Daniel Fast helps form a new habit

By Linda m. Linonis

The idea is based on behavior by Daniel, an Old Testament prophet who consecrated himself to God.

YOUNGSTOWN — Patrick McBane of Marketplace Solutions, a ministry for marketplace and city transformation, is taking inspiration from the Old Testament to begin the New Year.

The Daniel Fast, planned Monday through Jan. 25, focuses on prayer and fasting. The idea comes from Daniel, a prophet in the Old Testament, who had “insight into all visions and dreams.”

“This was a pattern of behavior for Daniel ... to consecrate himself to the Lord,” McBane said.

Daniel 1:8-20 begins, “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.” And in verse 16, “So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.”

The verses note that Daniel was in better shape after rejecting the royal rations than those who indulged in them.

The modern interpretation, McBane said, focuses on the idea that it “takes 21 days to form a new habit or break an old one.”

He said the fast, planned for 21 days, will encourage participants to “start a new pattern of behavior.” McBane said he thought of it as a “21-day retreat” of sorts.

“This is a time to read the word of God and begin to pray it,” he said. “If we align our hearts with the heavenly Father ... we’ll be more attuned to God and see the needs of others as well.”

Fasting is typically seen as a change to the physical body. The Daniel Fast, McBane said, is a cleansing of the body while focusing on the spiritual. “From a spiritual perspective, it’s asking God what prospects he has for me,” McBane said.

McBane said he was posting the Daniel Fast information, which he had sent out to people via an e-mail, on his Web site, ww.4marketplacesolutions.org, so that those interested could learn more about it.

“I already had some feedback by phone,” he said. “The vegetarian diet is good for the body as cleansing. This isn’t a diet to lose weight but for the spiritual side,” he emphasized.

McBane said he saw the Daniel Fast as a good way to begin 2009. “For me, it helps me focus and get away from distractions like TV,” he said.

McBane said the Daniel Fast will help participants focus on a “call to prayer” and targeted three areas.

“Our core heart motives are to bring glory to God; as a people, we must know how to honor God and one another; and by faith, our hearts, minds and lifestyles must be filled with the Word (truth) and Spirit,” McBane said.