#Day16of21 Daniel Fast: Final Countdown

The final count down of this years Daniel Fast! It's not easy to fast for 21 days, that is for sure. This is my sixth year and it's never gotten easier - but it HAS gotten more powerful!

If you jumped on board with us this year, BRAVO! Fasting is incredibly transformational (*See Daniel Fast Video posted on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwdA_pf6Ltw3n9uMgPLKlQ/).

As we encourage one another to finish strong this week, here's a message to think about from the Book of Daniel (this pertains to everyone!):

Be Excellent!

Daniel was a man of great excellence, and, because of that, the king promoted him to a position of great influence and authority (see Daniel 6:3). Daniel was also a man who refused to compromise. Even if his choices endangered his life, he would not compromise. He believed strongly in keeping his commitments, promises, and vows, and he was willing to endure personal discomfort to do so. The Bible says we should swear to our own hurt...and sin not (Psalm 15:4). In other words, we should do what we say we are going to do even if it is hard or hurts us in the (immediate) time and space.

Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5 says: "When you make a vow or a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God takes no pleasure in fools [who thoughtlessly mock Him]. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay."

In Daniel 1, we see that Daniel requested not to have to eat the king's rich food because he felt it would defile him. Obviously, he had made a commitment not to eat that type of food. Because of his convictions, God caused Daniel to find favor with the man in charge, and no harm came to him.

In Daniel 6, the king signed a decree stating that anyone who asked a petition of any god or person besides the king for thirty days would be cast into a den of lions. Daniel refused to stop praying to God and was indeed sent into the lion's den; however no harm came to him because God miraculously shut the lions' mouths. The king was so impressed with Daniel's decision and the miraculous way God took care of him that he issued a decree that all the people had to fear and tremble before Daniel's God, because He was indeed the living God. After this, Daniel prospered during the reign of King Darius as well as during the reign of King Cyrus.

Our God is an excellent God, and He has called each and every one of us to be excellent too. To be "excellent" is a decision we can make (after Fasting and outside Church walls as well!), and it means we always go the extra mile to do the right thing, and to do things the very best way they can be done. We strive to do what we believe God would do in a situation similar to the one we are in. Make a decision today to be "excellent"...finishing out our commitment to God during this Fast, and every single day afterwards.

This is how we experience Heaven on earth.

God bless you!

KEEP GOING!

-M