Have you heard of the Daniel Fast before? It is a Bible-based fast that is modeled after a passage in the book of Daniel. I am starting it tonight and it lasts for 21 days. No, it is not a complete fast. No, it is not a diet and no, it is not a calorie-restrictor. There are many foods you can eat. It is basically the avoidance of certain things that can be toxic to our bodies.
Based on a Bible Passage: Daniel 1:8-14 ESV
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
What the Daniel Fast is not
It is not a diet. It is not a forceful way of making you feel that unless you do it to a T and with no slip-ups, then you won’t accomplish your goal. It is not the only way to fast. It is not the only way to get closer to God. It is not the only way to find time to spend praying. It is not based on a religion. It is not designed for weight loss. It is not designed for long-term use.
What the Daniel Fast is
The Daniel Fast is the avoidance of foods that can be toxic or harmful to our bodies overtime. Avoiding foods like sugar, processed and refined, meats and carbonated drinks (among other things) will bring about two main things: a detox to the body and an awakening of the spiritual in our lives.
When we fast, we are giving something up, a distractor (usually food, but it can be anything) that takes away our time and keeps us from spending time in prayer and on spiritual things. Since the Daniel Fast is based on the Bible passage where Daniel and his 3 friends decided to not partake of the king’s foods that were offered to idols, our goal is to replicate the fast as closely as possible, but there is no consequence for not completing it or for not doing it like they recommend it 100%.
The Daniel Fast is simply a guideline to follow. It is not to consume our thoughts and lives. Last year, I did this fast for the first time and I did struggle with this particular issue. I was constantly fretting about finding good recipes, having all the foods that were acceptable for the fast and was worrying about being hungry all day. This is not the purpose of the Daniel Fast or any fast!
The purpose of the Daniel Fast is to take something away to give us something better in its place. Instead of focusing on things for our physical bodies, we pray and spend time reading the Bible. Out with the negative, in with the positive!
Here are some of my favorite resources to use during the Daniel Fast. This is my second year and I feel like these have really helped me get the external logistics out of the way and help me to really focus on what is truly important.
Favorite Books
The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast
Favorite Cookbooks
Daniel Fast Slow Cooker Recipes The Daniel Plan Cookbook: Healthy Eating for Life
Daniel Fast Cookbook For Beginners
Favorite Journal
Daniel Plan Journal: 40 Days to a Healthier Life (The Daniel Plan)
Favorite Devotional
Are you thinking about trying the Daniel Fast? There is no need to feel alone or lost. There is no need to feel like you can only do it at the first of the calendar year. Some people do it for 21 days and others do it for 40 days. Bottom line is, the external logistics don’t matter; what matters is the heart and the condition of the heart.
I really hope you find this information helpful. Be blessed and be brave! It is a great experience. All I can say is: do it one day at a time and soon enough, you will get used to it.
Here is our Daniel Fast Pinterest Board
Follow The Natural Homeschool’s board Daniel Fast Recipes on Pinterest.
Karyn says
This is really cool! I have never heard of it before but I LOVE it! I already eat a plant-based diet which is identical to above except I DO eat leavened breads & honey. I love part of the Bible and the story of Daniel’s healthy body due to eating well. It has been an inspiration to my choice to eat this way. Thanks for opening my eyes to all of these awesome resources! 🙂