prayer and fasting

January 2023 Daniel Fast

November 30, 2022 By Kristen Feola

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I believe fasting is an important spiritual discipline, which is why I’ve led an annual Daniel Fast through my website since 2012 (see Online Daniel Fasts). The theme for the 2023 Daniel Fast is “More of You and Less of Me,” which is based on John 3:30: “He must increase, and I must decrease.” The January fast will be held January 1-21, 2023.

“More of You and Less of Me” was born out of my own desire for Christ to be magnified in an increasing measure in my life. In 2023, I’d like the Lord to help me make the following changes:

MORE
thanksgiving

LESS
complaining

books

resources

blog posts

NOTE: If you’ve been blessed by the resources on this website and would like to give to the Ultimate Daniel Fast ministry, you can do so by using Paypal or your credit card. Thank you! DONATE NOW

Lent 2022

February 27, 2022 By Kristen Feola

Lent is a 40-day* commitment to prayer and fasting that’s observed in the six weeks leading up to Easter. This year, the Lenten Fast starts on Ash Wednesday, March 2, and ends on Thursday, April 14.

A person who participates in Lent can choose to fast in a variety of ways, and one option is to do a Daniel Fast. Following are a a few resources that will encourage you:

Follow my 40-day Prayer Guide.
Invest in a devotional book to guide your prayer time.
Print out a copy of my Holy Week Prayer Guide and use it the week before Easter.

For more information about the Daniel Fast, visit About the Daniel Fast.

*Note: Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday is technically 44 days; however, the number of days for penance and fasting before Easter is still 40: 44 days minus six Sundays equals 38, plus Good Friday and Holy Saturday equals 40.

2022 Daniel Fast

December 4, 2021 By Kristen Feola

Do you ever feel like you’re going through the motions in your spiritual life? Is your Bible reading sporadic or even nonexistent? Does your prayer time seem lifeless and boring? If so, you need to join the January 2022 Daniel Fast to be reenergized and refreshed. The fast will be held January 2-22, 2022, and the theme is Pray, Wait, Trust.

In the first part of the book of Acts, the author, Luke, tells us that before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he instructed his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. As the believers joined together constantly in prayer, they received what God had promised. Filled with supernatural spiritual power, those followers were then equipped to go forward in boldness, which significantly impacted their world and led thousands of others to salvation.

Like those early disciples, we desperately need the Lord’s help to fulfill the purposes God has for us. This year’s theme is perfect for where we are today because we have many, many reasons to be anxious. Just watching or listening the news can cause even the most laid-back person to be afraid. So, what should we do? God’s Word tells us:

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel” (Phil. 4:6-7 CEV).

The Daniel Fast is about setting aside comfort for 21 days to focus on prayer. Yes, food is allowed on this fast (as opposed to a water fast), which is good news. However, your food choices are limited (see Daniel Fast Food List). That’s also good news. Why? Because every time you crave coffee or chocolate or meat, you’ll remember why you’re doing this fast in the first place. Instead of giving in to temptation, you’ll experience victory by turning to God instead of food.

Join me and believers all around the world as we join together in prayer and fasting this January. We will:

Pray for our needs and others’ needs.

Wait on the Lord to answer in his way and in his timing.

Trust God to work out his plans for us by remaining focused on truth.

As we commit the first three weeks of the year to prayer and fasting, we’ll see God move in power, just as he did in Acts.

For more information on the Daniel Fast, see About the Fast. Also, be sure to check out the Daniel Fast resources: Recipes, Books, FAQs, January 2022 Daniel Fast Testimonies, and January 2022 Daily Verses.

daniel fast resources

helpful blog posts

books

daily videos for your fast

If you’d like to receive encouragement on your fast, you can take advantage of short daily videos from 2021 (most videos are only 2-3 minutes long). Access videos here.

Feel free to share the January 2022 Daniel Fast promo video on your social media accounts. The more believers who join the fast, the more powerful our 21 days of prayer will be!

If you’ve been blessed by the resources on this website and would like to give to the Ultimate Daniel Fast ministry, you can do so by using Paypal or your credit card. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

2022 daniel fast merchandise

PWT Silver Bracelet

PWT 6×9 Journal

PWT T-shirt

PWT Water Bottle

Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Love Your Enemies

February 21, 2019 By Kristen Feola

When Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies,” who exactly did he mean? In elementary school, the enemy is the big, mean bully who picks on other kids. In adulthood, the enemy looks quite different.

What if the enemy is a former friend who betrayed you? Or a co-worker who seems determined to make you look bad? Or, worse yet, what if it’s someone in your family–a child, a sibling, or your spouse?

God’s command is the same: Love. No matter who the hostile person is, show them love.

Extending love in the face of persecution isn’t easy, and it’s definitely not natural. In fact, it’s impossible without God’s help. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can you show kindness to people who are hateful toward you.

When someone spews toxic words in your face or does horrible things to you, remember one thing: That person is not the enemy. The evil behavior they’re demonstrating comes from somewhere else. Actually, from someone else–from Satan, the father of lies. He is your real enemy. Satan is completely opposed to you and to all Christ followers. His goal is to destroy your joy, hope, peace, and faith. . . and, eventually, your life.

But the good news is: God is on your side! The Lord is your Defender, and he fights for you! So you don’t have to take revenge when people hurt you. You don’t need to come up with some plan to make them pay for what they did. Instead, take your pain to the Lord in prayer, and let him comfort you. Trade your seething anger for his perfect peace.

God is patient with us. He knows sometimes it takes a few days for us to get to the point of surrender. But when we do, it’s a sweet time of letting go. You and I weren’t designed to carry the burdens of bitterness and resentment. Such emotions only cause more wounds and end up stunting spiritual growth.

Ask the Lord to reveal any unforgiveness in your heart. If he shows you something, confess it. Then, pray for anyone in your life you would classify as an enemy. Pray that person will know the love of God in a personal way.

Don’t Quit the Daniel Fast

August 8, 2018 By Kristen Feola

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 29^th, 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?

We Need Each Other

July 31, 2018 By Kristen Feola

When I was in my late 20s, I asked the Lord for godly friends. I wanted to be surrounded by women of faith – women who are consistently pursuing Christ and striving to live according to God’s Word. My prayer was fueled by the desire to grow in wisdom – to walk with the wise so I might also be wise (Prov. 13:20a). Since I uttered that request years ago, I’ve seen the Lord answer in abundance.

Yesterday, I went to lunch with three of those godly friends – Debbie, Sheila, and Liz. We co-lead Sisterhood Cares, a prayer ministry at our church which reaches out to ladies who are going through a difficult time. The trial could be a family crisis, health issue, or loss of a loved one.

Though we share the same passion for the Lord and for helping hurting women, we’re different. Debbie is an aerobics instructor, cancer overcomer, and prayer warrior. Sheila is a writer, counselor, and grandmother. Liz, also a grandmother, is a business owner, pastor, and CrossFit competitor. The four of us met together to plan for an upcoming Sisterhood Cares meeting. But, once we’d covered the ministry details, we took turns sharing how we could pray for each other during our church’s 21-day fast.

When it was my turn, I was able to be honest, raw, and real about my current struggles. There wasn’t any judgment at that table. Only acceptance and love. That’s the power of Christ-centered community.

One of the most precious gifts God gives is other people. We’re not meant to go through this life alone. Friends give us God’s comfort. Friends love us despite our flaws and failures. Friends speak truth when we need to hear it. Friends lift us up when we’re down in the pit.

If you’re thinking about doing a Daniel Fast (or any type of fast), ask a friend to join you. Then, you can be accountable to one another and pray for one another. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecc. 4:9-10 NLT).

Maybe you’re in the same position I was when I was younger, and you’re lacking in solid friendships. Pray for them! You can be confident God will provide because He wants you to have godly influences in your life. And He wants you to be one as well.

Finally, if you’re feeling prompted by the Lord to enter into a time of prayer and fasting, you can join me and our church in our 21-day fast. It’s not too late!

May the Lord bless you with wonderful, God-fearing friends, who spur you on to be more like Jesus!

January 2018 Daniel Fast: Lift Up Your Voice

December 6, 2017 By Kristen Feola

In January 2012, I held the first online Daniel Fast through my website. More than 2,000 people signed up to participate. Since then, the fast has grown into an annual event for nearly 6,000 believers from around the world. The Lord continues to call men and women to this three-week fast, and every year God does incredible things among us. That’s why I’m more excited than ever about the next online fasting event.

You’re invited to join the January 2018 Daniel Fast, which will be held January 7-27, 2018. The theme for the January 2018 Daniel Fast is “Lift Up Your Voice.” Throughout the fast, we’ll take an in-depth look at the story of King Jehoshaphat in my new eBook, Lift Up Your Voice: 21 Daily Devotions for Your Daniel Fast (available Kindle, NOOK, and as a PDF). We’ll see how Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah responded to an unexpected trial and how God responded to their cries for help. Download your copy of the Lift Up Your Voice eBook today so you’re ready to go on January 7th!

If you’ve never done the fast but are considering it, you should get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast. It provides everything you need for a successful fast, including tips on how to prepare, 100+ recipes, meal plans, and 21 daily devotions.

When you sign up for the January 2018 Daniel Fast, you will receive:

Weekly emails before the fast to help you prepare (starts December 18^th).
Weekly emails during the fast that will include devotions, fasting tips, new Daniel Fast recipes, daily prayer points, and other helpful resources. Emails will be sent each Sunday.
Daily videos throughout the fast to encourage you.

Also, you can choose from two different tiers of participation:

1) Everything in the above list PLUS a PDF copy of my new eBook, Lift Up Your Voice: 21 Daily Devotions for Your Daniel Fast (PDF will be emailed to you within 24 hours of registration payment).

2) Everything in the above list without the PDF version of my eBook. You may select this option if you wish to download the Kindle or NOOK version of Lift Up Your Voice. Also, if you’re going through the Daniel Fast for the first time and using The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, you may decide to use the 21 devotions from that book instead. You can always purchase the eBook version of Lift Up Your Voice at another time.

Note: The PDF version of Lift Up Your Voice may also be purchased separately without registration (see below under January 2018 Daniel Fast Resources).

Registration has ended for this event.
(You may access the list of 21 daily videos used during the fast by clicking here.)

The January Daniel Fast is the best way to begin the New Year. Decide now to seek the Lord for wisdom, direction, and favor in 2018. Decide now to lift up your voice to the Lord!

P.S. Watch the :15 promo video below for the January 2018 Daniel Fast. (Click on the photo to watch and share with others.)

New eBook: Lift Up Your Voice

December 5, 2017 By Kristen Feola

Writing another book wasn’t on my radar for the fall of 2017. But God had other plans. I’m happy to announce the release of my new eBook, Lift Up Your Voice: 21 Daily Devotions for Your Daniel Fast (available on Kindle or NOOK).

As I prayed about a theme for the January 2018 Online Daniel Fast, I kept being drawn to the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. When Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was informed that a large army was advancing toward his land, he was terrified. But Jehoshaphat didn’t go into hiding or run from the fight. He turned to the Lord and called for a nation-wide fast.

One day when I was hiking and thinking the 2 Chronicles passage, I sensed the Lord prompting me to write a devotional guide about it. The more I thought about the idea, the more excited I became. Later that day, I began working on the book. Less than a month later, Lift Up Your Voice was completed.

Lift Up Your Voice: 21 Daily Devotions for your Daniel Fast takes an in-depth look at 2 Chronicles 20 by studying the chapter verse by verse. Lift Up Your Voice explores how King Jehoshaphat and his people responded to their troublesome trial and how the Lord provided as they sought him wholeheartedly. Each devotion begins with a personal experience from my life, which is then related to the day’s assigned Bible reading. At the end of the 21 days, you’ll learn more about me, more about Jehoshaphat, and more about the Lord and His Word.

If you’re planning on doing the Daniel Fast this January, you’ll want to get Lift Up Your Voice for your Bible study and prayer time. Also, if you’ve done the Daniel Fast in the past and have been using the devotions in The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, you can get a new set of devotions in Lift Up Your Voice!

I’m excited to share this resource with you because it has been a wonderful gift from the Lord. I believe the Lord will use the devotions in Lift Up Your Voice to encourage you, inspire you, challenge you, and strengthen you. Download your copy today!

Lift Up Your Voice (Kindle)

Lift Up Your Voice (NOOK)

Lift Up Your Voice (PDF)
Submit payment below using a Paypal account or your credit card. Once payment is received, your copy of the book will be emailed to you.

**Find out more about the January 2018 Online Daniel Fast.**

The Daniel Fast and Lent

February 26, 2014 By Kristen Feola

March 5th is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a special time when the Church remembers how Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before He launched His public ministry. Although mostly observed by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians, Lent is becoming increasingly popular among evangelicals and other denominations. (SIGN UP HERE to receive your Lent 2014 Prayer Guide).

The purpose of Lent is to reflect on Jesus Christ — his life, death, burial, and resurrection. Typically, people abstain from meat during Lent and may also give up other vices, such as sweets, television, or Facebook. Many believers also participate in a Daniel Fast.

The Daniel Fast is a 21-day partial fast based upon the prophet Daniel’s experiences in the Bible. The purpose of the fast is to restrict commonly enjoyed foods as an act of worship and consecration to God (see Food Guidelines). On one occasion, Daniel was greatly concerned for his people and sought the Lord’s wisdom during a time of prayer and fasting. Daniel 10:2-3 says, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips.” The meaning of “choice food” is not clear; however, most commentaries conclude that he ate no bread or sweets. The Message translation sums up Daniel’s eating habits during that time: “I ate only plain and simple food.” The idea behind the fast is not to duplicate Daniel’s menu but to imitate his spiritual hunger. Daniel’s passion for the Lord caused him to seek spiritual food rather than physical food, which should be the desire for anyone doing the Daniel Fast.

How will you prepare for Easter Sunday? Consider doing the Daniel Fast as you celebrate what the Lord has done for you!