Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
I don't have to ask anyone's permission to eat or not eat. I remember the days of my childhood when I tried to be a picky eater and my parents refused my request. I had to eat whatever they gave me. (West Indian parents don't really allow kids to determine their own diets.) And when I got older and started working and discovered the power of purchasing and making my own food to suit my own palate, things changed. And living in NYC where everything you want to eat is available at any time you desire it, the only thing that separates you from your culinary delights is the money to purchase them. But just because it's available, doesn't mean you have to eat it or eat it all.
My blog is supposed to focus on running but even the best machine can't run unless it's properly fueled. If you pump all the diesel you want to in a non-diesel engine, it still won't run properly. So it's not just ANY fuel but the right fuel that we need.
Last Friday, I was reading the Bible, specifically the book of Daniel with Paul and I prefaced my reading of Daniel 1:8 by saying that I have a bunch of treats in my fridge right now but when I've eaten them, I am going to try the Daniel's diet again. (Excuses!)
I did the Daniel's Diet successfully in 2011, I have done it with varying degrees of success a few times after, but I know this is the right way... the wright way?
What exactly is the Daniel's Diet? Daniel 1:12 explains "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink." It is the request made by Daniel, a young Israeli captive in Babylon but because of their stock, he and his fellow captives were being groomed for service and being fed the choice foods that the king ate. But the boys asked for permission to eat the foods they were accustomed to: pulse to eat - fruit, vegetable, grains, all wholesome, plant based foods - and water to drink - as opposed to wine or any other artificial beverage. When the "DIET" is undertaken, it is usually done for 10 day periods, which is kind of like a fast - abstaining from other foods and asking God to do something special to make you even better for having abstained.
I've been thinking of returning to the Daniel's Diet in January 2014 but today... today is when the rest of my life begins, right? And I have some weight that I need to start losing right now, not in 2 weeks time. So what's to prevent me from starting to eat like Daniel today? Nothing! You see, Daniel had to ask permission to not eat the rich foods from Babylon, which was akin to disobeying a direct order from the king, a crime punishable by death. Instead, all I have to do is choose not to eat some of that chicken that I am semi-addicted to. And THAT is an act that can be rewarded with new LIFE.
I want the life where my clothes fit again. I want the life where I don't feel hungry at midnight and find myself eating large meal-looking snacks. I want the life where I can run and feel light enough on my feet to keep going for long distances again.
Today, I dare to be like Daniel.
Do you?
The key is to plan ahead. Plan what I am going to eat in advance rather than try to play catch-up and just eat whatever is around.
Tomorrow is the Sabbath but tomorrow evening, I will go to the supermarket and buy some whole grains and beans and vegetables and fruits.
I still have some fried chicken in the fridge but I don't need to eat it. It's okay if I give it to someone or just let it go.
I resolve that my next meal will be healthy. And the next and the next.
What I will give up
1. The candy that is always in my purse
2. The ginger ale that is always in my fridge
3. The meat that is always on my plate
4. The oil that is always in my pot as I am constantly frying things -I fry vegetables! Come on!
5. The excuses that are always on my lips
What I will gain
1. A brand new, healthy profile
2. Better rest at night as my stomach will be more settled since it's easier to digest plant based rather than animal based meals.
3. Control of my weight
4. A brand new wardrobe as I still have my new clothes from when I was healthier - for a long time, I refused to accept that I no longer fit into my former size so I continued buying those clothes even though I couldn't wear them. I hope to fit into them someday soon.
5. Spiritual purity.
6. Faster running ability - can hardly wait for this.
I am SOO excited. Wish I had done this last week so I would be feeling great already but I am ready to take it one step at a time.
Stay with me.
Happy Sabbath! May God inspire you during your rest.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
I don't have to ask anyone's permission to eat or not eat. I remember the days of my childhood when I tried to be a picky eater and my parents refused my request. I had to eat whatever they gave me. (West Indian parents don't really allow kids to determine their own diets.) And when I got older and started working and discovered the power of purchasing and making my own food to suit my own palate, things changed. And living in NYC where everything you want to eat is available at any time you desire it, the only thing that separates you from your culinary delights is the money to purchase them. But just because it's available, doesn't mean you have to eat it or eat it all.
My blog is supposed to focus on running but even the best machine can't run unless it's properly fueled. If you pump all the diesel you want to in a non-diesel engine, it still won't run properly. So it's not just ANY fuel but the right fuel that we need.
Last Friday, I was reading the Bible, specifically the book of Daniel with Paul and I prefaced my reading of Daniel 1:8 by saying that I have a bunch of treats in my fridge right now but when I've eaten them, I am going to try the Daniel's diet again. (Excuses!)
I did the Daniel's Diet successfully in 2011, I have done it with varying degrees of success a few times after, but I know this is the right way... the wright way?
What exactly is the Daniel's Diet? Daniel 1:12 explains "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink." It is the request made by Daniel, a young Israeli captive in Babylon but because of their stock, he and his fellow captives were being groomed for service and being fed the choice foods that the king ate. But the boys asked for permission to eat the foods they were accustomed to: pulse to eat - fruit, vegetable, grains, all wholesome, plant based foods - and water to drink - as opposed to wine or any other artificial beverage. When the "DIET" is undertaken, it is usually done for 10 day periods, which is kind of like a fast - abstaining from other foods and asking God to do something special to make you even better for having abstained.
I've been thinking of returning to the Daniel's Diet in January 2014 but today... today is when the rest of my life begins, right? And I have some weight that I need to start losing right now, not in 2 weeks time. So what's to prevent me from starting to eat like Daniel today? Nothing! You see, Daniel had to ask permission to not eat the rich foods from Babylon, which was akin to disobeying a direct order from the king, a crime punishable by death. Instead, all I have to do is choose not to eat some of that chicken that I am semi-addicted to. And THAT is an act that can be rewarded with new LIFE.
I want the life where my clothes fit again. I want the life where I don't feel hungry at midnight and find myself eating large meal-looking snacks. I want the life where I can run and feel light enough on my feet to keep going for long distances again.
Today, I dare to be like Daniel.
Do you?
The key is to plan ahead. Plan what I am going to eat in advance rather than try to play catch-up and just eat whatever is around.
Tomorrow is the Sabbath but tomorrow evening, I will go to the supermarket and buy some whole grains and beans and vegetables and fruits.
I still have some fried chicken in the fridge but I don't need to eat it. It's okay if I give it to someone or just let it go.
I resolve that my next meal will be healthy. And the next and the next.
What I will give up
1. The candy that is always in my purse
2. The ginger ale that is always in my fridge
3. The meat that is always on my plate
4. The oil that is always in my pot as I am constantly frying things -I fry vegetables! Come on!
5. The excuses that are always on my lips
What I will gain
1. A brand new, healthy profile
2. Better rest at night as my stomach will be more settled since it's easier to digest plant based rather than animal based meals.
3. Control of my weight
4. A brand new wardrobe as I still have my new clothes from when I was healthier - for a long time, I refused to accept that I no longer fit into my former size so I continued buying those clothes even though I couldn't wear them. I hope to fit into them someday soon.
5. Spiritual purity.
6. Faster running ability - can hardly wait for this.
I am SOO excited. Wish I had done this last week so I would be feeling great already but I am ready to take it one step at a time.
Stay with me.
Happy Sabbath! May God inspire you during your rest.
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