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43 of 47 found the following review helpful:
Better. Fast-er. Complete. Jan 06, 2010
By D. Foshee
I love what she says on page xii. "[People] don't just want to know about fasting, they also want to know how to fast." This is exactly what she has accomplished. Great book on the ins and outs of fasting. I have had it about 3 days. I walked into the local Christian Bookstore and asked them about a devotional book that would be short (about 21 days : ] ) and they really didn't have anything that fit the bill. So I looked at another author's book on fasting for the journal part and they didn't have it.
I really didn't like the other author's book because he tends to approach fasting from a "what do I get" mentality. However, this book's author approaches it from what I consider to be an appropriate viewpoint. It is about growing closer to God. THAT is why we fast. Anyway, after starting to feel like there was nothing that would meet my needs, the person suggested one of Dr. Colbert's books on fasting. Well, wrong book, but right section. I started looking through the books and then noticed The Daniel Fast. I picked it up b/c I had been on her blog once or twice and recognized the name. In the back of the book as I thumbed through it was a 21 day devotional guide!! Sweet! (like sweetleaf sweet!)
So I instantly grabbed it and rifled through it. Search over. Purchased and am still reading parts of it. My wife even wants to make some of the recipes for the rest of the family b/c they sounded so good.
In short, thanks for writing this book! It came out the very day that I needed it.
God's joy,
Dave
53 of 61 found the following review helpful:
 Good Cookbook, Not so Great Theology Jan 14, 2010
By Daniel Kam
When I joined the Tyndale Blogger Network, the first book they sent me was The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body by Susan Gregory.
Whenever I see a book that claims to have a "bible-based" diet or nutrition guide, I am usually skeptical. It was no different for this book. After reading Gregory's book, I have two basic thoughts that emanate from the text.
First, the book is valuable for those wanting to find a safe way to learn the art of fasting as a discipline. Those who read the book will be glad to find not only her biblical outline for how the fast relates to Daniel's refusal to eat the kings famous meal, but also how we might carry out the fast in modern day America. The book is filled with lots of recipes for a very limited diet (it is more stringent than even a vegan diet).
Second, the book falls prey to the kind of individualizing and popularizing of biblical texts into "five step" programs and it's as easy as "x, y, and z" to have a better walk with the Lord.
The chapter that I had the hardest time getting through was the chapter 4 (The Daniel Fast for Body, Soul, and Spirit) where Gregory takes us on a hardline trichotomist walk through scripture. Not only does this take away from the central focus of the book, but it puts too hard a nose on a grey subject. The lines between body, soul, and spirit are not simply "one thing" in scripture. They cannot be easily separated, and Gregory does a poor job of showing the differences in thoughts about the body and the soul between the modern mindset and the Hebrew mindset. The book would have been better without this chapter.
All in all, I would recommend the book for those who want to learn the basics of fasting and who would like all of the good recipes that go along with the book. I would highly recommend NOT reading it for a theological understanding of fasting as there are other books written by Dallas Willard and Richard Foster which do a much better job of introducing the disciplines.
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Great Daniel Fast Resource Jan 09, 2010
By Growing In Grace
"Karen"
I received a review copy of this book and wasn't sure that I'd be excited about reading about fasting. But, I was pleasantly surprised. Gregory divides her book into two sections. The first covers the history of the Daniel fast and ways to prepare oneself for the fast. The second section is practical application. Recipes and a menu plan are included as well as a 21-day devotional guide to use during your fast.
The personal experiences that Gregory shares make the fast seem doable. While it may not be easy, the results will be worth it and ones walk with the Lord should surely benefit.
This book is a complete resource for the Daniel Fast. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants more information about both the purpose and benefits of fasting in general or those looking for a daily guide for their own fast.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Sometimes You Are So Hungry, the Only Way to be Fed is to Fast Mar 25, 2010
By C. Joseph
"www.womenlivingwell.org"
Fasting is a Christian discipline that is rarely talked about in the Christian church, so I found the book, The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory, to be refreshing and enlightening. America has been plagued by an epidemic of obesity - we love our food -and for some they love their food more than they love their God! Fasting was a part of the Jewish culture and great men and women of God through out the Bible, participated in fasting and prayer. Our ultimate example is Jesus our Savior, who went into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray.
Have you ever gone on a fast? In the last few years I have begun to practice this spiritual discipline. Sometimes it's been with my Good Morning Girls group, often it's with my husband and once with an old friend from high school who now lives in Texas! The support through out the day of emails, texts and prayers has gotten me through some rough days of fasting - (I do love my Diet Coke! I know for others giving up coffee is a struggle!)
What is so great about this book is it provides a step by step plan - including how to prepare, some recipes that follow the restrictions and daily devotions for doing a 21 day Daniel Fast. I have not done a fast that included food so this sparked my interest - maybe I can do this!
Susan Gregory says in The Daniel Fast, "The definition of a biblical fast is to restrict food for a spiritual purpose." Susan explains there are three types of fasts - an absolute fast, a normal fast, and a partial fast. The Daniel Fast is a partial fast - abstaining from some foods but not all. Daniel abstained from all foods except foods from the seed and water. So this book explains how to follow his example.
Do you wish you had the deep faith of Daniel? One that could lock the jaws of lions in a den? I think we all wish we could have that type of walk with God and yet are we willing to do what Daniel did in order to have what Daniel had? Fasting is not so you can impress God with your "super" Christian ways - but it is for you. It is done to draw us nearer to God and without the aspect of extra prayer and time in the word - it is just a diet.
Fasting was created by God as a tool to bring us into closer relationship with Him. If you are interested in doing a 1 day, 3 day, 7 day, 10 day or 21 day fast - go to Susan Gregory's website to learn more about the Daniel Fast here. You can also read a past post I wrote on fasting here ([...]) .
"Sometimes you are so hungry, the only way to be fed is to fast."Susan Gregory
Walk with the King!
Courtney
[...]
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Cover blurb should include . . . and lose weight. Jan 16, 2011
By blessings33
My intention when starting the Daniel Fast a couple of years ago was to lose weight.
And I easily shed what I wanted to in the 21 day period, was never hungry and felt energized. I was using the on-line lists and recipes which Susan Gregory supplied when I joined her blog. Right after Christmas last month, I was ready to do the fast again, but this time I had Susan's book: "The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit and Renew Your Body." Having the book with its clear explanation of the spiritual and nutritional disciplines of fasting and receiving the frequent spiritual messages from Susan's blog encouraged me to spend time in devotions and thanksgiving, taking me to a new level of communication with God. Like any discipline, the benefits derived are commensurate with the effort you expend. But Susan gives you all the tools and then encourages you to stay with it and go deeper. I've again lost the weight I wanted to but with the book as a guide, the spiritual element of the fast emerged as paramount.
The other reviews highlight the great food lists and recipes. Along with the spiritual insights provided in the book and the blog, you have you all need to meet your goals.
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