As you celebrate this Valentine’s Day,
remember there is One who loves you most of all.
“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world
so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins”
(1 John 4:9-11 NLT).
Every January for the past six years, I’ve held an online Daniel Fast through my website. And every year, God has moved in mighty ways. This past January was no exception.
Nearly 4,300 believers participated in the January 2017 Online Daniel Fast, which was held January 1-21. Our theme for the fast was, “Revive Us Again.” Men and women from around the world set aside the first three weeks of the year to focus on the Lord. Together, we cried out to God for revival – in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our nations. In addition, nearly 300 people committed to take a small group through the fast and signed up to be a team leader.
Everyone who registered for the fast received weekly emails of encouragement and support. The emails provided helpful resources, such as Daniel Fast friendly recipes. I also sent out daily videos for the entire fast with the assistance of my wonderful co-host and husband, Justin (you can view the videos on my YouTube channel). Through the videos, we explored God’s prescription for revival as spelled out 2 Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
What a privilege it was to partner with such an army of prayer warriors in seeking the Lord! Following are just a few testimonies of how the Lord worked:
“The fast was an awesome experience for my wife and me.” – Corey
“I want you to know how much I appreciated your videos every day. They were so helpful and certainly kept me encouraged. Also, I ordered your book, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast. All the meals I have made have been delicious. Your recipes are fantastic! I will be changing my eating patterns after the fast and use your recipes all year long.” – Debbie
“This was the first time I’ve done a Daniel fast since being a Christian (11 years). I’m so glad I embarked on it. Your website was a tremendous support.” – Mary
“I’ve attempted this type of prayer and fasting on my own but would always fail. When others are doing it with you, you are strengthened.” – Dorene
“My husband and I have grown so close through the fast. Seems like we’re on our honeymoon after 36 years!” – Pam
“Thanks for a great 21 days of leading us with encouragement to persevere!” – Roger
“This was my second Daniel Fast. I relied on your book, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, and emails for information and encouragement. I’m so amazed at the power of fasting and prayer together! Thank you so much for all your help.” – Rhonda
“I made it 21 days. When I was weak, the Lord gave me strength to continue. God also intervened in my cousin’s life. He got hit by a car and suffered a broken femur. But the miracle is that he’s alive!” – Brenda
“I’ve always struggled with fasting. I would find that I was tired and not very effective in prayer. I wasn’t sure how I would cope on this fast. But I was amazed how the gift of self-control grew in me as I prepared my children’s meals. I wasn’t even tempted to try!” – Suzanne
“I couldn’t have entered 2017 in a better way. I stand in awe of what God has done in my life and what He is still going to do for all of us who have endured the fast.” – Lauren
If you missed being a part of the January 2017 Online Daniel Fast, be sure to sign up for my Ultimate Daniel Fast monthly newsletter to stay informed about future fasting events.
“In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:7).
A few weeks ago I served as a volunteer at the Designed for Life Women’s Conference at JQH Arena in Springfield, MO. During the three-day conference, hundreds of prayer request cards were filled out by women seeking God’s help in various situations.
When I piled all 400+ cards on the table, I was overwhelmed by the size of the stack. So much pain. So many needs.
But, in the next breath, I remembered that we serve a big God, one who is willing and able to answer! One who responds to the cries of His people!
Let me give you an example from the Bible.
One day when Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, they came across a man who sat by the roadside begging. When the man heard that Jesus was near, he cried out to Him. The Bible says the beggar shouted. His voice was so loud that people told him to be quiet.
But the man didn’t zip his lips. Instead, he shouted all the more!
Then Jesus stopped and asked the beggar, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man replied, probably without hesitation, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
Do you know what happened next? The blind man wasn’t blind anymore! He received his sight. And then he followed Jesus.
God cares about what’s happening in your life. Nothing is too trivial to bring to Him. No situation is too difficult for Him to handle. The Lord wants to help you. He wasn’t too busy to answer the man’s cries. And He isn’t too busy to answer yours.
The Lord sees right where you are. He hears your cries. And He will respond. It may not be immediate as it was for the blind man, but you can be confident God is working.
Today Jesus is asking, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Take your concerns to God in prayer. Just talk to Him about what’s on your mind and heart. Your words don’t have to be fancy or formal. Pour out your heart to the Lord in honest communication. Your heavenly Father is waiting. He loves you so much.
Commodus, 5.10a, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Jasper, AR
I stood at the base of Commodus, a popular, 5.10a sport climbing route at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper, AR. It was a sunny September day, and the weather was perfect. Climbers from all over the country had gathered at Horseshoe for a full day of climbing. Since Commodus is a classic route, several people wanted to get on it, including Justin and me. So when it was finally our turn, I was ready to go.
Justin had already led the route, which means he had attached our rope to the fixed bolts along the wall with carabiners. After he had reached the top of Commodus and secured the rope in the anchors, Justin descended to belay me. My job was to follow him and remove the carabiners, a process known as “cleaning.”
I tied in, chalked up, and started up the rock. The climb to the first bolt was easy and fun. The handholds and footholds were solid. All I had to do was unclip the first carabiner and continue on up to the next bolt.
But I had trouble unclipping. With my right arm extended and left hand holding on, I could barely reach the bolt. Because I was stretched out, the tension on the rope was tight.
I gave the rope a big jerk to force it out of the carabiner. When I did, I came off the rock. I knew I was going to take a fall, but I expected Justin’s belay device to activate before I hit the ground. It didn’t.
Directly underneath me was a tall, pointy rock. When the sharp edge made contact with my tailbone, I cried out like a wounded animal. The pain was immediate and intense. A warm sensation swept over my whole body. I felt nauseated and thought I would throw up.
Slowly, I stood up. The last thing I wanted to do was keep climbing. But, after a few minutes, I forced myself to get back on the wall. I didn’t want fear to keep me grounded, that day or in the future. I had to conquer Commodus. And I did. Bruised backside and all.
I struggled with constant pain for the next two weeks. It hurt to walk. To sit. And even to lie down. I only felt relief when standing for short amounts of time.
Most people around me had no idea how much I was suffering. Only an extremely observant person would have noticed my gait was a little awkward, like I’d been riding a horse too long. Only someone watching my body language would have picked up on how slowly I moved. And only those paying close attention would have seen my slight grimace as I shifted my body weight from one cheek to the other when I’d been sitting too long.
One day when I was especially uncomfortable, I sensed the Lord speaking to my heart about my experience, challenging me to consider it from a spiritual perspective.
Every day I come into contact with hurting people. People who are in great distress, not from a rock climbing accident, but from circumstances in their lives, past and present. Abuse, rejection, neglect, addiction, and betrayal have caused massive internal injuries. Only I don’t see their pain. I’m not paying attention. I’m too preoccupied with myself to notice.
But I’m not the only one in this predicament. Every human being on this planet struggles with self-centeredness. It’s part of our sinful nature. We’re all guilty of getting caught up in the details of our own lives. But we can do better. We can change! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you and I can become more focused on others instead of ourselves.
If that’s your desire – to be more aware of people’s hurts and ways you can help – pray this prayer with me today:
“God, I confess that I think too much and too often about myself. Your Word says, ‘Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Phil. 2:4 NLT).’ Open my physical and spiritual eyes to the people around me. Give me your heart – a heart of compassion and comfort – and show me how to alleviate their suffering. Thank you for teaching me how to grow in this area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Once you’ve asked God to increase your sensitivity to others, you can be confident He will answer such a request. In fact, be on the alert. The Lord just might send someone your way today.
[Note: A climber who rated Commodus online as a 5-star climb commented, “Pleasant balancey climbing with some reachy moves. Loved it. A fall might be painful.” Might be? I know from experience that a fall is definitely painful on this route!]
When my pastor announced in mid-June that we would be doing a church-wide Daniel Fast in early August, I immediately prayed about my response. Of course, I would participate, but I believed God wanted me to do something more.
I shared about the fast on my website, inviting others outside James River Church to join us. I had no idea how many people would respond. After all, August is not typically a popular time to do the fast. Families are often on vacation. Teachers and students are gearing up to go back to school. So when more than 800 people signed up, I was overwhelmed! The high number just confirmed to me that God had something miraculous in store for all of us.
The August 2016 Daniel Fast was a wonderful, life-changing journey! The online fast was held August 1-21, 2016. Participants who signed up through my Ultimate Daniel Fast website received two emails each week. Emails contained a short devotion, fasting/prayer tips, recipes, and other helpful resources.
Even though our Daniel Fast has concluded, it certainly hasn’t ended. God is still at work! I believe we’ll continue to see answers to our prayers in the coming weeks, months, and years as we trust in the Lord.
Many participants have emailed to share what God has done. Following are testimonies from the online fast:
“God is great. He took my hand and made this fast an easy journey. He showed me that I needed to be more like him in so many ways. I’m so thankful I did this fast with my wife. It has brought us closer together through Christ. Over the past three weeks we had some very stressful family situations and friendships to deal with. Had it not been for this fast and being focused, we both know it would had been much harder. We’re also going to continue eating much healthier as we both feel so much better. Praise be to God.” – Wayne
“My daughters and son did the fast with me. There were a lot of failings on the fast, especially in the beginning, but we made it through. Thank you for inviting us! – Felicia
“When I first received the email about joining the August 2016 Daniel Fast, I was excited but a little skeptical. I usually do the 21-day fast in January and didn’t know if I could tackle this one. However, I asked God to help me. I struggled the first seven days with all sorts of conflicts. Some days were just too intense to pray. I continued to stay with the fast, praying and reading my Bible. I began to feel distraught and discouraged when I felt the Lord speak gently to me saying, “And having done everything, STAND!” I’d received my breakthrough! God was telling me to continue standing on his promises no matter what. I received those words and applied them every time the enemy whispered in my ear that the fast was just a waste of time and nothing was happening. After the seventh day, I started to feel a peaceful spirit and an inward confidence. Then it happened! I had been out of work for a year and was desperate for a job. Well, guess what? I was offered a position, and I’m currently working. I give God all the glory because I know this is only the beginning of God’s blessings for me. I want to encourage everyone who participated in this fast. If you haven’t yet received your miracle, don’t give up! Continue praying and standing on God’s Word for whatever your situation might be.” – Sara
“It was an extremely challenging period in many ways, but I had no doubt that God led me into this fast. I saw miraculous answers to prayers on behalf of family members and friends. Yet I also encountered many seeming mishaps and testings that I felt discouraged sometimes. There were a few days I was so rushed that I did not spend enough time with the Lord, and I felt like giving up and coming off the fast. But then you sent encouragement via email or someone called to ask how my fast was going. I have extended my fast as I am in a 40-day prayer challenge. I look forward to future times of fasting.” – Paulette
“The Lord is so good in that He answered and ministered to me during this time. 1) He reminded me to be more grateful by thanking Him for His provisions each month when we receive our pension checks/other income. We used to do this but have gotten away from it. He also impressed me to pray over our tithe/faith promise to the church. 2) Next, He gave me confirmation of what my next Life Group Bible study should be. 3) He surprised me with an answer to prayer for harmony in our marriage which I have long been praying about.” – Charlene
When I received your email, I decided right away to participate. The first thing I did was buy a prayer journal and begin writing my requests. Before the fast even started, my prayers were answered. My daughter got a teaching job. It was a miracle from God! I am so thankful for your invitation to do the fast. My faith and trust in the Lord has increased because of the miracles He has shown me. – Gayle
Praise the Lord for all these wonderful testimonies of His goodness! All glory to His holy name!
If you missed the August 2016 Daniel Fast, you can plan to join the next online fast, which will be held, January 1-21, 2017. More details will be available in late November.
Be sure to get a copy of my book, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, to prepare. The book is a wonderful resource for the fast, providing 21 daily devotions, 100+ recipes, meal plans, grocery shopping lists, and tips on fasting. Also, be sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to stay informed about the January 2017 fast and future online fasts.
This brown rice and lentil burger is a hearty, filling choice on the Daniel Fast.
The Daniel Fast is an extremely healthy way of eating and provides a wide variety of nutrients that nourish the body. Sometimes, though, people get nervous about a three-week abstinence from meat, dairy, and eggs. They’re worried that the Daniel Fast foods won’t supply them with adequate protein. I understand their concern.
But animal products aren’t the only foods that contain high amounts of protein. Beans, lentils, quinoa, nuts, seeds, asparagus, broccoli, kale, spinach, and sprouts are good sources of this important nutrient as well.
If you have a medical condition that requires you to keep your protein levels higher than 20% or you do serious weight lifting, you may consider using a protein powder to supplement your intake. You can’t just use any protein powder, though. Remember, since animal products aren’t allowed, anything with whey is not acceptable.
Protein powder that’s Daniel Fast friendly is one that’s vegan, plant-based, and free of any form of added sugar or caffeine (that includes chocolate!). Check the ingredients label to be sure the powder adheres to the Daniel Fast food guidelines. One product I’ve used is Garden of Life Organic Plant Protein – Smooth Unflavored. It contains organic pea seed, organic flaxseed, organic cranberry seed, organic chia seed and organic pumpkin seed. Plus, it’s gluten free, vegan, dairy free, soy free, and non-GMO whole food protein. The Smooth Vanilla flavor is tasty, but it does contain stevia (whether or not to use stevia is a personal decision; it’s plant based but could be considered an added sweetener). My favorite Garden of Life protein powder is Smooth Chocolate, but I only have it when I’m not on the Daniel Fast since chocolate isn’t allowed. Another product I’ve used is Carrington Farms Coconut Protein Blend. The only ingredients are coconut powder, pumpkin powder, and pea powder (all organic). However, I use much less than the recommended serving size. The label calls for 2 scoops, and I typically only use 1/2 to 1 scoop for an 8-ounce smoothie.
I used protein powder for the first time during my August 2015 Daniel Fast, and I was able to make a variety of delicious smoothies with it (see my Smoothies page for recipe ideas). Sometimes I had a smoothie for breakfast. Other days I enjoyed a refreshing smoothie as a snack after my morning workout.
If you’re concerning about consuming an adequate amount of protein on your fast, a plant-based powder is certainly an option you may want to consider.
Note: The Ultimate Daniel Fast website participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
