What Is The Daniel Fast? Day-One Devotional Series

Ten Daily Devotions

When fasting is combined with prayer, we have a powerful weapon to defeat the enemy and a powerful tool to revitalize His church. Remember Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21, NKJV). But what is the Daniel Fast?

Daniel was a sixteen year old young man taken captive into Babylon to be trained as a future administrator in the nation of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar saw great potential in Daniel and the other young men and attempted to “Babylonialize” the young men to help him rule over exiled Jews. Daniel was to be trained in the Babylonian language, dressed in Babylonian garments, live according to the culture, and of course, eat Babylonian food.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank” (Daniel 1:8, NKJV).

Any spiritual fast begins with a vow or a purpose. Notice what Daniel did, “Please test your servants for 10 days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants” (Daniel 1:12-13, NKJV).

Daniel chose to obey God, and eat a healthy diet. He chose discipline over fatting foods and rich wines.

Daniel is a model for anyone who longs to honor God and experience a spiritual breakthrough that begins with prayer and self-discipline. If God is going to do a great work in the United States, it will take many people like Daniel who will discipline their diets. But more importantly, they must discipline their prayer life so that God gives them a spiritual breakthrough in our nation.

In the next 10 days you will receive a devotional each day to explain some of the experiences you will encounter while fasting. Some will only eat vegetables; some will give up sweets and carbonated beverages, while others will give up one or two meals a day. The Daniel Fast involves abstinence, so make a choice how you will discipline yourself to pray effectively for our nation.

There is an absolute fast where you eat nothing, drink only water. You are not asked to do that in this fast, but some have had great answers to prayer with the absolute fast.

God is more concerned about what comes out of your heart in prayer, than He is with what goes into your stomach through your mouth.

In the next 10 days you will read how to worship God, how to pray-ask, perhaps you will even experience weeping, repenting, and deep intercession for our nation. You may even learn some principles of spiritual warfare that mean you will have to pray deeply . . . pray desperately.

As I prepared these lessons, I fasted several times, in several different ways. I fasted so God would show me what to write, how to express my ideas, and help me to prepare these lessons so you would touch God as you read and fast, but more importantly that God would touch you.

Definition: Fast - (fa:st, -æ-) To abstain from food, or to restrict oneself to a meager diet, either as a religious observance or as a ceremonial expression of grief; to go without food; also (contextually) to go without drink; to pass (time) fasting; to keep or observe (a day, etc.) as a time of abstinence.

So start on a 10-day fast with the full commitment that what you are doing can change your life and you might also change the United States. If you and millions of others would fast for 10 days, God could do a miracle in the United States that no one ever expected – by Elmer Towns©

-My Time to Pray-

• Lord, lead me as I begin 10 days of fasting to pray more effectively than I have ever prayed before.

• Lord, I pray that the political leaders that You want to rule the United States may be voted into office.

• Lord, work through circumstances to put those in office who can lead the United States back to its original core values.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

To email Dr. Towns - eltowns@liberty.edu.