Strengthening your Soul, Body, and Mind

January first. Today happens to be an appropriate day for talking about my latest read. New Year’s Day. The day when gyms are full, people are throwing out all of the junk food left over from Christmas and from their pantry. A day when a large number of people are promising themselves to get out of debt, spend more time in devotions, eat healthier, exercise more, and many other kinds of resolutions.

I’ll be honest, when I first picked up The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss by Susan Gregory, I was pretty certain I was picking up another diet book. And I was pleasantly surprised that, while this book did focus a little bit on what the actual fast entails, it was definitely more aimed toward getting your mind and heart in the right place for what it means to fast.

A fast consists of spending time with God, listening closely to what He has to share with or reveal to us. It’s about shutting out the world for a portion of your day and communing with our Savior. It’s about preparing your meals and thanking Him for the provisions and the awesome creations he made to care for our bodies.

This book was filled with scripture reference to both support fasting and to meditate on during your fast. Gregory also cautions against continuing the fast more than the twenty-one-day period the fast is designed for. She does, however, give you some ideas as how to continue on a healthy lifestyle after the fast.

Filled with recipes, a 21-day guide to your fast, and lots of explanation of the motivation behind The Daniel Fast, this book is an excellent resource for anyone serious about executing a fast that includes healthy, delicious foods while still giving up some less-than-desirable unhealthy options. Yes, this fast takes some preparation and work, but the author lays out strategies to help you along the way as well as a couple of websites where you can go for ideas, inspiration, and motivation. If you’re ready to spend some time getting closer to God while detoxing your body of some harmful substances, consider picking this book up for your go-to-reference.

Available now from your favorite bookstore or online

***Tyndale Blog Network provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.