Matthew 5:7 (NKJV)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
John 6:35 (NKJV)
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Cravings
The Daniel’s Fast is a great way for everyone in the Church to fast corporately. Fasting is a good way to cleanse both your physical and spiritual self. When you don’t think you could possibly eat another piece of broccoli, you are trying to budget your meal plans without the standard carbohydrate fillers, or when we tend to feed a large family; pray to God and He will give you the strength.
Watching television during any fast is not only a waste of time you could be spending with God it can also be a stumbling block during your fast. Nothing is worse than being on a fast of any kind and seeing a commercial for a warm gooey piece of pizza or the newest cheeseburger Wendy’s is offering. Instead of watching a television show, turn on some praise music and simply praise His Good Name! You may also want to dig into some of those devotionals you have put on the shelf or re-read a Christian based book to remind how good God’s love is for us! Better yet, listen to the Bible! YouVersion is a wonderful online Bible that you can listen to while you are busy cleaning!
Don’t forget about God’s word to help you with your cravings. When you begin craving sweets or salty junk food, turn to God’s word and focus on His loving presence. Try to refocus your attention on God and you’ll be surprised on how fast those cravings will go away.
Low blood sugar can make you feel hungry and crave whatever your “comfort food” happens to be. Here are a few tips that may help curb those cravings:
Consider taking the supplements alpha-lipoic acid and chromium. They both have very good scientific evidence that they help balance blood sugar levels and can help with cravings.
Eat a nutritious breakfast every day. Eating a nutrient-rich breakfast helps get your blood sugar off to a good start and can help keep it balanced for hours so you don't get hungry before lunchtime. Studies show that people who maintain weight loss eat a healthy breakfast.
Add a dash of cinnamon. This fragrant spice has been found to help regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Have smaller meals throughout the day. Big meals send your blood sugar skyrocketing only to plummet later on. Eating smaller meals helps eliminate the blood sugar roller-coaster ride that can impact your emotions and increase your cravings.
Stay away from simple sugars and refined carbohydrates. Things like candy, potatoes, white bread, pretzels, sodas, sweetened fruit juices, and alcohol cause your blood sugar to spike and then drop, you will feel great for a short while and then when your blood sugar drops you will be irritable and shaky. Be very careful with high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie foods because they work on the morphine or heroin centers of the brain and can be addictive.
Stop using artificial sweeteners before the fast. Although the sweeteners are calorie free we think they’ll help us with our sweet cravings. The opposite occurs as they activate the appetite center of your brain which will cause you to crave more food and sugar than if you used plan sugar.
Manage your Stress. You should always seek God first for your stress and trust Him to handle your problems and stress. However, the normal stress of a fast paced work environment, a conflict with a co-worker or customer can cause immediate stress that brings on the comfort cravings. Chronic stress has been associated with an increased appetite, sugar and fat cravings, and abdominal obesity, as well as low energy, poor concentration, elevated cholesterol levels, heart disease, and hypertension, as well as an increased risk for strokes, diabetes (reduced sensitivity to insulin), muscle wasting, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression, irregular menstrual periods, lowered libido, and decreased fertility.
Know your craving triggers: To control your cravings, you have to control your triggers. Know the people, places, and things that fuel your cravings and plan ahead for your vulnerable times. For example, take a snack with you when you go to the movies so you are not tempted by the popcorn and licorice.
Get moving: Scientific research has found that physical activity can cut cravings whether you crave sugary snacks or things like cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. A 2009 study in the journal Appetite showed that cravings for chocolate decreased following a 15-minute brisk walk. Instead of immediately giving in to your cravings or focusing on how much you want something, get moving if at all possible. Remember to pray or praise God during your walk.
Isaiah 29:8 (NKJV)
It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, Who fight against Mount Zion.
James 5:13 (NKJV)
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Resources:
Franklin, Jentezen (2008) fasting. Jentezen Franklin Ministries.
http://danielsfast.weebly.com/
http://www.biblegateway.com
http://www.danielplan.com/healthyhabits/conqueryourcravings/
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
John 6:35 (NKJV)
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Cravings
The Daniel’s Fast is a great way for everyone in the Church to fast corporately. Fasting is a good way to cleanse both your physical and spiritual self. When you don’t think you could possibly eat another piece of broccoli, you are trying to budget your meal plans without the standard carbohydrate fillers, or when we tend to feed a large family; pray to God and He will give you the strength.
Watching television during any fast is not only a waste of time you could be spending with God it can also be a stumbling block during your fast. Nothing is worse than being on a fast of any kind and seeing a commercial for a warm gooey piece of pizza or the newest cheeseburger Wendy’s is offering. Instead of watching a television show, turn on some praise music and simply praise His Good Name! You may also want to dig into some of those devotionals you have put on the shelf or re-read a Christian based book to remind how good God’s love is for us! Better yet, listen to the Bible! YouVersion is a wonderful online Bible that you can listen to while you are busy cleaning!
Don’t forget about God’s word to help you with your cravings. When you begin craving sweets or salty junk food, turn to God’s word and focus on His loving presence. Try to refocus your attention on God and you’ll be surprised on how fast those cravings will go away.
Low blood sugar can make you feel hungry and crave whatever your “comfort food” happens to be. Here are a few tips that may help curb those cravings:
Consider taking the supplements alpha-lipoic acid and chromium. They both have very good scientific evidence that they help balance blood sugar levels and can help with cravings.
Eat a nutritious breakfast every day. Eating a nutrient-rich breakfast helps get your blood sugar off to a good start and can help keep it balanced for hours so you don't get hungry before lunchtime. Studies show that people who maintain weight loss eat a healthy breakfast.
Add a dash of cinnamon. This fragrant spice has been found to help regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Have smaller meals throughout the day. Big meals send your blood sugar skyrocketing only to plummet later on. Eating smaller meals helps eliminate the blood sugar roller-coaster ride that can impact your emotions and increase your cravings.
Stay away from simple sugars and refined carbohydrates. Things like candy, potatoes, white bread, pretzels, sodas, sweetened fruit juices, and alcohol cause your blood sugar to spike and then drop, you will feel great for a short while and then when your blood sugar drops you will be irritable and shaky. Be very careful with high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie foods because they work on the morphine or heroin centers of the brain and can be addictive.
Stop using artificial sweeteners before the fast. Although the sweeteners are calorie free we think they’ll help us with our sweet cravings. The opposite occurs as they activate the appetite center of your brain which will cause you to crave more food and sugar than if you used plan sugar.
Manage your Stress. You should always seek God first for your stress and trust Him to handle your problems and stress. However, the normal stress of a fast paced work environment, a conflict with a co-worker or customer can cause immediate stress that brings on the comfort cravings. Chronic stress has been associated with an increased appetite, sugar and fat cravings, and abdominal obesity, as well as low energy, poor concentration, elevated cholesterol levels, heart disease, and hypertension, as well as an increased risk for strokes, diabetes (reduced sensitivity to insulin), muscle wasting, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression, irregular menstrual periods, lowered libido, and decreased fertility.
Know your craving triggers: To control your cravings, you have to control your triggers. Know the people, places, and things that fuel your cravings and plan ahead for your vulnerable times. For example, take a snack with you when you go to the movies so you are not tempted by the popcorn and licorice.
Get moving: Scientific research has found that physical activity can cut cravings whether you crave sugary snacks or things like cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. A 2009 study in the journal Appetite showed that cravings for chocolate decreased following a 15-minute brisk walk. Instead of immediately giving in to your cravings or focusing on how much you want something, get moving if at all possible. Remember to pray or praise God during your walk.
Isaiah 29:8 (NKJV)
It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, Who fight against Mount Zion.
James 5:13 (NKJV)
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Resources:
Franklin, Jentezen (2008) fasting. Jentezen Franklin Ministries.
http://danielsfast.weebly.com/
http://www.biblegateway.com
http://www.danielplan.com/healthyhabits/conqueryourcravings/