will discover the blessings of fasting. In His Service, Rev. Dr. Sonja R. Dawson, Pastor 1
FAST FRAMEWORK Monday, January 4 at 6:00PM • Daniel Fast Nutrition Education Seminar In collaboration with CDI-Faith Based Health Connection at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, and the New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, there will be a special Daniel Fast nutrition education class with an expert panel of pastors, registered dieticians, nurses, and outreach workers to share spiritual, nutritional, educational, and practical information on how to maximize your participation in the Daniel Fast. Sunday, January 3 • Daniel Fast Preparation Drink plenty of water, begin to reduce intake of caffeinated drinks (i.e. soda, coffee, etc.), begin to reduce intake of suggested foods to avoid. Pray and reflect on importance and participation in the Daniel Fast. Monday, January 4-25 • Begin the “Daniel Fast” At dinner, begin to introduce meals with pure foods of fruits and vegetables. This plan will continue for the next 20 days.
FAST FOCUS The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, which means that we will eliminate some common things from our daily diet, but will have generous options available. We will focus on eating fruits and vegetables that are pure and simple. We have included a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid. If you have any condition which would prohibit you from being a part of the Daniel Fast, there are other options. Choose something from your daily routine (i.e. specific foods or beverages, television, other technology, etc.) and fast in that manner for the next 21 days. Remember, the details are not as important as the spirit in which you participate. *If you have any known medical conditions or suspect such conditions, consult your doctor before beginning the fast.
FOODS TO AVOID Meat, Poultry, Fish, White Rice, Fried Foods, Carbonated Beverages, Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives, Refined Sugar or Sugar Substitutes, White Flour, Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products, Dairy (milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.) 2
FAST FORWARD Over the next 21 days you will undoubtedly discover some amazing benefits of fasting. As God blesses your life, we encourage you to write down your prayers and experiences. Praise God for the renewed relationship you have with Him and for the works He is doing in your life. And prepare to experience the power of a refreshed perspective for the things He has in store for your life in 2016!
PRAYER GUIDELINES As you enter into this season, it can be tempting to start thinking of a laundry list of prayers you’d love to see answered. But we really want to encourage you to keep this simple. Think about the top two or three things most pressing on your heart and zone in on those with God. Every member is asked to pray at 7:14 a.m. daily which corresponds with our Church Wide Vision: “The Power of a Praying Church” (2 Chronicles 7:14). When praying, make your primary goal to know Jesus more and experience Him. Pray prayers of total surrender, and aim to glorify God with your life. Focus first on what’s right about Him, such as his goodness and His greatness, and see everything else through that filter. And most simply, make time to pray daily. Don’t overcomplicate this! Just talk to God. Have that place and time where you can seek Him every day. If you don’t plan to pray, you won’t. If you find it a challenge to disconnect from the busyness of your day, engaging in worship music is a great way to prepare your heart for prayer.
FOOD GUIDELINES All fruits: These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned (watch for added sugar). Apples
Apricots
Avocados
Bananas
Berries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Boysenberries
Breadfruit
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Coconuts
Cranberries
Dates
Figs
Grapefruit
Grapes
Grenadine
Guava
Kiwi
Lemons
Limes
Honeydew melons Mangoes
Melons
Mulberry
Nectarines
Oats
Olives
Oranges
Papayas
Peaches 3
Pears
Pineapples
Plums
Prunes
Raisins
Raspberries
Strawberries
Tangelos
Tangerines
Watermelon
Vegetables: These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned (watch salt content). Artichokes
Asparagus
Beets
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chili peppers
Collard greens
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Ginger root
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard greens
Okra
Onions
Parsley
Peppers
Potatoes
Radishes
Rutabagas
Scallions
Spinach
Sprouts
Squashes
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Watercress
Yams
Zucchini
Legumes: Dried beans
Black beans
Cannellini
Beans
Lentils
Lupines
Black eyed peas
Green beans
Green peas
Kidney beans Pinto beans
Peanuts (includes natural peanut butter) Split peas
Lentils
White
Peas
Seeds: All nuts (raw, unsalted)
Sprouts
Ground flax
Cashews
Walnuts
Sunflower
Sesame
Almonds
Natural Almond Butter
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Whole Grains: Whole wheat
Brown rice
Millet
Quinoa
Oats
Rolled Oats
Plain Oatmeal- not instant Whole wheat pasta
Barley
Grits (no butter)
Whole wheat tortillas
Plain Rice cakes
Popcorn (see recipe in FAQ’s) Liquids: Water (spring, distilled, filtered)
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Herbal (caffeine free) Tea
100% Fruit/Vegetable Juice (no added sugar)
Other: Tofu Herbs
Soy products Small amounts of Honey
Small amounts of Sea Salt
Small amounts of Ezekiel Bread
Small amounts of Olive Oil
Spices (read the label to be sure there are no preservatives)
Additional Resources: www.danielplan.com http://www.fellowshipchurch.com/fast www.danielfast.wordpress.com www.hacres.com/recipes/recipes.asp Additional Guidelines: Fasting While Nursing or Pregnant Strict fasting while pregnant or nursing is not recommended. If you are in this incredible season of life but would like to participate in the twenty-one-day plan, here are some great options for you to consider—with the approval of your physician: a modified Daniel fast including whole grains, legumes, whey protein, calcium, and iron supplements 5
fasting sweets and desserts fasting red meat fasting certain diversions (television shows, movies, social media—such as Facebook/Twitter, video games, and so on) If you are a pregnant or nursing mother, your priority is the health and the development of the baby God has entrusted you with. Make that your guideline and go from there. And please consult your doctor. Fasting and Eating Disorders If you have struggled with an eating disorder, this situation is a battle of the mind you can win through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Remember, fasting is a tool used to get closer to God, and it actually should keep us from being preoccupied with food. If your method of fasting is going to cause you to obsess about what you eat in any way, you will need to change either your approach or your mindset. If giving up food is a stumbling block to you, then consider fasting of television, reading (other than the Bible, of course), social media, or shopping. There are many distractions and ways that we use to stay in control that we could eliminate from our daily routine. We do these things to distract ourselves from the real issues hurting us. If you can identify such other things, maybe you can give those up instead of food. Remember that you are covered by God’s grace. God will show you what to do. His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light” (Matt 11:30). His way will bring rest to your soul. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What about prepared foods? Read the labels of all prepared foods. Remember the Daniel Fast is sugar-free and chemical-free. So, if you use any canned fruits, vegetables, packaged foods, or prepared sauces you must read the label to be aware of the ingredients. What about pasta? Make sure the label says whole grain pasta with no additives (watch for sugar). Whole grain pasta offers 7 grams of protein per serving (3/4 cup of dried pasta). I know it says raw, unsalted nuts, but what about roasted nuts? The goal would be to stick to raw, unsalted nuts. But these are harder to find so in a pinch just make sure you get plain roasted, unsalted nuts with no preservatives.
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How do I get enough protein in my diet while on the fast? The following are protein-rich foods that are allowed on the Daniel Fast… almonds, sunflower seeds, lentils, quinoa, brown rice, split peas, whole grains, and tofu. What kind of peanut butter is allowed? A natural peanut butter with no additives…watches for sugars including molasses. Smucker’s creamy natural peanut butter has nothing but peanuts in it. What about popcorn? Corn is listed in the list of vegetables to eat list. You can use a pot on the stove…here is a recipe. 1) Put two tbsp. of olive oil in the bottom of a large pot. 2) Add enough popcorn to cover the bottom of the pan. 3) Turn heat to medium high. Look for the first popcorn kernel to pop. 4) Put the lid on the pot. Using potholders shake the pot over the burner. 5) Continue shaking until you no longer hear kernels popping. Remove from heat. How can I identify whole grain foods? Typically if the ingredient lists "whole wheat", "rolled oats", or "whole corn" as the first ingredient, the product is a whole grain food item. Another way to identify whole grains in the foods you eat is to look in the nutritional facts information and check if the food item contains dietary fiber. If it contains a significant amount, it most likely contains whole grains. "Wheat flour" is not a whole grain and therefore does not indicate a whole grain product. What about salad dressing? Olive oil and lemon or lime is an option. Do I need to eat organic foods while on the fast? No, but it is suggested because organic foods are produced without the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin and without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides. Where can I go out to eat? Well, we think you can go anywhere and order cautiously, asking lots of questions to the wait staff, knowing ahead of time that you may be ordering a salad with olive oil and a baked potato with no extras. What about bread? We are recommending the Ezekiel bread found in the freezer section of your grocery/health food store.
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How much can I eat? As long as they are included in the list of foods, we recommend eating until satisfied within the time restraints. Should I avoid canned foods? Yes, as much as possible due to the high sodium content. If available, sodium free or low sodium canned products and frozen foods are an alternative.
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