The Daniel Fast: You have strengthened me… Trudging right through! If you have already started your fast, whether it is The Daniel Fast or ANY FAST, we are here to help. Join us every day in January for help, encouragement and even some DF recipes if you are going that route. You can catch up on the previous readings by clicking here
We have talked quite a bit about the WHY’s of fasting.
1. Fasting, without prayer, is just going without food.
2. Fasting to lose weight is NOT fasting, it is called a DIET.
3. Fasting to impress others; not cool.
There are many different types of fasts. The Bible is not specific about HOW you fast and most of the time they went without any food whatsoever. The Daniel Fast has become popular among Christians but some would say it is NOT fasting. I will leave that up to individual convictions. If you feel you must go without food completely to fast then that is what you should do. For many, who haven’t fasted very much or at all, The Daniel Fast is a good introduction to fasting. Once they have accomplished that, they can then fast a full day without food, then a three day fast, etc. We are not telling you HOW to fast, just how beneficial it is.
Naturally, we see many in the Old Testament who fasted and then when we get to the New Testament, Jesus fasted as well.
Satan would love for us to stay in the dark about the benefits of fasting!
The importance here is not necessarily HOW you fast but that you DO fast unto the Lord. If you are a PRO at The Daniel Fast, and it is easy for you, then possibly it isn’t a sacrifice any longer and maybe you could try a full day fast where you drink only water. That is definitely more of a challenge and a sacrifice to most. Some choose a three day fast, a week long fast and I have known some who have gone for 30-40 days without any food. This should be done under a doctor’s care and guidance from your pastor.
However you choose to fast, do it unto the Lord. Do not just go without food or participate in The Daniel Fast if you are not spending time with Him. It is a total waste of your time and energy!
Let’s see what happens, according to scripture, in the spirit world when you fast:
Daniel was in a battle with the spirit world when he went on his 21 days of fasting and prayer. Satan and his cohorts resisted the angels that were to be sent for an answer to his prayers, but finally, they were able to break through. The earth began to quake and the men that were with Daniel fled because of fear. You can read of this battle in Daniel the tenth chapter.
Twenty-one days Daniel had been fasting…no pleasant bread, no flesh (meat) and no wine touched his lips. He was humbling himself before God and denying himself things that he would normally enjoy. And when he did that, look what happened: It shook heaven and hell.
Is there power in fasting? Yes!
Does it matter if we do it or not? Yes!
The spirit world is real. Angels are working on our behalf and God wants to release power like we have never seen before in these last days. However, we must do our part. We are not going to experience it just sitting around doing nothing.
Daniel had a vision at the end of this three week fast: “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. 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 10:1-3 ESV.
Three weeks of fasting had made Daniel very weak and he says to the angel, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” Daniel 10:16, 17 ESV. The angel immediately responds!
“Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, ‘O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.’ And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’” Daniel 10:18, 19 ESV.
He was strengthened over and over again in this encounter with the angels. He had finished his three week fast and was physically without strength. The Bible even says that the man in the vision tells Daniel that Michael, the archangel and this other angel were fighting together in the spirit world for Daniel!
Daniel was fasting unto the Lord. Jehovah didn’t turn his back on Daniel but honored his sacrifice and his commitment and sent warrior angels on his behalf.
He will do the same for you.
Fast as unto the Lord. Watch and see what will happen in your life this year when you put fasting and prayer together.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased, shared, tweeted, or told someone about The Daniel Fast Devotional! It is a great tool for ANY FAST with devotions for every day, examples of people in the Bible who fasted, why they did it and what we can learn from it today. It also has DF approved recipes in every chapter. Get yours in Kindle or paperback on Amazon today.
