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

[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. 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*

[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!