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We are beginning our annual 10-day Daniel Fast on Friday, January 17th– Sunday, January 26th. We will conclude this 10-day fast together in our Sunday service on January 26th with lunch following downstairs in our dining room!
The Fast
As a church, we will be participating in a partial fast called “The Daniel Fast ” which is drawn from the Book of Daniel Chapter 1 in the Old Testament. During this time, we will limit our diet as Daniel did to eating only fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and drinking water.
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” – Daniel 1:12.
… “At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds” - Daniel 1:15-17
“At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;”- Daniel 10:2-3
Although we will be eliminating some common things from our daily diet, there are generous options available. (see below for “Foods to Eat” and “Foods to Avoid” If you have any condition which might prohibit you from being a part of the Daniel Fast, there are other options, i.e.: You may choose to eliminate caffeine, coffee, soda, or sweets; or fast from TV, Facebook, and other social media.
Remember: the details are not as important as the spirit in which you participate.
***If you have any known medical conditions or suspect such conditions, consult your doctor before beginning any fast. It is always good to consult a doctor before starting any fast.***
The Focus
Fasting is a spiritual discipline designed to connect us more deeply with God. Fasting involves giving up something PHYSICAL (comfort food) for the sake of something SPIRITUAL (a fresh filling of God’s Spirit). Over the next 10 days, we will sacrifice some of our regular food intake and replace it with Bible reading, prayer, and journaling. The overall goal is to work up a greater appetite for God Himself!
Remember: The focus of this fast is spiritual (a greater sense of dependency on God). This isn’t about weight loss or legalistic rules, so don’t fixate on the menu… fixate on the heart behind it! Above all, God’s most interested in your heart & hunger for Him!
The Finish
START: Friday, January 17th - Begin meals of pure, simple fruits, and vegetables for the next 10 days. We will be praying for each other!
FINISH: Sunday, January 26th– We will come together as a church to worship and end the fast together.
Eat:
Fresh, Frozen, Dried, Juiced, or Canned
Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon
Whole Grains: Barley, Brown Rice, Oats, Whole Wheat Pasta
Liquids: Water, Natural Fruit Juice, (Black coffee if necessary)
Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, 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
Legumes: Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Chick Peas, Lentils, Kidney Beans
Nuts & Seeds: Almonds, Cashews, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Peanuts, Walnuts, Sunflower & Pumpkin Seeds
For more recipes and food choices visit www.daniel-fast.com or www.ultimatedanielfast.com
Avoid
-Meat, Poultry, Fish, Pork
-All Bread and Baked Goods
-Soda, Coffee & Tea, Energy Drinks, Alcohol
-Dairy (milk, butter, cheese, eggs, etc.)
-Sugar (raw, granulated, brown, artificial sweeteners)
-Processed Foods (preservatives, additives, chemicals)
-Fried Foods
-White Flour
-Solid Fats (lard, margarine, shortening)
Sign-up :
Sign up in the back foyer, or on our website! This will help with accountability as we do this together and we will be able to encourage one another. Make sure to also select the “Church” push notifications on the Berkshire Dream Center APP or Subscribe to our Church texting system to receive daily prayers/ devotionals sent right to your phone during this time of fasting.
Daniel Fast Daily Prayer Focus:
Friday:
Pray for our Nation, our Government, our State, our President, National Leaders, and Local Officials. This includes our Governor, Mayor, City Counselors, State Representatives, and other officials.
Saturday:
Pray for our Pastors, Pastor Katelynn and Pastor Jesse and their family. Pray for our BDC Church Leadership Team, Outreach Leadership Team, Staff, Volunteers, and all those who serve with us.
Sunday:
Pray for the families of the Berkshire DC Church and for the church to grow. Pray that God will continue to bless our Church families in a huge way in 2025.
Monday:
Pray for the relationships and marriages of those that attend our church. Pray also for those who are single and seeking a Godly spouse. Pray that God will bring the right person into their life.
Tuesday:
Pray for physical healing for you, your family, and for those that attend the Berkshire DC Church. Pray that in 2025 God will bring physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental healing to our lives and congregation
Wednesday:
Pray for financial breakthroughs in your life, your family, and our Church. Pray that God will bring financial increase and blessing and that God will open doors for salary increases, promotions, and better opportunities. Let us also pray for those that do not have jobs to find employment.
Thursday:
Pray for God to pour out His Spirit in a powerful way during our Church Services. Pray for Our Pastors, the message, Kidz Dream Zone, our teachers, our worship team, security team, First Impressions/ Greeting Team , Prayer Team, A/V Team, and the ministries of BDC Church. Pray that God by His Holy Spirit would draw people to His Church and that we would be even bolder at inviting others to come with us.
Friday:
Pray that the vision and mission of BDC Church will be fulfilled in 2025. God will bring the finances, the staff, the resources, the people to support the mission financially, prayerfully, personally, and spiritually.
Saturday:
Our Community - Pray for Berkshire County, The City of Pittsfield, and Morningside Community that God would bring a great spiritual awakening to our area. Let us pray that God would give us opportunities and influence to reach our community like never before. Pray for the outreaches including Food Pantry, Mobile Food Trucks, Adopt A Block, BDC Discipleship Program, Bright MorningStar Kitchen, 12 Step Recovery, Life Groups, Kidz Dream Zone, clothing ministry, Project Connection and more. Pray that God would continue to provide the resources to restore hope to so many within our community.
Sunday:
Pray for breakthroughs in challenges, obstacles, addictions, and difficulties that we face. Let us together pray that God would break strongholds and walls that are holding us back from moving into the destiny that He has prepared for us. Let us also pray that God would meet us in a powerful way at our service! May we grow an even greater passion and love for God like never before.
Our Christmas Miracle Offering
