Join Rabbi Ralph Messer and the Simchat Torah Beit Midrash Congregation in a 10-day Daniel Fast!

January 12-22, 2013

The beginning of the New Year is a great time to enter into an extended period of prayer and fasting.

– Open your heart to new possibilities and dreams

– Position yourself to receive from God

– Seek God for His will for your life

– Be equipped to walk in your purpose

– Grow closer to God and develop a more intimate relationship with Him

– Seek answers to prayer

– Grow in the love and knowledge of your Messiah

What is the Daniel Fast?

"Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink”

Daniel 1:12 (NKJV)

The Daniel Fast, according to Scripture, is a fast that the Prophets chose, rather than defile themselves with the “king’s delicacies” and wine. They ate only fruits and vegetables and drank only water.

In Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat, nor breads, and drank no wine for 21 days.

“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 (NKJV)

How to Prepare for the Daniel Fast

The Hebrew word for fast means "to cover the mouth" and the Greek word means "to abstain from food." Fasting is always about restricting food and you cannot realize the benefits of fasting without restricting food.

Prepare for your time of focused prayer and fasting. Consider the purpose of your fast. Set aside a special time and place each day to spend time with the Lord in prayer and study of His Word and His ways.

You may want to ease off of sugar, caffeine and chemicals before your first day of fasting to avoid physical detox symptoms of headaches, cramping and fatigue. Start to drink at least 1/2 gallon of filtered water each day.

What You Can and Cannot Eat and Drink

Biblically, you can enjoy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. The only beverage is water.

Avoid meats, dairy, all sweeteners, caffeine, deep-fried foods, processed foods, man-made chemicals and preservatives.

The Benefits of Fasting and Prayer

Fasting, when coupled with prayer, is a God-designed discipline that enables you to enter into a focused time of seeking the Father for His wisdom, knowledge, instruction and direction.

Part of fasting is about denial. The Daniel Fast teaches us to deny our "selves" and allow our spirit to rule over our flesh. The challenge may come with cravings and frustrations during this 10-day fast.

How to Conclude Your Daniel Fast

Reintroduce caffeine, sugar, dairy products, deep fried foods and meat slowly to keep your body from rebelling and bringing discomfort. Small portions are better and adding no more than one type of food each day will give your body a chance to get used to the change.

If you have gained understanding about healthy eating habits or broken addictions to specific foods, then continue with those good practices. You may want to keep the benefits of the fast by introducing more fruits and vegetables in your diet, and less meat, processed foods, fried foods and man-made food. Keep the positive aspects in your everyday life and that includes your daily time with the Lord.

Let the lessons you learned during your Daniel Fast continue to bring more health to your body, soul and spirit all year long.

Write us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and share your testimony. Let’s all benefit from the Daniel Fast and enter 2013 with a renewed focus and love for God.

Blessings,

Rabbi Ralph Messer