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

[MissBrattified]

I don't know if it's a new thing; I remember reading a book that my mother had by Joy Haney recommending the Daniel Fast as a diet as well as a type of fast. That book is 15 years old...and my Dad followed the Daniel Fast for some of his fasts years before that.

I don't impose a lot of spirituality on the Daniel Fast; it's sort of like Ezekiel Bread, though; it gets a lot of play because it's an eating method found in scripture. Ergo, some people are going to put a lot of stock in its value for that reason alone. I think the assumption is that if there's a food list in scripture, that it might be the God-endorsed, healthier way to eat.

Daniel wasn't actually fasting; he was following his regular dietary restrictions. For HIM, it wasn't a fast; for Western culture, it may qualify as a fast, because we are more accustomed to the "Babylonian" diet. It's an extreme change for most people to eat only "pulse" (vegetables) and water.

Our church fasts in March; I'm not sure why the emphasis on January, except that some people like to use the New Year to emphasize fresh starts and new habits. Our church staff fasts together once a week.

[Ferd]

Memebers of my family (myself included) have been doing the DF for more than 10 years.

We have traditionally done this in January as a beginning of the year to focus ourselves for the coming year.

I view it strictly as a desipline and any such thing will bring its own benfits. And then there is the spiritual act of sacrifice that I believe God honors.

I too worry about things like this becoming "fads" or mindless repetition. As more people have started doing this it has more and more a feeling of lent which I view as so tradition bound that the spiritual benifit is lost.

I will say that my understanding of the DF is that its biggest benifit is in the area of health. I know I have lost weight. Every one I know doing this right now has as well.

I also feel better, am less exhausted etc.


Disclaimer: As I believe that God santified coffee, it is not meant for man to be without. therefore it is not part of my fast. LOL.

[Ferd]

One of the really great blessings to me has been that we find things we can incorporate into our diet that are very healthy for us and it has helped us train ourselves to live with less fat and empty calories.

[Sweet Pea]

I was taught that there are many types of "fasts". (I was under KF and Joy Haney for many years before he went to HQ.) Not all fasts have to be necessarily food per se. I definitely think there is a time to bring our body under subjection and do without food - however, a Daniel Fast can do that just as well as a water fast. We have so much junk in our diets that we ARE bringing our bodies under subjection when we do without all the refined stuff. My son and his wife do DF at least once a year. No meat, no dairy, no refined flours, sugars, etc. It is usually an extended 21 to 30 day fast. I have known people who will periodically do 7 to 10 day media fasts. NO type of media (radio, internet, videos, etc). Doing a Daniel Fast every January is no different that when we were told that we had to "fast one day a week". Everyone in the church has a specific day that they fasted (most did on Wednesday).

I personally believe that God honors whatever we do when we deprive our bodies (and even our minds) and use that time as a time to draw closer to Him.

JMHO

[Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Disclaimer: As I believe that God santified coffee, it is not meant for man to be without. therefore it is not part of my fast. LOL.

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by not4saken

My interest in this fast is, the friends that I hear discussing it, seem to do it only one time each year- in January. And..it is so far removed from the fast of Daniel, I am confused. I read through the book of Daniel today, (skimmed is more like it)attempting to discover the answers to my questions?? When the King wanted the people to eat and become strong, Daniel refuted him and stated that he and his people would be stronger by following a diet of Lentils and water for 40 days. Is THIS where the premise came from?

Originally Posted by not4saken

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.

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).

Sis, the Daniel's fast is NOT based on the fast that you have referenced here. Most, who do a Daniel's fast, do so based on his description of a 21 day fast that he did found in Danial chapter 10:

Dan 10:1-3 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. (2) In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. (3) I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

It was Daniel's response while waiting for an answer from God. The angel of the Lord appeared to him at the close of the fast and said:

Dan 10:12-13 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. (13) But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

We have done this for more than 15 years and each and every year we have had incredible results in the churches we have pastored. We do it at the beginning of the year simply to set a spiritual course for the year, but we have done it or other types whenever we felt the need.

I will post our guidelines which is what I would call a modified Daniels fast, because after the initial 21 days we add chicken or fish to the fast for a total of 30 days.

[bishoph]

Fasting Guidelines

30 Day Fast

(01/02/12 to 01/31/13)

Isa 58:6-10 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? (7) Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? (8) Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. (9) Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; (10) And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

Here the Prophet Isaiah provides God's purpose for fasting. (This is not for bragging rights, and it is not to condemn anyone who may not be able to fulfill every aspect of the fast.) In addition he outlines both the spiritual and the natural benefits of partnering with God and the church in such an endeavor. If there ever was a time when we need this in our individual lives, and most certainly as a family of believers, it is today.

For more than 18 years I have led the congregations that God has blessed me to pastor on this fasting journey, and only eternity will tell true stories of how much it has helped those involved. We have seen incredible spiritual renewal, physical strength and healing, emotional healing, powerful deliverance, financial breakthroughs, family/marriage healing and renewal, and the list can go on and on.

Fasting does not get God on our side, it gets us on God's side.

During this fast we ask that everyone abstain from listening to music/radio and watching TV programming or reading material that is not conducive to a spiritual and prayerful environment. Fasting opens up the spiritual sensitivity and we must guard that openness to prevent wrong spirits and the deception of the enemy from taking hold in our lives.

Medical Disclaimer

If you are under the care of a doctor or are taking medication that must be accompanied by food, consult your physician before fasting to make sure you are physically able to fast. Please note, we will accomplish nothing for God if we create sickness by not properly taking care of our temple (body). If you are unable to fast the full measure, modify the fast to fit your ability. Again this is not about strict compliance, condemnation, guilt, or spiritual superiority/inferiority. This is about unity and pulling together to accomplish great things in the kingdom.

Fasting Schedule

January 2-4 Total Fast (Water Only)

January 5-22 Daniel's Fast (Fruits & Veggies/Water)

January 23-28 Modified Daniel's Fast (Add Chicken/Fish)

January 29-31 Total Fast (Water Only)

Daniel's fast (found in Daniel 10:2-3) is one in which he ate no meat, no sweets, no wine for 21 straight days. There are many different versions of this fast but for our purposes during this time we abstain from all meat, (can anyone say veggie burgers) all breads, pasta, etc, no sweets/desserts, no caffeine, sodas, shakes, etc.

Again this is not to be a guilt/condemnation exercise nor a bragging contest, this is simply a time to bind together and ask God to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Let his Word be your meat, and his spirit be your drink!

[hometown guy]

Originally Posted by not4saken

I am hearing a lot of folks talking about this fast. I have been away from the mainstream too long, I guess. I don't understand the purpose behind this fast...can anyone enlighten me??

Thanks!

It's a diet not a fast. I do believe that if it is a sacrifice for you then God will honor it, but it is not a fast. Every so often I do something that most call a "media fast". No books, talk radio, newspaper, ect and I believe that God honors it and it is good for me but its not really a fast.

[houston]

Why do y'all fast?

[Cindy]

I am struggling with denying self, working on it. Food is not included.

An episode of
The First 48 on A&E showed that what was first thought to be a homicide/suicide, turned out to be a family that were on a fast that starved to death. If memory serves they didn't have water, either.