Kinds of Fasts III

Here we are again with another look at fasting. We have discussed the water fast and juice fast. Today we will learn about the vegetable fast and its benefits to the body.

Vegetable Fast:
This fast definitely takes me to our Biblical Foundation and to Daniel. He is our example. See Daniel 1 in the Old Testament. Daniel was a Hebrew man and captured by the king of Babylon. The king wanted some of the children of Israel to shape and make for his own use in the palace. He picked the best and Daniel was one of them. The king gave them a daily provision of the "king's delicacies" - king's food: deliciously rich and fattening food - and three years training so that they would then serve the king. Daniel went to the king's chief officer and asked that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies and suggested that he eat only vegetables during this time of training - he and his three friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. The chief officer allowed Daniel his request for ten days. At the end of the ten days Daniel and his friends appeared better and healthier to the chief officer than all those who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. So the chief officer allowed Daniel his request for the remainder of the training. At the end of the training when Daniel and his friends and all the others were brought in to see the king, the king found none like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. They were examined and found ten times better than all the others! They were the ones chosen to serve before the king.

From the Spirit Filled Life Bible's Truth-in-Action at the end of Daniel it says, "Stand fast for your righteous standards, despite pressure to sin. Believe that God will give you a means of escape. Trust that He will show you favor and give you wisdom through "creative alternatives."

Without taking this out of context, let me say this. We eat to live not live to eat. Yes, foods taste good and our taste buds say some taste better than others - what do they know? Remember we are to be the ones in control of our bodies - not our bodies in control of us. We are to have the discipline like Daniel to make right choices. We will reap the benefits when we do. So in the midst of our flesh crying out to us "No! No! No!" we will say, "Yes! Yes! Yes! To eating (fasting) God's way! Put yourself in a training program. Make it a King's training program and begin with a fast of vegetables! You will soon discover that your body will crave the good foods over the "king's (world's) delicacies." Do not defile yourself. God will show you how to be creative with your healthy choices. Stand fast!

Here's to your health!