How's the Daniel Fast?

I know that many of you have joined me Daniel Fasting during this lenten season (see this post and this post if you're not sure what I'm talking about - and this post and this post for my Daniel Fast Dilemma) . . .

So, how's it going?

I know that I had told you that I was completely giving up sodas & fast food even though I had previously all but shunned them for my marathon training - but I do feel better physically without all the sugar and grease! And I'm saving money!

But the most powerful part of the fast for me has been giving up my computer in the evenings at 9pm. I've found myself getting more sleep as there's no nights blogging at midnight! Which means I'm up earlier with more time to spend reading my Bible and praying! That's a home run!
And I've been having more time for my kids and Cindy at night! Another home run!
It's been so good that starting this week I'm gonna move it back to 8pm!

So, how have you seen God use the fast in your life?

And one more challenge . . . I'm gonna ask ALL of you - whether you're doing the Daniel Fast or not - to completely fast from ALL food with me (as you medical conditions allow) from sun up to sun down on Good Friday. If you're doing the Daniel fast this will be a great way to end. And if you're not, it will be a great way to join with us.

I'm gonna ask that we would use that day to focus on 'Christ in us and through us.' More info will be coming. . . .

Daniel Fast Dilemma - Part II

Thanks for all your great comments, suggestions and confessions to my Daniel Fast Dilemma post! All of them touched on my struggle.

As I've thought about it, here's what I believe Jesus would tell me about the pizza.

'John, you're focusing on the wrong thing. I'm more concerned about what goes into your soul, then what goes into your mouth.' Ouch.

Jesus was continually chiding the 'religious people' for cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside was filthy. And the point of our Daniel Fast is to focus on Jesus and his vision for our lives. Just the conversation about the pizza at my house brought attention to why we were doing it. . . . And from God's perspective, that was probably the point.

Yes, when we're fasting it kind of defeats the point if there are not some things that we give up. But there are always going to be 'grey' areas. And I think that grey areas are good, because they force us to listen for the Spirit's guidance and then be willing (or not) to follow Jesus as He speaks and live in His blessing.

May HE increase in your life!

And oh yeah, I ate the pizza!

Daniel Fast Dilemma

I didn't see it coming.
When Cindy ordered pizza last night it didn't dawn on me.
Then as I was about to eat my first piece, one of my kids asked, 'Dad, is pizza fast food?' (My kids are helping hold me accountable to my Daniel Fast!)

Is pizza fast food? What do you think?

Daniel Fasting . . .

It was great to see in your comments how your doing your Daniel fast . . . you can check out that post and the comments here.

I'm fasting in a few different ways. The two that have to do with intake are areas that I've cut down somewhat in previous months but now I'm going to cut out completely. And those are sodas (Dr. Pepper has been my addiction) and fast food.

And then on the 'rest' side of my health - I'm fasting from the computer after 9pm. I know that I feel so much more rested when I'm not up in wee hours posting blogs! So off it goes in the evening.

If you haven't started yet, it's never too late! How can you use this period of lent to better focus on Jesus and His vision for your life?

And I think it's great for you to share with us . . . creates a little accountability.

Daniel Fast

On Sunday I encouraged you to join me on a 6-week+ Daniel Fast, beginning this Wednesday and ending on Easter.

The idea of a Daniel fast comes from the Old Testament book of Daniel chapter 1 - where Daniel, a Jew who was deported to Babylon and chosen for the King's Palace Program, resolved not to defile himself by eating the Palace's royal food and wine. Instead Daniel chose to eat only vegetables and drink only water. (I encourage you to read the passage.)

The physical (& spiritual) principle that we are seeking to follow here is to seek to put things into our body (& life) that most reflect the vision for our life that honors God. Daniel was making a statement with his 'fast' that he was going to follow God.

There are all kinds of different fasts (the Bible does not say that you have to do a fast 'this' way or 'that' way . . . and a 'Daniel Fast' can take many different applications as well . . . some people hold to just vegetables and water).

What I'm asking you to do is join me in fasting from something(s) that you are doing to your body that is unhealthy. Maybe it's from sodas, or fast food, or tobacco, or junk food, or etc, or all of the above!

The purpose is two fold: 1) To move towards God's vision for our physical health. For many this is first step of making the statement that you want to honor God with your health.
2) As we have the desire for that thing(s) - to allow it to remind us to pray for God's vision for every area of our life. A fast is ultimately about helping us focus on and pursue God. And in these days I am asking that together we pursue God's heart for our lives. That we repent where we are not following Him and ask Him to show us how to seek Him in the different areas we have been talking about.


So, I ask you to be praying between now and Wednesday, and then share with me (& us) what God is telling you. What are you fasting from?

What questions or thoughts do you have?