The Daniel Fast- My Experiences

I probably should have written this sooner, like right after I finished doing the Daniel’s Fast, but I didn’t. I have spent 21 days, from February 7-28, doing the Daniel Fast. I was supposed to have done it with a friend long distance, I generally am one that is more willing to do something if I have a buddy do it with me, like go to the gym or go on a diet. It would turn out that I ended up doing the fast by myself, but I will talk more about that later.

What is the Daniel Fast?

I was introduced to the Daniel Fast by a friend who mentioned it in a text once upon a time. I looked it up and bought the book by Susan Gregory. It is a fast based on the one the prophet Daniel did in the Old Testament when offered the food of the king of Babylon. The caption on the cover of the book reads, “Feed your soul, strengthen your spirit, and renew your body.” These are the goals of the Daniel’s Fast. While detoxing the body and restricting what is eaten you are able to feed the soul and strengthen the spirit. As Susan wrote in her book, “Your body will benefit from the healthy eating plan. Your soul (your emotions, intellect, and feelings) will benefit from the spiritual discipline of fasting. Your spirit will grow in strength and in knowledge of Christ and His ways.” The lessons that I learned during the fast are great and I hope to touch on some of them as I look at the fast week by week. 

The Daniel Fast would fall under what is known as a partial fast, where some foods are eaten and others are restricted. In modern versions of the Daniel Fast, food choices are limited to whole grains, fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds and oil. And I was only allowed to drink water. The Daniel Fast prescribes the vegan diet in that it excludes the consumption of animal products. The diet also excludes processed foods, additives, preservatives, flavorings, sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, leavening agents like yeast, and products made with white flours.

Because of the restrictions, it meant that most of what I ate had to be made from scratch. Or if I were to buy something/ ingredients from the store, I had to read the labels to make sure that I wasn’t raking in anything that I wasn’t supposed to.

It was also important to set a purpose and goal for doing this fast. While many facets of my fast were/ are personal, the overall goal was to feel closer to God. I won’t go into too many details, but I had felt like I was in a lull or trough for some weird reason and that I needed to propel myself out of it in order to move forward. This fast seemed to be a way to do that.

For each week I will be telling you what each is about, the focus of it, and give some insights of Susan Gregory. I will also provide some of the experiences that I had during the week.

Week 1- Fasting and the Body- Your body needs to be respected as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Susan Gregory wrote, “We’re used to allowing our physical needs to dictate almost everything we do. When we’re tired, we sleep—or consume caffeine to help us stay awake. When we’re hungry, bored, or upset, we eat. When we have a craving for a treat, we indulge our taste buds. Yet the process of fasting brings the body back to its rightful place: under the control of the spirit. When we’re fasting, we are willing to deny ourselves because that encourages us to turn to God.”

My preparations for this fast was not as good and thorough as they should have been. I remember after a day and a half of doing this that I was having constant headaches. Luckily I was reading the workbook that went along with the fast and they pointed out that headaches are common at the beginning because your body is trying to deal with not having the things that you normally consume. The solution? Drink more water. And it worked. I haven’t had a headache since.

Working in a grocery store made this experience interesting. I would be around food that sounded or looked so amazing. More than once I would pick up a package and read the label and see if it was permissible. And more often than not, it was forbidden according to the restrictions.

But I got to make most of my own meals. For breakfast I would generally have some kind of steel cut oats with apples and raisins.

For lunch I would have a spinach salad with different fixings. I would get creative each time. I don’t think I had the same salad twice during the whole time. I would add or take out an ingredient each time.

For dinner I would have whole grain pasta and plain tomato sauce, or it had garlic in it. Sometime I would have quinoa and brown rice, and that’s what I ate.

It was always interesting having to eat around other people. One of the most heard phrases I heard during the fast was people telling me they were sorry. Why are they sorry for a choice I made? But as much is the case, when you are fasting, you spirituality is heightened and you see lessons to be learned. I had many friends and family members eat “normal” food around me. As much as I wanted to, I knew that I had devoted this time to fast and that I had to remain true to it. Similarities became apparent when I looked at my temptations that were beyond food. I have friends who, like me, deal with same sex attraction. But they have partaken of fruit that I have not, if you get what I mean. I do have these temptations, but have decided not to partake. I have devoted my life that I will have no sexual relations outside of marriage. I am not judging my friends, whether gay or straight, who have had sex outside of marriage, but it’s not for me.

One of the more interesting times after starting was the first weekend of doing this fast. I went to Lincoln for a concert with some friends. Afterwards they wanted to go to Old Chicago. I have never really been to that restaurant, but I had heard that they have amazing food. What did I have? A Garden salad! With no dressing!!!!! But I asked them to take off the croutons, and because the description says it comes with “a” cherry tomato, I asked that they substitute the crotons with additional tomatoes. Additional to them meant two. So I had three cherry tomatoes. And there I sat at the table with my salad while everyone else ate their wings, cheese curds, nachos, jalapeño pretzels, and calzone. They were nice enough to offer to share, and they tried each other’s, but I sat with my salad feeling it would be ridiculous to offer.

I also have a friend who is an amazing cook. I had the opportunity to help him and his new roommate move into their new apartment. He had left over pizza and pie that he made earlier. But I didn’t have any. Nor any of the thank you dinner that he put on the next day. But I was grateful for the company. And grateful that he didn’t take it personally.

Week 2- Fasting and the Soul- Your soul, or flesh, needs to be put in the right position so that it does not run your life.

“Our constant challenge as humans and believers in Christ is to let His Spirit—not our own worldly trained flesh—be in control of our lives. Fasting can make us aware of this struggle in a dramatic way. When we choose to fast (to limit certain food for a spiritual experience), we suddenly come face-to-face with our own weaknesses. Yet those very moments when we are most tempted to cheat or quit altogether are moments that point the way to transformation. In Romans 12:2, Paul encourages us to be transformed by renewing our minds. When we change our attitudes and conform to God’s Word—rather than to the world around us or to our temporary circumstances—we will become more and more mature in Christ.”

This week was pretty hard. It was about this time that I found out that the friend, in Idaho, who was to do this fast with me wasn’t doing it hardly at all. This fact was kind of a hard blow and could have given me an out. If he’s not doing it, then I don’t have to. But as much is the case, when you are fasting, you spirituality is heightened and you see lessons to be learned. It made me think of the covenants that I have made. These covenants, much like this fast, were and always will be between God and me. It is nice to have others on the journey. Others that make similar covenants as you so you can have a support system. But in the end of ends, it is based on my relationship and faith with God. If I were to base my faithfulness to my covenants on whether or not my friends who have similar covenants keep them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s for me, not for them.

Word to the wise: Don’t go traveling while you are on the Daniel’s Fast. Especially to Texas. It does not bode well. I am grateful for an understanding family who was mindful of my dietary restrictions during this fast and helped me make decisions or provided options on how to keep the fast strong. And FYI, Chili’s makes some pretty amazing salads, and will even let you customize them a bit.

Week 3- Fasting and the Spirit- Your spirit needs to be strengthened day by day so you live the way God intended you to.

“The Holy Spirit is key. When Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples that a Helper would come to them—the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. And as believers in Christ whose spirits have been born again, we have access to that Spirit! He is living within us, and He will guide us, if we are willing. Every day we have a choice: Will we live according to the flesh and gratify our own desires, or will we live according to the Spirit? Will we be focused on ourselves, or will we be focused on Christ?”

This week turned out to be both the easiest and the hardest at the same time. It was easiest because I had already done it for two weeks, and hardest because I would be ending the fast at the end of the week. If I had spent as much time preparing to start the fast as I did to end the fast, I think it might have been an even better experience.

But as much is the case, when you are fasting, you spirituality is heightened and you see lessons to be learned. My spirit and will can be stronger than my body. I can do hard things. Temptations may come, but if I keep my sights where they should be, I can, with God, do all things. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to do this fast. I may do it again in the future. And now that I know what to expect, next time will be better than this last time.

God Bless! Until Next Time!

PS I lost 12 pounds in the 3 weeks.