What is Daniel Fasting?

Daniel 10:2 -3 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Daniel fast is a type of fast that is done in a very specific way, during which you avoid or decide not to enjoy the food that you like, and choose simple foods instead. The purpose of this fast in to NOT do what you usually do, so that you can focus only on God and prayer.
The Bible does not give detailed explanation about the types of food that you cannot eat, but it is said that Daniel avoids the foods enjoyed by the king, and eat only vegetables and drink only water.

Purpose of 21-Days Daniel Prayer and Fasting:
• The purpose of every prayer and fasting is to grow closer and intimate with God
• Every time you enter a period of prayer and fasting, you will grow stronger in your spiritual life, and you’ll dedicate your life more earnestly to the Lord.
• To obtain knowledge, understanding and wisdom, along with new dreams and visions, especially to live the years ahead. (Daniel 1: 17)

What Should We Do During Daniel Fasting
During a 21-day fasting and period time, let’s give our “Tithe” of time to God every day. Every day God gives us 1,444 minutes, so our daily “Tithe” of time spent in prayer is 144 minutes (2 hours and 24 minutes).
To give this “Tithe” every day in prayer may sound very difficult, or even impossible, for you. But think about several things listed below that can help you fulfill this “Tithe” of prayer time:
• Pray when you are on the way to office, when you are cooking, shopping, etc.
• Use your lunch time at office for prayer, reduce the time you spend on TV and use the time for prayer instead.
• When you are lying down and are unable to sleep, pray until you fall asleep.
• Go to the church or prayer tower specifically to pray.
• Try to set aside some time for devotional every day, same time, same place.
• Set aside some time to pray with your spouse and family, if you are married.

What to Eat During Daniel Fasting

Suggested food to be consumed in Daniel Fasting:
Seeds; Potato; Nuts; Fruits; Vegetables
Drink: mineral water (suggestion to drink water min. 8 glass/day)

Food to be avoided:
• Meat and fish, anything that contain fats, processed food
• Rice
• Dried fruits, snacks, and cookies (food made of flour)
• Egg
• Soda drinks and alcoholic drinks (coffee, tea, etc)

Click here for more comprehensive list of the food.

Today is the first day of our 40 Days Prayer and Fasting. If you haven’t already done so, you may download PDF file of the guide book here. Below are some information about the background of fasting and how you can put it into practice.

WHAT IS FASTING?
Fasting means humbling ourselves before God and telling Him that we deny our flesh to seek Him instead. As a spiritual discipline, fasting is an act of not eating and drinking to focus ourselves on God and giving spiritual food to our spirit and flesh.

WHAT DID THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT FASTING?

• Fasting in the Old Testament
  In the Old Testament, fasting was a moment where people gathered to humble themselves, to receive the purification from sins through repentance, to obtain spiritual renewal, and to find divine help. Fasting was often associated with tears and humbling experiences before God. In the Old Testament, fasting was defined in Joel 2: 12-13.

  The people of God to proclaim a fast for God’s protection upon the Jews in the Babylonian captivity who were returning to Jerusalem (Ezra 8: 21). In the Bible, there were many occurrences. Moses fasted for 40 days twice until he experienced God’s glory (Deuteronomy 9: 9, 18). The bible also recorded the Israelites’ fasting days in Judges 20: 26 and in 1Samuel 7: 6 King David fasted in many occasions; before the became a king, during the sickness of his son as well as his enemies (Psalm 35: 13). David also fasted for the sins of his people (Psalm 69: 9-10). Elisa, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel fasted in the time of needs.

• Fasting in the New Testament
  Lord Jesus gave the example of fasting when He fasted 40 days after being baptized. For Jesus, the most important thing is not the fasting itself, but whether or not we do it. in Luke 2: 36-37 there was a woman of an advanced years, called Anna, who unceasingly served God in prayer and fasted day and night. In Antioch, the prophets and Jesus’ early disciples also fasted (Acts 13: 2), and Apostle Paul wrote several times in his letter that “in fasting often, “(2 Corinthians 11: 27). For every child of God, the question is not “do I have to fast?” but “when should I fast?”

TYPES OF FASTING
There are 3 choices:
1. For those who have previously fasted, it is recommended to skip two meals. End the fasting at 6pm. The fasting will then continue from 10pm that night till 6pm the next day.
2. For those who have just started fasting, it is recommended to just skip one meal breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
3. For those who are not physically fit, it is recommended to break fast up till noon only.

END THE FASTING TOGETHER
You may determine the time to end your fasting as well as to pray together with others or as a family, in care group, or in each prayer cell. You can coordinate it in your local church. Recommended time is as follows:
6pm – 7pm End the fasting together
7pm – 9pm Prayer time together

Happy Fasting. God Bless You!