In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 10:1-3
“Daniel’s fast involves abstaining from certain foods. The Bible doesn’t actually say that Daniel fasted, but the way the Bible describes his practice is commonly referred to as Daniel’s fast. “I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled” (Daniel 10:3). This type of fasting usually includes avoiding meat, sweets, dairy, or other pleasant foods, and focuses on fruits, vegetables, and simple foods. It is not the traditional definition of a fast, but for many believers in various circumstances, this is the most or the best they can offer to God. And God is pleased whenever we offer Him what costs us something.”
Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 10.
This is the fifth and final kind of fasting in Scripture. I could sum up my Daniel’s fast comments by echoing this phrase at least three times.
“God is pleased whenever we offer Him what costs us something.”
“God is pleased whenever we offer Him what costs us something.”
“God is pleased whenever we offer Him what costs us something.”
Why do I love it so much? The only kind of giving Jesus celebrates is sacrificial. The next time you fast or make a giving decision, make it cost you something. Make it cost you something.
It’s not that Daniel did not understand the vision. He did. He understood the vision. It was big, much bigger than him. And so, he fasted to draw near to God to steward that vision and play his role.
That’s where I find myself today. As I draw near to God, I discern that my role as Founder comes into view as bigger than anything I anticipated. I will share more later.
For now, I need to fast from choice foods to draw near to God. Join me.
Fast for me.