Read This Before You Start The Daniel Fast!!!
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As the new year begins a lot of believers carve out specific and intentional time to fast, this encounter is called the Daniel fast.
While you may have a lot of questions if you are doing the Daniel fast this year, I pray that this post gives you some clarity and inspiration to push through and have the best Daniel fast you’ve ever had.
The Daniel fast is an intentional time to turn away from things that we would naturally gravitate to like red velvet cake with whipped butter crème icing (or is that just me?!) and turn to GOD.
Below are a few of the most common questions.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A 21 DAY DANIEL FAST?
The purpose of the Daniel fast is an opportunity for you to seek GOD. During the Daniel fast you are sure to have an encounter with GOD like never before.
It’s the perfect detox to start the new year and opportunity for you to seek GOD, setting the right foundation for your year.
It is a conscious time to turn away from foods and drinks we normally consume that contain animal products and preservatives, meats and sugars, and adopt a diet of only fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, and nuts, and we can’t forget, A LOT of water.
Remember, while the Daniel fast has specific foods you should avoid, make adjustments where necessary if you need to. Trust me GOD won’t be mad, it’s your heart posture that he cares about. So if you medically have a specific diet you have to stick with, then do that.
The Daniel fast is not only about what you physically put into your body, but it is an emotional and spiritual experience that you journey on through prayer and devotion.
Think of the Daniel fast as a time that you are learning more about who GOD is, and how He has His hand all over your life (yes, even the small details that no one else cares about). The Daniel fast is about relationship building between GOD and YOU.
WHY DID DANIEL EAT ONLY VEGETABLES?
Daniel only ate “pure” foods because he did not want to eat the food that king Nebuchadnezzar provided to the soldiers.
To really understand it you would have to dive into the prophet Daniel and where he was in life.
King Nebuchadnezzar seized Jerusalem and wanted to take the strongest men back to Babylon.
Daniel was chosen along with three others, they went back to Babylon and trained for three years where they would go from being captives to be apart of the Babylon royal service.
Daniel didn’t want to defile himself and eat the food and drink the wine that Nebuchadnezzar offered.
Daniel asked if he could be excused from those foods and drinks but he was denied because they thought he would lose weight, become pale, and in turn not perform as well as the others that consumed the kings food and wine.
Daniel asked to be tested for ten days to prove that he would not be affected negatively for only eating vegetables, fruits, seeds, grains, and water.
His request was granted and in the end he ended up looking even healthier than the other young men.
From then on Daniel and his friends only ate a veggie based diet.
“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables [pulses] to eat and water to drink.” -Daniel 1:12
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” -Daniel 10:12-13
HOW MUCH CAN I EAT ON THE DANIEL FAST?
There are no food restrictions based on how much you can have.
The focus is more about what you put into your body and mind, not the amount.
So if you have a “Daniel fast approved” meal that you love, there is no guilt if you go back for seconds or thirds.
IS FISH ALLOWED ON THE DANIEL FAST?
Fish is listed as a food you should avoid during the Daniel fast along with other forms of meat like chicken, beef, lamb, pork.
The Daniel fast focuses more on a plant based diet filled with natural foods from the earth.
CAN I EAT RICE ON THE DANIEL FAST?
Yes you should focus on eating unrefined whole grains like such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, millet, barley, and amaranth.
WHAT DO YOU EAT FOR BREAKFAST ON THE DANIEL FAST?
For me, I’m an oatmeal girl!!!
I love a good, big, warm bowl of oatmeal to start off my day.
Oatmeal is such an amazing breakfast option when doing the Daniel fast, because it is a foundation ingredient.
You can literally have oatmeal for breakfast 7 days a week and not repeat a meal.
You can add different fruits like strawberries, blueberries, mango, seeds like chia, and an approved nut butter, and be set for the morning.
Oatmeal is a simple meal that doesn’t take much time for those quick morning meals.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I FOCUS ON WHILE ON THE DANIEL FAST?
As I stated above the Daniel fast is not only about the foods you eat (or don’t), its about building your relationship with GOD.
Use the Daniel fast as a launch pad to grow deeper in GOD, deeper in faith, deeper in discipline to know and trust that GODs got you.
Use this time to pray intentionally about whatever GOD lays on your heart whether it be family, finance, trust, and here’s a big one forgiveness.
How many of us need to forgive someone this year?!?!
Forgiveness is such a major key that can change the trajectory of your life!!!
A great resource to help you through the wave of forgiveness is F.U (Forgiveness University) by Transformation Church, where Pastor Mike walks you through practical steps to actually forgiving.
Check out Forgiveness University on YouTube HERE.
Remember the Daniel Fast is about you and GOD, no one else. It is your personal opportunity to seek GOD for yourself and see that even on the stormiest of days when you want to just throw in the towel, He is all that you need, He will keep you anchored!!!
What has been the best Daniel fast meal you’ve eaten? Let us know before, so we can give it a try!!!