More than once, I’ve received an email from someone who has “messed up” on the Daniel Fast. The question usually posed to me is, “Should I quit?”
When you participate in the 21-day fast, you determine to seek the Lord through increased time in His Word and in prayer. You also deny yourself the food you desire and decide to adhere to a fairly stringent – although healthy – way of eating for three weeks.
Messing up on the Daniel Fast could mean a variety of things. Maybe you caved and had a cup of coffee, stole a few French fries from your son’s plate, or gave in to the temptation to eat ice cream. However way you prematurely broke the fast, you may wonder if you should even continue at all.
My advice to you is, “No, don’t quit. Keep going!” Just because you fell off the wagon, so to speak, that doesn’t mean you should lie on the ground and stay there. You get up, dust yourself off, and get back on that wagon right away.
The Daniel Fast is difficult because fasting in any form is difficult. Just because you’re allowed to eat (as compared to a water fast when you’re not) doesn’t mean that your fast will be a breeze. Expect to be tempted. Expect to face challenging situations. And don’t be surprised if your fast doesn’t go as you planned.
I’ve done the Daniel Fast more times than I can count since 2009. Have I always completed the fast perfectly? Of course not! On my very first fast I used a salad dressing mix throughout the 21 days that contained sugar. I didn’t know it at the time because I never checked the ingredients on the label. Months after the fast, though, I saw “sugar” listed there as plain as day!
During another fast, I was a guest speaker at ladies’ luncheon. The woman who invited me had pre-paid for my meal. I remember feeling very torn inside, not knowing what to do. I wrestled for several minutes, trying to decide if I should show my gratitude to my friend and eat the non-Daniel Fast friendly food, or if I should polite refuse. I came off the fast for that one lunch because I didn’t want to be rude to my friend who had been so kind to me.
Just this past Monday I experienced another misstep on day 9 of the 21-day fast I’m doing with my church. Since day 1, I’d fasted one meal each day, usually breakfast. On Monday morning, my teenage daughter and I got into an argument, which made me feel frustrated and angry. I didn’t want to fast breakfast, so I planned on fasting lunch instead. Well, I ended up not only eating lunch but also dinner. I went the whole day without fasting one meal.
Did I feel like a loser? Yes. I even entertained thoughts of giving up. But my pastor had called our church to this fast, and I wasn’t about to let him or our church family down. More importantly, I wasn’t going to dishonor my God. On July 29th, 2018, I made a commitment to the Lord that I would devote the next 21 days to fasting and prayer, so I wasn’t about to drop out. I got back on track the next day.
If you have a bad day and blow it while on the Daniel Fast, don’t quit. Keep praying! Keep believing! Keep going! Refuse to let shame rest on your shoulders because God certainly doesn’t condemn you. “For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Ps. 103:14 NLT). When you make a mistake, you can be sure God is there, not to punish you but to show you His unfailing mercy and love.
Has something similar happened to you? How have you seen God give you strength to continue the Daniel Fast when you were tempted to quit?
Thank you so much for this. I woke up this morning with the thought of fasting lingering and I’m almost scared of it. I have been waiting to hear that someone falls short during fasting and not just me because I fail all the time and even quit fasting. Then I will try again and fail, then I try again and have just put it behind me now. I sort of affirmed myself that fasting is only for certain people I admire and what amazes me is “how do they do it?”. After reading your story, I had to give out a big laugh And Thank God for this. It is so timely because I’m going to a Women’s Conference next month September and my sister will be one of the Speakers. As much as she never asked, I felt in me to fast and pray for her and the organizers. Praying is easy but I am wrestling with fasting. But it’s going to change now. I will get up and continue. Oh and to top it off, Matt.5:6. I’m in tears now.
Grace, thank you for writing! You are definitely not alone. Fasting isn’t about how well we can “perform” for God. It’s not a competition. A fast expresses a deep desire to know God and to grow in Him. So, good for you for being willing to step outside your comfort zone! The Lord will help you as you fast and pray for your sister. God will fill you with many good and wonderful things as you hunger for Him.
Thank you. I to needed this, such a blessing. I am trying and I want to achieve my fasting.
You’re very welcome! I pray the Lord blesses you abundantly as you seek to honor Him through prayer and fasting.
Boiling dates currently for sweetener, but sugar is so much more convenient. Thankful for God’s unfailing faithful love and mercy!
Yes, preparing Date Honey does take more time than pouring in white sugar, BUT the dates are so much better for you! 🙂
Thank you! I needed this. My missionary family in Thailand are in the States for a short time and came to stay with us for 2 days. It was his birthday, and you can guess the rest! They left this morning, and I was eager to get back to the fast. (Interestingly, I too have been skipping a meal.) Not just the food, but the time spent in the Word and prayer went by the way as I played with the 2 and 4 year olds, giving mommy and daddy break-time to take care of details for their ministry. I was wondering if I was doing something wrong, and then the Lord reminded me of the part where it says in Isaiah to spend yourself on behalf of the needy (they had $12 when they boarded the plane in Thailand) and not turn away from our own flesh. I now see their visit as a gift in the middle of my fast and not an interruption of it. This email is the perfect encouragement for me today. Thank you!
Patricia, thank you for sharing! Your post encouraged me today. I know you were a HUGE blessing to those parents as you entertained their little ones so they could work. God will certainly bless you in return for your kindness! I pray that as you continue to seek the Lord, you will be strengthened in your inner being and full of joy in Him!