Let’s Do The Daniel Fast ~ Daniel 10:2,3

 

I just love the above referenced website. They have EVERYTHING you will need for the Daniel Fast on their website.  I discovered it last year while doing the Daniel Fast. Some of you may remember from the share on my blog during the early days. Anyway, Susan has done all the homework for us we just need to prep the food, pray & fast.  Below are key points to the fast. Tomorrow I will share recipes. Enjoy & Happy Fasting! My & mine begin our fast on Sunday, January 6th.

 

It’s a biblically based partial fast based on two accounts of the Prophet Daniel’s fasting experiences (seed Daniel 1 and 10) and typical Jewish fasting principles. The Daniel Fast eating plan is similar to a vegan diet with additional restrictions. 

 

The Daniel Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world are using as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting.There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Fast. In Daniel 1 the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water. So from these scriptures we get two of the guidelines for the fast:

1. Only fruits and vegetables
2. Only water for a beverage

Then in Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine for 21 days. So from this scripture, we get a third guideline:

3. No sweeteners and no breads

Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast.  So that’s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.

Finally, with all the above puzzle pieces, we conclude that no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals are allowed on the Daniel Fast.

When asked about the eating plan on the Daniel Fast, I often say it is a “vegan diet with even more restrictions.”

Be sure to read the ingredients on labels of prepared foods to make sure they only include Daniel Fast friendly ingredients.

Why are fruits and grains allowed when the Bible says Daniel ate only vegetables and drank water?

The early translations (including KJV) use the word pulse instead of vegetables. That word is rightly translated as “foods grown from seed.” Therefore, the Daniel Fast includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains.Can I take medications during the Daniel Fast?

If you have health issues, you should always talk with your health professional before starting the Daniel Fast or any other major change in your diet. Fasting should never bring harm to the body, so medications should be continued.Are supplements okay to take during the Daniel Fast?

Yes, but read the label to make sure they are of good quality and that the ingredients comply with the Daniel Fast Guidelines.Why can’t I have herbal tea on the Daniel Fast?

This is a common question! The reason that no tea is allowed is because the only beverage on the Daniel Fast is water (see Daniel 1). This is based on the prophet’s fasting practice in Daniel 1 where he and his companions ate only pulse (food grown from seed) and drank only water. Tea is not water and therefore is not allowed on the Daniel Fast.Can I have honey on the Daniel Fast?

It’s natural with no preservatives. No sweeteners are allowed on the Daniel Fast. This is based on Daniel’s fast recorded in Daniel 10 where he ate no meat and consumed no precious foods. So even though honey is natural and free of chemicals, it would be considered a “precious food” and therefore not allowed during the Daniel Fast.I am pregnant. Can I still engage in the Daniel Fast?

First, you will want to contact your doctor and explain that the Daniel Fast is a vegan diet with additional restrictions (leavened breads, caffeine, alcohol, sweeteners and chemicals).Generally, pregnant and nursing mothers follow the Daniel Fast guidelines, but add enough chicken or fish to meet the additional protein demands.

What about marital relations during the Daniel Fast?

The Bible does speak of husbands and wives abstaining from sexual relations during fasts. However, this is to be a mutual agreement by both the husband and wife. Many couples do refrain from sex while fasting and find their relationship strengthened as they intentionally express love for one another in other ways.So, abstaining from sex during the Daniel Fast is not required, however it is an opportunity to experience growth in your marriage and in your relationship with the Lord.

Are there ever situations when I should “pause” from the fast?

Yes, there are times when it would be appropriate to briefly pause from the fast, but do so after consulting with the Holy Spirit. For example, last year when I was fasting I visited my son and his wife who live about 120 miles from me. My son is adopted from Ethiopia and three years ago he returned to Ethiopia and while there married a lovely woman. They now live in Seattle.During my visit, she had prepared a very special Ethiopian meal for me (parents are very honored in Ethiopia) with lamb. I quickly consulted the Holy Spirit who showed me the way of love for her would be for me to pause my fast. She followed the meal with an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, again an act of honor toward me. I felt the freedom to engage in both the meal and coffee ceremony and then returned to my fast the next day. It was the loving thing to do . . .