Cheri Strange, Christian Speaker and Author

       I don’t know about you, but the average American adds between 5-14 lbs. to their body weight over the holidays. I’m likely average, but I gave up weighing after my second child (she’s almost 10) and I’m much happier for it. Even without a number off a scale, I am well aware of my own excessive culinary indulges and find myself looking very average each January. So what’s a girl (who does NOT want to settle for average) to do?

       I don’t like settling with myself physically or spiritually so we begin each new year with a Daniel Fast. It’s not difficult and it serves as a way to center my heart on what God wants for my life in the next year.

       In Daniel 1:12 Daniel asked to be given only vegetables and water instead of the royal food for ten days. After this time, the guard found Daniel and his companions to be healthier and better nourished than those who had eaten the royal foods. In Daniel 10:2-3, Daniel talks about a 21 day fast accompanied with prayer.

       We have done both, but generally do the ten day Daniel Fast that included fruits and vegetables to get us back on track toward healthy living. But somewhere along the road, giving up the coke, chocolate, and cereal for 10 days – gave me constant reminders of who was in charge of my life. My focus moved beyond health to every other area of my life.

       Who knew eating baked potatoes and fresh fruit instead of pizza and fudge would make such a difference in my figure? Who would have thought that denying myself what I want and giving the Lord permission to move me out of Average, spiritually, could bring such purpose and focus to my life?

       So if you want to get yourself back on the healthy track for eating, or if you need a way to get centered on letting God have His way with your life in 2011, I highly recommend a Daniel Fast. Check out  http://www.danielfast.wordpress.com - It's a great place to start. The website has all sorts of information including recipes and a helpful list of what is “legal” on a Daniel Fast. (And if you’re interested, I make a mean smoothie, and will share the recipe later this week.)

If you want to start the year living beyond ordinary, a Daniel Fast is a perfect beginning.