2020 Daniel Fast Guidelines and Prayer Focus

To Eat or Not To Eat? That Is NOT The Question
As you fast, you may soon realize that you don’t experience a desire for indulgent foods as often as you thought you would. And without a preoccupation for a most desirable cuisine, you will be surprised at your ability to become laser-focused on God, and how you will take advantage of your time to seek Jesus more diligently. Know this: there is no magic in refraining from certain foods or simply missing meals in the name of spirituality. The important thing to remember is to hear God speak and obey what you hear.

There is a question you will need to answer. When you are fasting, will you seek Him, give Him a listening ear and the quality time He deserves? He will constantly separate you from dependence on the world. Consequently, your time alone with Him may become more frequent than you originally planned, and needless to say, your prayer life will greatly improve.

Foods To Include
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon.

All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to 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, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers (an option if you are not allergic to soy).

All whole grains. Including, but not limited to, whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes, and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds. Including, but not limited to, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also, nut butters, e.g. peanut butter and almond butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils. Including, but not limited to, olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: Spring water, distilled water, or other pure waters.

Other: Tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs, and spices

Foods To Avoid
All meat and animal products. Including, but not limited to, beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products. Including, but not limited to, milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweeteners. Including, but not limited to, sugar, raw sugar, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread. Including most baked goods.

All refined and processed food products. Including, but not limited to, artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods. Including, but not limited to, potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats. Including shortening, margarine, lard, and foods high in fat.

Many beverages. Including carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

10 Day Prayer Focus

A dominating feature of any fast is that it provides additional time and opportunity to connect with God relationally through worship and divine conversation, or prayer. Additionally, the power of unity cannot be overstated, as you join your entire community of faith to focus on and pray for the same things while fasting together.

Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we do every now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate. To understand how to develop a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at the example Jesus gave during His life on earth.

Have A Specific Time
Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. Make a daily appointment with God — whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening — and faithfully keep it.

Have A Certain Place
Jesus had a specific place He went to pray. Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and frees us to worship and pray out loud.

Have A Powerful Plan
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them a prayer outline. We call it “The Lord’s Prayer.” As we pray every day, our plans for our prayer time can vary, perhaps including worship music, Bible reading, and quiet time to listen to God. It doesn’t always have to look the same; it just helps when we have a plan for connecting regularly with God.

Allow these themes and accompanying verses to guide you into a lengthened time of prayer

Day 1—Praise: Thanking God For All He Is
“LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise Your Name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago” (Isaiah 25:1)

Day 2—Penitence: Repenting From All That Is Not Like Him
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Day 3—Presence: Experiencing God With Us
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Day 4—Protection: Asking To Be Guarded From All Evil
“…pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:2-3)

Day 5—Purpose: Thriving In Life With Intentionality
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9)

Day 6—Provision: Trusting In God To Provide For Our Every Need
“Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25)

Day 7—People: Interceding For Those Around Us
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them” (1 Timothy 2:1)

Day 8—Petition: Bringing Our Requests To The Lord
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6)

Day 9—Passion: Living Our Best Life With Zeal And Excitement
“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23)

Day 10—Power: Seeking The Lord’s Empowerment To Do His Will
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19)