Daniel Fast- Facts and Tips
Daniel Fast- Facts and Tips
Fast Answers for Fasters
Q: What is biblical fasting?
A: Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.
According to the Bible in Matthew 6, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast. Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you open rewards in Heaven, says Matthew 6:16-18. Prayer connects you to God. Fasting disconnects you from the world!
Q: How should I fast?
A: Start with a clear goal. Why are you fasting?
Do you need guidance, healing, restoration of marriage or have pressing family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus example when you fast.
Q: What should I fast?
A: That is up to you. It may be a full fast in which you drink only liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel and eat no sweet breads, no meat and drink water.
Perhaps you only want to eat vegetables. In addition, or as an alternative, you can fast from watching television, or online / social media activities, or listening to worldly music, or anything else which would be a sacrifice from your normal day to day activities; especially time wasters or things that dull your spirit. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study. Use what you fast from to remind you of why you are fasting, then pray!
Q: How long should I fast?
A: You may fast as long as you like.
Most people can fast easily from 1-3 days, with some mild discomfort, but you can extend your fast to 21 days or even 40 days! Use wisdom and prayer for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
Q: Isn't fasting supposed to be private?
A: Most of the fasts mentioned in the Bible were public fasts called by the priests, but Jesus gave us the model for private fasts in Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14, 15.
Q: How do I prepare myself to fast?
A: Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask for forgiveness from those who you may have offended.
(Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4) Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to stop you. (Romans 12:1, 2)
General Tips:
Prepare yourself physically. If you have health concerns, consult your doctor prior to fasting and explain what you plan to do. This is especially important if you take prescription medications or have a chronic ailment. Some people should never fast from food without professional supervision. While on your fast, limit your activity and exercise only moderately. Take time to rest. Be ready for some physical discomforts especially early in the fast. Your body is detoxifying and you may be having withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. You may have headaches, hunger pains and even become irritable! The best thing you can do physically is drink plenty of pure water! Spend time listening to praise and worship, pray every time your body reminds you that you are fasting. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind seeking God's face.
End your fast slowly. Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid or heavier foods gradually and eat smaller portions or snacks until your body is re-accustomed to eating richer solid foods.
When you give God first things first through giving, prayer, and fasting at the beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year. – See Matthew 6:33
FASTING QUICK TIPS
Whether you are beginning a private fast, or fasting corporately as we do each year at True Life Church, I believe you will find these tips helpful.
How to Begin
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.
Preparing Spiritually
Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).
Deciding What to Fast
The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and gave up his favorite drink (probably drinking only water). Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.
Deciding How Long
You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
What to Expect
When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.
How to End
Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid / richer food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.
A: Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.
According to the Bible in Matthew 6, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast. Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you open rewards in Heaven, says Matthew 6:16-18. Prayer connects you to God. Fasting disconnects you from the world!
Q: How should I fast?
A: Start with a clear goal. Why are you fasting?
Do you need guidance, healing, restoration of marriage or have pressing family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus example when you fast.
Q: What should I fast?
A: That is up to you. It may be a full fast in which you drink only liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel and eat no sweet breads, no meat and drink water.
Perhaps you only want to eat vegetables. In addition, or as an alternative, you can fast from watching television, or online / social media activities, or listening to worldly music, or anything else which would be a sacrifice from your normal day to day activities; especially time wasters or things that dull your spirit. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study. Use what you fast from to remind you of why you are fasting, then pray!
Q: How long should I fast?
A: You may fast as long as you like.
Most people can fast easily from 1-3 days, with some mild discomfort, but you can extend your fast to 21 days or even 40 days! Use wisdom and prayer for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
Q: Isn't fasting supposed to be private?
A: Most of the fasts mentioned in the Bible were public fasts called by the priests, but Jesus gave us the model for private fasts in Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14, 15.
Q: How do I prepare myself to fast?
A: Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask for forgiveness from those who you may have offended.
(Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4) Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to stop you. (Romans 12:1, 2)
General Tips:
Prepare yourself physically. If you have health concerns, consult your doctor prior to fasting and explain what you plan to do. This is especially important if you take prescription medications or have a chronic ailment. Some people should never fast from food without professional supervision. While on your fast, limit your activity and exercise only moderately. Take time to rest. Be ready for some physical discomforts especially early in the fast. Your body is detoxifying and you may be having withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. You may have headaches, hunger pains and even become irritable! The best thing you can do physically is drink plenty of pure water! Spend time listening to praise and worship, pray every time your body reminds you that you are fasting. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind seeking God's face.
End your fast slowly. Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid or heavier foods gradually and eat smaller portions or snacks until your body is re-accustomed to eating richer solid foods.
When you give God first things first through giving, prayer, and fasting at the beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year. – See Matthew 6:33
FASTING QUICK TIPS
Whether you are beginning a private fast, or fasting corporately as we do each year at True Life Church, I believe you will find these tips helpful.
How to Begin
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.
Preparing Spiritually
Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).
Deciding What to Fast
The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and gave up his favorite drink (probably drinking only water). Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.
Deciding How Long
You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
What to Expect
When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.
How to End
Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid / richer food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.
Want to Dive Deeper?
Biblical Examples of Fasting:
Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deut. 9:9,18), David (2 Samuel 12:16), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4); Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 1:12), Anna (Luke 2:37), Paul (Acts 14:23), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), the early church (13:2).
Biblical References to Fasting:
Additional Insights on Fasting:
♦ But these benefits come only when fasting is a result of our desire to diligently seek God. Otherwise you are just going on a diet!
Different types of fasting?
Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3,20; 10:12-13, Joel 2:12-13, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30-31, Acts 13:2-3
Corporate Fasting:
1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37
Isaiah 61:1-4 (NKJV)
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you diligently seek Him through fasting!
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
There are many additional resources at https://jentezenfranklin.org/fastingpdf
Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deut. 9:9,18), David (2 Samuel 12:16), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4); Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 1:12), Anna (Luke 2:37), Paul (Acts 14:23), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), the early church (13:2).
Biblical References to Fasting:
- Jesus placed fasting on the same level as giving and prayer (Matthew 6:1-18).
- Jesus said that there is a time for fasting (Matthew 9:15).
- Paul says we should give ourselves at times to prayer and fasting (1 Corinthians 7:5).
Additional Insights on Fasting:
- The primary purpose of fasting is to focus on God and to center our attention on Him. In doing so, we glorify God (Zechariah 7:5) and align our will with His and gain spiritual power.
- Outer fasting is to lead to inner prayer, worship, and devotion. We “fast from food so we can feast on God.”
- Fasting is not for personal glory or any other selfish motives (Matthew 6:16-18).
- Secondary purposes of fasting: fasting can reveal non-essential things that control us and take precedence in our lives (1 Corinthians 6:12); fasting can increase the effectiveness of prayer (2 Samuel 12:16); fasting can bring guidance from God in decisions (Acts 14:23); fasting can bring revelations (Acts 13:2); fasting can help our physical wellbeing (Daniel 1:12, Is. 58:8); fasting can aid in concentration; fasting can help bring deliverance for those who are in bondage. (Isaiah 58:6)
♦ But these benefits come only when fasting is a result of our desire to diligently seek God. Otherwise you are just going on a diet!
Different types of fasting?
- Absolute fast: no food or water for a period of time (Exodus 34:28; Esther 4:16)
- Full fast: only water, but no food or other drink (Nehemiah 1:4)
- Partial fast: usually only water, juices, and sometimes fruit (Daniel 1:12)
- Lent fast: giving up something specific for the duration of Lent (Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday)
- Daniel fast: eat no meat, no “pleasant food” or sweets and no leavened bread. Drink water. Eat fruits, beans, nuts and vegetables for a period of 21 days (Daniel 10:3)
- Other things to fast from: bad relationships, media, internet, phone, tv, social media, harmful or distracting activities/habits, etc.
Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3,20; 10:12-13, Joel 2:12-13, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30-31, Acts 13:2-3
Corporate Fasting:
1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37
- Fasting for the fullness of the Spirit can lead us to the rich ministry of Isaiah which was repeated by Jesus in Luke 4:18-21
Isaiah 61:1-4 (NKJV)
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
- As fasting enhances our ability to learn from Jesus it is a great way to get rest for our souls and learn more of the grace and sustaining strength of our Lord.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you diligently seek Him through fasting!
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
There are many additional resources at https://jentezenfranklin.org/fastingpdf
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