One of the more popular fasts among Christians is the Daniel fast. But what exactly is a Daniel fast and how exactly do you do it?
In this guide to The Daniel Fast, I cover what a Daniel fast is, what the purpose of it is and how to do your first Daniel fast, including lots of practical tips and advice.
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What is a Daniel Fast?
A Daniel fast is a type of partial fast, based on two specific fasts, undertaken by the prophet Daniel and recorded in the book of Daniel.
We find the first of these fasts in Daniel 1:
“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 in this way.” – Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
At this time the Jews were living in captivity in Babylon. Some of the young Jewish men, including Daniel, were chosen to serve the King of Babylon, and were given a daily ration of food and wine from the king.
However, Daniel did not want to “defile” himself by eating the food and wine given to him by the king, so he requested special permission to eat only vegetables and drink only water. This fast was initially for 10 days, but then was extended. (We don’t know how long it was extended for, after the initial 10 days.)
We see the second example of a “Daniel fast” in Daniel 10:
“At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” – Daniel 10:2–3 (NIV)
In this second example, Daniel fasted from:
- Choice food
- Meat
- Wine
- Lotions
Christians today follow the example of Daniel in these two accounts when they do a Daniel Fast.
What are you allowed to eat on a Daniel fast?
There is no set list of foods you can and can’t eat on a Daniel fast. Different Christians follow different interpretations of it.
Some Christians follow the most strict interpretation, eating only vegetables and drinking only water.
Others just give up alcohol and meat.
While others follow Daniel’s example only loosely and just give up certain treat foods.
However, here are some examples of what a Daniel fast typically allows you to eat and drink, and what it typically excludes…
A Daniel fast typically allows:
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Whole grains
- Nuts and seeds
- Water (and sometimes fruit juice and/or herbal teas)
A Daniel fast typically excludes:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Sugar (apart from what naturally occurs in vegetables, fruit etc.)
- Processed foods
- Rich or indulgent foods
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
Some people take this one step further and also give up makeup and other beauty products, because in Daniel 10, Daniel also gave up “lotions”.
How long should you do the Daniel fast for?
In the same way, different Christians have different interpretations of how long a Daniel fast should be.
Some do 10 days, because that was the initial period Daniel did his fast for in Daniel 1.
Some do 21 days, because that was how long Daniel did his fast for in Daniel 10.
And others do a shorter or longer Daniel fast.
If you are attempting a Daniel fast for the first time, you might want to start with a much shorter period of time, for example 3 days, and build up to a longer Daniel fast over time.
What is the purpose of a Daniel Fast?
In the Bible, we see Daniel had two purposes for his fasts.
In Daniel 1, Daniel fasted because he did not want to defile himself with the King’s meat and wine.
And in Daniel 10, Daniel fasted to mourn and to seek understanding about a disturbing vision God had given him.
Today, Christians do Daniel fasts for a whole variety of reasons including:
- To show love and devotion to God
- To draw closer to God
- To create more space for prayer and reading the bible
- To practise self-discipline and grow in self-control
- To humble themselves before God
- To repent and seek forgiveness
- To seek guidance or clarity
- To strengthen prayer
- To remind themselves that everything they have comes from God
- As an act of surrender when they feel certain foods/drinks have become “gods” in their lives
- As an act of obedience
It is perfectly acceptable to do a Daniel fast for any of these reasons, however it’s important to remember that a fast should always be done for the right reasons, and not out of legalism or to show off about how “holy” you are.
Who is the Daniel Fast for?
The Daniel Fast can be a great option for any Christian at any stage of their walk with God, however it is especially good if:
- You are new to fasting
- A full fast feels too overwhelming
- You have health concerns that make full fasting difficult or impossible
- You want to do a longer fast
Is the Daniel Fast safe?
Because a Daniel fast is only a partial fast, it is usually safe for most people. However, you should absolutely consult a doctor first if you are at all concerned.
For some people a very strict interpretation – such as only water and vegetables, may not be medically advisable.
However, most people should be able to do a less strict version – such as eliminating some or all of: junk food, processed foods, treats, sugar, alcohol etc.
How to do a Daniel fast: step-by-step
Step 1: Get clear on your why
Before you begin a Daniel fast, it’s important that you understand WHY you are fasting.
Fasting in the Bible is never random or meaningless – it always has a purpose.
If you haven’t already, I recommend you read my complete guide to the spiritual discipline of fasting.
Step 2: Choose your timeframe
If this is your first Daniel fast, I don’t recommend you start with 21 days.
Start small – perhaps 3 days – and build up to a longer fast over time.
Pray over this and ask God to help you choose the right timeframe.
Step 3: Decide on your allowed / not allowed foods
There is no right or wrong answer to this. However, you should make a decision about this before you start your fast, and stick to that decision once you’ve started.
If this is your first Daniel fast, I recommend you don’t go too extreme. For example, you could start by just fasting meat and alcohol.
Once you have successfully completed a no meat / no alcohol version of the Daniel fast you could try a more strict interpretation. For example, you could eat only plant-based foods (fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, seeds) and drink only water (plus maybe fruit juice and/or herbal teas).
Again, pray over this and ask God to help you choose your allowed and not allowed foods.
Step 4: Prepare spiritually
Commit your fast to God, and ask him to help you stick to it and to grow spiritually through it.
You should also pray over your reasons for this fast. For example, maybe you’ve decided to do a Daniel Fast because you feel certain foods have become a “god” in your life. In that case you might use your spiritual preparation time to repent of that, and to ask God to help you use this time of fasting to help you put him back in his rightful place in your life.
It’s also important to remember that, as with any type of fast, it’s not just about not eating certain foods, it’s also about “feasting” on God. You should also plan how you are going to give God more of your time during your Daniel fast – for example more time for prayer and/or reading the Bible.
Step 5: Prepare practically
You should also prepare practically for your Daniel fast. That might include:
- Eating up or giving away “not allowed” foods before you start your fast
- Planning meals – especially if you are not used to eating vegetarian / vegan
- Shopping for ingredients for those meals
- Practising cooking vegetarian / vegan meals
- Informing anyone who really NEEDS to know (e.g. family, anyone who’s invited you for a meal, anyone else who might be making you food during your fast)
- Making plans for how you will manage meals at restaurants during that time
- Checking with your doctor if you are at all concerned about undertaking this type of fast
Need help finding easy plant-based meals to make during your fast? Head here: 31 Easy Vegan Dinners
Step 6: Do your fast
Once you have reached the day you planned to start on, start your fast.
Be sure to:
- Stick to the foods and timeframe you planned and prayed over
- Spend extra time with God during the fast
- Continue to pray over your reason for fasting
It’s also a good idea to keep a journal during your fast. Many Christians find the times when they fast to be times when God really speaks to them – times when they experience greater insights and wisdom, clearer guidance and increased spiritual growth.
Keeping a journal during this time helps you record all of this and reflect on it afterwards.
You may also want to use your journal to record more practical ideas and insights for future Daniel Fasts.
What to expect during the Daniel Fast
When you first start your Daniel fast, you’ll likely be full of enthusiasm and excitement. Because of this, it may feel very easy at first.
But after a while it is likely to get more challenging! You may notice:
- Hunger
- Low mood
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Strong cravings
- Headaches
This is all a perfectly normal part of fasting. Discomfort is part of the process.
Ask for God’s help during these challenging moments, and ask him to reveal what he may be teaching you through them.
It is also totally OK to take appropriate medicine if you are experiencing things like headaches. (Of course, if you have a serious problem or concern, do consult an appropriate medical professional!)
And remember:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
On a more positive note, you may well experience:
- A greater focus and/or power in prayer
- An increased awareness of God
- God speaking to you more clearly – either directly or through the Bible
- A deeper sense of dependence on God
- Greater awareness of where you have begun treating certain foods/drinks as “gods” in your life
- A greater sense of thankfulness for all the good things God has given you in your life
Common pitfalls to avoid with the Daniel fast
Finally, it’s also worth just touching on some common pitfalls to avoid when doing a Daniel fast. Here are some things to be on your guard against:
- Making it all about food or “effort” instead of God
- Becoming proud or legalistic about fasting
- Showing off about your fast
- Comparing yourself to others / looking down on others
- Forgetting to “feast” on God during you fast
- Beating yourself up if you “slip up”
Before and during your fast, ask God for help to avoid these temptations.
And if you do “slip up” and end up eating something on your “not allowed” list, don’t give up – just say sorry to God, ask for God’s help… and carry on with your fast.
Don’t let one slipup cause you to give up on your fast altogether!
Final thoughts
The Daniel Fast is a type of partial fast modelled by the prophet Daniel in the book of Daniel.
Typically a Daniel fast involves eating only plant-based food and drinking only water for a set amount of time – often 10 or 21 days.
Daniel fasts are done for a variety of reasons including: to show love and devotion to God, to draw closer to God, to seek guidance, to strengthen prayer and as an act of surrender.
When undertaking a Daniel fast, you should prepare both spiritually and practically, and you should ensure that you are not only “fasting” but you are also “feasting” on God.
During your fast, you may experience greater closeness to God, greater spiritual growth and greater power in your prayers. You may also hear from God more often or more clearly.
It can be helpful to keep a journal to record your fasting journey and any spiritual insights, spiritual growth or answered prayers you experience along the way.
Your next step: The 30-Day Fasting Challenge
If you want help building a consistent fasting habit, I invite you to join the 30 Day Fasting Challenge.
Each day includes:
- A short Scripture passage to read
- A brief teaching on the passage
- A guided prayer activity
- A short fasting-related challenge to do at another point in the day
- Reflection questions to help you track your growth
Over the course of 30 days, you’ll grow in your knowledge and understanding of Biblical fasting, and you’ll begin to build a foundation for a regular habit of fasting.
Join the 30 Day Fasting Challenge!
Recommended books on fasting
- God’s Chosen Fast – Arthur Wallis
- A Hunger for God – John Piper
- The Daniel Fast – Susan Gregory
READ MORE >>> Recommended books on fasting
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