Day 9, January 11, 2020
The Daniel Fast - Health and Healing
Daniel a young man brought into the pagan palace of the King of Babylon.
But because of the way he lived his life, he had great influence. This can be true of each of us. By watching the way we live, we can have influence in pagan places.
I want to live my life in such a way in which I don’t compromise my principles and then be asked by those in other places for advice.
Daniel was a faster. He had this lifestyle .. perhaps not 21 days of prayer but he did pray 3 times a day.
Daniel 1:11-15 (NIV)
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
They looked better because they did not indulge into a world’s lifestyle. It’s OK for a Christian to live an empowered life.. Perhaps restrictive. You don’t have to but you want to because your life looks different at the other side because we will not indulge.
Daniel 10:1-3 (NIV)
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war.[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
What stands out to me is that fasting serves more reasons than just the spiritual. It disconnects us from the world and to God. So it does serve the spiritual purpose.
However from a medical reason, there are incredible medical benefits in which your body gets rid of dangerous toxins that get stored up in your body. So could not the God who created your body, not only make something that was good for spiritual, but also for us physically.
Fasting also helps your soul. Our soul craves things. Our soul gets emotional and wants things. Sometimes that part of us can rule the roost, or call the shots. So many people are addicted and while this is physical, it is also emotional. Those emotions talk them into taking things they should not. But if you are fasting and telling your soul “no”, you are breaking the back of addiction. We can be blessed because we are not letting our feelings and emotions rule us.
So during this 21 days, pray and seek God for what type of fast you should do. Remember, God wants you whole.
3rd John 1:2
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
God wants your body healthy. He wants your soul healthy and He wants your spirit healthy.
So let’s seek that out this week, and pray that as well for others. In Jesus name!
