The Daniel Fast is based on verses from the Bible found in Daniel 10:2-3.
“At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.”
These three weeks refer to the observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which take place during the first month of the year (Exodus 12:1-20).
While the Daniel Fast is cleansing your body by omitting specific foods for some time, the intent is for spiritual connection. The purpose of Christian fasting is to seek a more intimate relationship with God while ridding your physical body of unnatural, self-gratifying food and drink. Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to focus completely on God.
During the Daniel Fast, you will want to concentrate on prayer, Bible study, and reflection.
If you have a medical condition or are undergoing any medical treatments it is advisable to first consult your physician. You may also want to pray, consult a mature Christian or your pastor before fasting.
The Daniel Fast: The Guidelines
The basic guidelines for the Daniel Fast include eating:
- fruits, nuts
- vegetables
- water only to drink (to flush out toxins) Some say natural fruit juices may be included if they contain no preservatives, sugars, etc., but even those juices should be very limited. Coffee and tea are not permitted.
The Daniel Fast should eliminate all meats, pastries, chips, bread, and fried food. Bread contains yeast, baking powder and so on; those are leavening agents and should be avoided.
With these things listed, it is concluded that any food having artificial additives, chemicals, or that is processed should be totally avoided during the fast. Fruits and vegetables are the mainstay of the Daniel Fast and can be acceptably prepared in a variety of ways. Many fasting recipes and several cookbooks are designed for the Daniel Fast.
The Daniel Fast is a powerful spiritual discipline. Having a sincere desire to seek God, you can come to Him with a repentant heart and He will minister to you in a powerful way. God’s awesome power is transforming, and you will know that with God, all things are possible.
Here are some recipes to try while on the Daniel Fast.
This video from YouTuber Morgan Tracy J shows what she eats in a typical day during the Daniel Fast and offers some encouragement for all who are fasting.