When a Fast Becomes a Feast

I’ll never forget my first experience with fasting.

I had been reading my Bible and it was very clear to me that fasting was a necessary part of a victorious Christian life, but no one had ever taught me about this practice, much less modeled it for me. I had made several attempts throughout college, but they were a miserable failure I must confess. My mindset was all wrong and my cravings felt totally out of control. Honestly, I became discouraged that I could ever successfully complete a fast and grow in this spiritual discipline.

Then, my church began the New Year with a church-wide Daniel Fast. I liked the idea of being able to eat while fasting so I committed to it. It took a leap of faith because I was a broke college kid, but the results of my fast really surprised me. After a week I found my rhythm in the kitchen, I began experiencing more mental clarity and intimacy with God. memorably I had more energy than I knew what to do with. While the physical benefits were glorious, the most precious thing in my experience with fasting has been the spiritual benefit. The reason I now view fasting as a gift and a blessing is because it is the quickest path to healing, breakthrough and and intimacy with God.

One thing to note is that biblical fasting always includes prayer.

As we discipline ourselves to go without something in the natural, we can redirect those hungers and desires toward feasting on the God who lives within us. My first experience with the Daniel Fast was the beginning of a major breakthrough in my walk with Christ as I sought His Kingdom over natural sustenance, my hunger for the Lord grew.

Over a decade later, fasting has become a regular practice for me. What I’ve found is that feasting on God has the tendency to create more hunger. He satisfies us and yet always leaves us craving more. I pray that my testimony encourages you to seek God about whether the Daniel Fast might be exactly what you need right now.

A 21-Day Daniel Fast might be right for you, if:You desire spiritual, emotional, or physical breakthrough.

You want to discern the voice of God more clearly.You are praying for healing in your body.You want to experience freedom from food addiction.You struggle with chronic fatigue or indigestion/bloating.You have high levels of inflammation in your body.You want to reset and strengthen your immune system.