Blog

During this winter season of the year, our network of teams and churches often collectively engage in a 21 Day Daniel Fast (or sometimes a 40 day fast)

Why 21 Days?

The 21 Days Fast is a reference to Daniel 10 where Daniel received a vision concerning events that were to happen in the future;

‘”When this vision came to me, I, Daniel had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed” -Daniel 10:2-3

What To Eat During That Time?

People approach The Daniel Fast in a variety of ways. But generally most would avoid eating ‘rich food’. For me that usually means no meat, no carbs like bread, pasta, rice, of course, no fast food or fatty food. No chocolate or sweets or junk food. No alcohol.

It does mean eating lots of soup, veg, fruit – I also occasionally eat fish (but not everyone does that during this fast)

The 21 Day fast of Daniel in chapter 10 was not the only time Daniel had dabbled in an alternative eating/fasting plan. He was already well-practiced in avoiding the food of the Babylonian king.

From a young age, Daniel and his 3 companions entered the royal service and were supposed to be fed the kings food;

‘The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service’ -Daniel 1:5

‘But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. […] “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young mean who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days’ -Daniel 1:8, 12-14

So Daniel had already been through a process, starting with a 10-Day Test where he and his friends ate only vegetables and water

The Results of the 10-Day Test

‘At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others’ -Daniel 1:15-18

When the 10-day Trial was over, they looked healthier and better nourished!

So from then on, they continue on this restricted diet of vegetables for at least the 3 years they were in training (see Daniel 1:5, 18). So what was the result of that ongoing new form of diet?

‘God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams’ -Daniel 1:17

‘Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.’ -Daniel 1:20

Wow!

By switching-up what he ate and avoiding the kings ‘rich food,’ Daniel gained:

–Unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom

–A special ability to interpret the meaning of visions and dreams

–Wisdom and balanced judgment that made him 10 times for capable than his peers

The Breakthrough Comes After 21 Days

On day 21 of Daniel’s Fast he received a vision (Daniel 10:2). Following on from this he received another vision of a man dressed in linen clothing with a belt of pure gold around his waste.

‘Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future. For this vision concerns a time yet to come.”‘ -Daniel 10:12-14

A number of things are revealed in this passage of scripture;

The reason for Daniel’s fast was that he was praying for understanding.

Through the means of fasting, he was also ‘humbling himself before his God’

It is further revealed that from the first day Daniel began to pray and fast, his request had been heard in heaven and that this angel had come in answer to that prayer but had been blocked for 21 days by the spirit prince of Persia!

While Daniel was praying and fasting for 21 days on earth, there was a battle raging in the heavenly realms trying to block the angel from bringing a message to Daniel concerning the future of his people as he had requested more understanding!

Make Specific Requests

In fasting 21 days, or until God answered, Daniel had a specific request; ‘From the first day you began to pray for understanding’

Daniel was praying for understanding?

What is your prayer request as you humble yourself before God through fasting?

During this particular fast (January 2025) our collective are engaging in ‘Contending for the Miraculous’

This phrase came through a prophetic word from my wife who is one of the intercessors in our Nottingham House of Prayer

We are seeking God for an outbreak of more signs, wonders and miracles occurring throughout our work, churches, teams and networks here in Britain. This is something the apostles of old prayed for, ‘Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus‘ -Acts 4:30

Everyday during the 21 Day Daniel Fast, I’m aiming to post an article on an aspect of the miraculous.

Stay tuned for more on this in the coming days!

Let us know if you are joining us in this 21 Day Daniel Fast – or whether you’ve started your own collective fast at another point and what the results were!

If you have never intentionally personally fasted before, you might also want to check out this article: Set aside 1 Day a Week for Fasting and Meditation