As the end of the year approaches, the New Year is a special time for African American churches. Many are doing a Daniel Fast for spiritual enrichment.
In the Book of Daniel, Daniel and three colleagues were captured by King Nebuchadnezzar to be his servants. The king wanted them to perform certain duties and offered them his food, the best food in the land, to complete their tasks. Daniel requested to eat “vegetables and water” or in some versions of the Bible “pulses and water” instead of the king’s food.
After ten days Daniel and his fellow captors were wiser and stronger.
The beauty of the story is that the Book of Daniel was written before Christ was born, therefore the wisdom of plant-based eating has been around for well over 2,000 years. Way back then, someone knew how powerful plant-based eating was, as it still is today.
As churches prepare for their Daniel Fast, one challenge is to continue using the wisdom of the Book of Daniel throughout the rest of the year. Some churches do the fast for 10 days and others longer, but why not go for 365 days?
Additionally, the focus could not only be the spiritual aspects of it, but also the physical aspects. As you begin your Daniel Fast it’s the perfect time to begin your conversion into the world of plant-based eating. Fasting in this sense doesn’t mean going hungry all year long, but quite the opposite. You’ll have plenty of food.
It’s your moment to pivot to new ways of thinking about food, experimenting with plant-based recipes and getting on a new exercise program.
Don’t let this moment pass you by.
If you’re looking to drop a few pounds, lower your cholesterol, lower your blood pressure and get off certain prescription medications, starting a Daniel Fast and continuing with plant-based eating is the way to go.
