What is a Daniel Fast?

We encourage you to participate in the Daniel fast for the next 21 days. The fast is based on the fasting experiences of the prophet Daniel along with standard Jewish fasting principles.  The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, meaning that some foods are permitted and others are restricted. The fast is typically followed for 21 consecutive days.  It is like a vegan eating plan with more restrictions and the only beverage on the fast is water.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ¹⁷ But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; ¹⁸ That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18 

Several types of fasts exist. If you choose to follow another type of fast during this 21-day period, it’s perfectly acceptable. The Daniel Fast is suggested because it is a biblically-based partial fast that almost anyone can participate in. Susan Gregory is a recognized contemporary champion of The Daniel Fast. The following description of The Daniel Fast is excerpted from her website:

The Daniel Fast is a method of fasting used by hundreds of thousands of Christians throughout the world. The fast is based on the fasting experiences of the prophet Daniel along with standard Jewish fasting principles.

The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, meaning that some foods are eaten and others are restricted. The fast is typically followed for 21 consecutive days and is like a vegan eating plan with more restrictions and the only beverage on the fast is water. 

First and foremost, the fast is a spiritual discipline where followers of Jesus Christ can draw nearer to God and focus more of their attention on Him and His ways. In today’s busy and distracting culture, entering a fasting experience is like pushing the pause button on a hectic life and centering more on the rest that Jesus offers. This quieter and more focused time allows you to hear the still small voice of Holy Spirit as He reveals God’s truth and direction for your life. 

Church congregations, study groups, and individuals often use the Daniel Fast as their method of fasting to begin the New Year, during Lent, or other times. This method of fasting opens this powerful discipline to many people who find it difficult to fast for multiple days on a water-only or liquid-only method of fasting (called a normal fast). The blessing is that you can continue to meet your home and work responsibilities while fasting and receiving from the Lord. 

Fasting was designed by God, not to change Him, but rather to change us! Fasting doesn’t show God that you are good or deserving. Only Jesus Christ does that for us. However, fasting does bring us into an experience where our hearts are more open to what the Lord wants to show us for our individual lives.

While you will pay more attention to the foods you eat during the fast, only focusing on the food element of fasting keeps you from experiencing the richness that’s available to you. Focusing on the food element keeps you attending to your flesh rather than to your spirit that connects with the Spirit of God.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 

You can still enjoy your meals; however, this is a time to be simple and more basic so that food and feeding the flesh is in balance with your spiritual experience of fasting.