The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body

Fasting is a Christian discipline that is rarely talked about in the Christian church, so I found the book, The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory, to be refreshing and enlightening. America has been plagued by an epidemic of obesity - we love our food -and for some they love their food more than they love their God! Fasting was a part of the Jewish culture and great men and women of God through out the Bible, participated in fasting and prayer. Our ultimate example is Jesus our Savior, who went into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray. Have you ever gone on a fast? In the last few years I have begun to practice this spiritual discipline. Sometimes it's been with my Good Morning Girls group, often it's with my husband and once with an old friend from high school who now lives in Texas! The support through out the day of emails, texts and prayers has gotten me through some rough days of fasting - (I do love my Diet Coke! I know for others giving up coffee is a struggle!) What is so great about this book is it provides a step by step plan - including how to prepare, some recipes that follow the restrictions and daily devotions for doing a 21 day Daniel Fast. I have not done a fast that included food so this sparked my interest - maybe I can do this! Susan Gregory says in The Daniel Fast, "The definition of a biblical fast is to restrict food for a spiritual purpose." Susan explains there are three types of fasts - an absolute fast, a normal fast, and a partial fast. The Daniel Fast is a partial fast - abstaining from some foods but not all. Daniel abstained from all foods except foods from the seed and water. So this book explains how to follow his example. Do you wish you had the deep faith of Daniel? One that could lock the jaws of lions in a den? I think we all wish we could have that type of walk with God and yet are we willing to do what Daniel did in order to have what Daniel had? Fasting is not so you can impress God with your "super" Christian ways - but it is for you. It is done to draw us nearer to God and without the aspect of extra prayer and time in the word - it is just a diet. Fasting was created by God as a tool to bring us into closer relationship with Him. If you are interested in doing a 1 day, 3 day, 7 day, 10 day or 21 day fast - go to Susan Gregory's website to learn more about the Daniel Fast here. You can also read a past post I wrote on fasting here ([...]) . "Sometimes you are so hungry, the only way to be fed is to fast."Susan Gregory Walk with the King! Courtney [...]

I received a review copy of this book and wasn't sure that I'd be excited about reading about fasting. But, I was pleasantly surprised. Gregory divides her book into two sections. The first covers the history of the Daniel fast and ways to prepare oneself for the fast. The second section is practical application. Recipes and a menu plan are included as well as a 21-day devotional guide to use during your fast. The personal experiences that Gregory shares make the fast seem doable. While it may not be easy, the results will be worth it and ones walk with the Lord should surely benefit. This book is a complete resource for the Daniel Fast. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants more information about both the purpose and benefits of fasting in general or those looking for a daily guide for their own fast.

This is just a wonderful book.All the work and prayer Susan Gregory has put into this book shows. A true guide book for christian prayer and fasting. I highly recommend this book.

I love what she says on page xii. "[People] don't just want to know about fasting, they also want to know how to fast." This is exactly what she has accomplished. Great book on the ins and outs of fasting. I have had it about 3 days. I walked into the local Christian Bookstore and asked them about a devotional book that would be short (about 21 days : ] ) and they really didn't have anything that fit the bill. So I looked at another author's book on fasting for the journal part and they didn't have it. I really didn't like the other author's book because he tends to approach fasting from a "what do I get" mentality. However, this book's author approaches it from what I consider to be an appropriate viewpoint. It is about growing closer to God. THAT is why we fast. Anyway, after starting to feel like there was nothing that would meet my needs, the person suggested one of Dr. Colbert's books on fasting. Well, wrong book, but right section. I started looking through the books and then noticed The Daniel Fast. I picked it up b/c I had been on her blog once or twice and recognized the name. In the back of the book as I thumbed through it was a 21 day devotional guide!! Sweet! (like sweetleaf sweet!) So I instantly grabbed it and rifled through it. Search over. Purchased and am still reading parts of it. My wife even wants to make some of the recipes for the rest of the family b/c they sounded so good. In short, thanks for writing this book! It came out the very day that I needed it. God's joy, Dave

Just bought this book (kindle version) Absolutley love it. I will be starting my 2nd Daniel Fast on Jan 1st & I am very excited. The author's personal experiences stir a desire in me to learn, grow & fast more.