Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

A lot of people take fasting very literally--it must be water only or it isn't even worth the time. (And isn't a "real" fast.) I'm not assuming that is or isn't your POV; I'm tossing that out there because that's usually the direction this topic goes. It's one way to interpret fasting, but I don't think it needs to be quite that rigid. In my opinion, a primary purpose of fasting is to bring the flesh under control, so depriving our flesh of both wants and needs is quite effective in that department.

IMO, the "Daniel Fast" isn't effective because it's a biblical example of an eating lifestyle; it's effective because it's so different and stringent compared to the Western diet. E.g., it's an easy method to deprive our bodies of what they're used to.

There have been a few interesting discussions about fasting in general on the forum; you can probably find them if you search. I would be interested to know what others think of the Daniel fast. On a more practical level, it's also a very healthy way to eat, so some people may do it simply for the health benefits.

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

We do a 21-day Daniel Fast. In the Bible, Daniel didn't let his men eat meat sacrificed to idols and instead requested that the cook serve him and his men only vegetables and water. There's a lot of debate over the rules of the DF. We don't really know what Daniel Ate - dad not meat, but what about dairy? What about grains? Did the cook put a little meat grease or sugar in the veggies? What about yeast? It's all speculation.

But I think anything you decide to set aside for God is valuable, and that we shouldn't quibble over the small disputable matters. I never give someone a hard time if they DF differently than me.

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

While engaging our family doctor in "small talk" during a visit at his office with my wife, without telling him why I was asking, I simply inquired of him: "How long can someone go without water or food before they begin to do harm to their body organs?" He replied that, depending on one's body weight and the excess fat it has stored up, a person could perhaps go without food intake for several months, but damage to the body as a result of no water intake will usually begin after 72 hours.

With this understanding I have always fasted by refraining from both water and food for 72 continuous hours. I "break" the fast slowly over the ensuing 24 hours and am back to normal thereafter. I have, on occasions when the matter warrants it, and it seems the answers I am seeking are "slow in coming," "broken" a fast, and after 3-4 days enter into another. I will engage in repeated fasting after this manner until God acknowledges my willingness to forsake my fleshly desires to obtain that which I seek from Him. It has always worked...every time!

During the first 12-16 hours of this type of fast I usually develop a mild headache which disappears rather rapidly. And after the first 24 hours even the desire for water or food seems to disappear as well, even to the point that by the end of 72 hours I could practically "care less" should I ever eat or drink again (weird, but true, at least for me).

My closest friend fasts for upwards to three weeks, however, he does drink water only during such periods. He tells me that this method has always worked effectively for him. I guess each person must find that method of fasting which they are able to perform, and which brings the desired results. After all, is not the purpose for a fast that of "showing" God that the desires of the soul exceed that of the flesh, and is being undertaken with the understanding that God will not allow the duration of one's fasting to exceed their ability to participate to a point to where it will do them bodily harm?

As for me fasting is a matter of displaying my faith in God in a demonstrative physical manner, which in essence, is placing Him first and myself last.

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

Oh, no--no need to delete! I wasn't suggesting that you search instead of posting a new thread. A fresh conversation is fine! :)

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

We're on Day 15 of a 21 Day Daniel Fast. It's been a blessing!

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

Deacon... I understand the principle of fasting- anytime we sacrifice, God will bless us. My question is this- why label it a 'Daniel's Fast', and why do the churches do it every January? Why not do it in May? To be honest, it seems to have become a 'Fad' thing among the Apostolic churches. Kinda reminds me of the "Prayer of Jabez" whoop la several years ago...when I was growing up in the church, our pastor would put the church on 3 day fasts periodically. No liquid, and no food. When we were about to enter into revival, he would put us on seven day fasts- water only. It wasn't a country wide fad- it was for a harvest of souls, or for revival.I guess maybe I am being too critical...I just don't 'get it'...

Re: Purpose of 'Daniel's Fast'...WHY?
 

Churches have started doing this as a "chic" thing, just like the prayer of jabez. It became popular when a book was written to use it as a diet tool, which it was NEVER intended for!!! The concept of a Daniel fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.’

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”

The background of the Daniel fast is that Daniel and his three friends had been deported to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians conquered Judah (2 Kings 24:13-14). Daniel and his three friends were put into the Babylonian court servant “training program.” Part of the program was learning Babylonian customs, beliefs, laws, and practices. The eating habits of the Babylonians were not in complete agreement with the Mosaic Law. As a result, Daniel asked if he and his three friends could be excused from eating the meat (which was likely sacrificed to Babylonian false gods and idols).

It was a show of religious freedom and that they needed the right to observe Mosaic law in a land full of idolatry and excess!!!!!


This is a response I got to my same question on another site...??? *sigh*