Daniel Fast
Sunday, January 11th – Friday January 16th
We’re beginning the year by intentionally setting aside five days to seek God together through prayer and fasting. The Daniel Fast will begin after dinner on Sunday, January 11, and conclude with dinner on Friday, January 15. During the week, the chapel will be open for prayer Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, offering a quiet place to pause, reflect, and seek God, whether you stop by during your lunch break or at another point in your day. As we start the year, we’re asking God to root us deeply in His Word, shape our rhythms, and move powerfully in our church and community.
What is Fasting?
We fast to give God our full attention. God is always speaking, yet our pace often makes it difficult to hear Him clearly. When we step away from something familiar, our focus becomes less divided and our hearts more open to His presence.
Fasting helps us grow in dependence on God. As routines shift, we notice the places where we have relied on our own strength, and we invite God to shape us from within. This posture helps us become more responsive to His work and more aligned with His character.
We fast because we want our lives to reflect the heart of Jesus. As we draw close to God, He brings clarity, renewal, and direction. Not as a reward, but as the natural result of seeking Him.
An Intentional Pause
Fasting is setting something aside for a period of time to become more attentive to God and more aware of His presence. Matthew 6:16–18
Creating Space
By stepping away from normal routines, fasting helps quiet distractions and opens room to listen and respond to God. Psalm 46:10
A Spiritual Rhythm
Fasting has been practiced by followers of Jesus for generations as a way to seek God with focus, humility, and dependence. Acts 13:2–3
How To Participate
Participation looks different for different people. What matters most is intentional prayer and attentiveness to God.
Daniel Fast Food Plan
A plant-based fast focused on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and water, paired with daily prayer.
Partial or Modified Fast
A shortened fast, simplified meals, or one meal per day, chosen prayerfully for the week.
From Something Else
A fast from social media, entertainment, or another daily distraction to create space for prayer and Scripture.
If Fasting From Food Is Not Possible
We recognize that fasting from food is not appropriate or wise for everyone. Health considerations, pregnancy, recovery, medications, or other factors may require a different approach.
Choosing an alternative fast does not diminish your participation. The heart of this season is prayer and attentiveness to God.
Key Parts of the Daniel Fast
Only fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes & whole grains.
Only water or natural fruit juice for a beverage
No sweeteners, breads, meat, eggs or dairy products
What you can eat on the Daniel Fast
- Vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, or dried): All vegetables (including potatoes and squashes, as long as they are not fried)
- Fruits (fresh, frozen, canned, or dried): All fruits
- Whole grains and legumes: All whole grains, including brown rice, quinoa, corn, wild rice, bulgur wheat, farro, millet, oats, popcorn, and all legumes, including beans, lentils, peas, and chickpeas. Also includes whole grain pasta and whole grain tortillas.
- Healthy liquid oils: including olive, canola, corn, grapeseed, peanut, sunflower, safflower
- Nuts & seeds: including nut butters with no added sugars
What to avoid on the Daniel Fast
- Animal & dairy products, including any meat, seafood, eggs, milk, and cheese
- Processed foods of any kind, including crackers, chips, fries, fast food, anything with additives or preservatives, all-purpose flour, and white rice
- Leavened bread meaning anything including yeast, like sandwich bread and artisan bread
- Sweeteners including sugar, stevia, maple syrup and honey
- Drinks including coffee, tea, sweetened beverages, soda, and alcohol
Daniel Fast Meal Ideas
Sunday, January 11th – Friday January 16th