The Daniel Fast Vs The Daniel Diet ~ Which One To Do & Why

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The Daniel diet or the Daniel Fast, which one do you do and why? And most importantly, how can it benefit you?  If you are wondering this I am going to tell you the difference between both the Daniel diet and Daniel fast. Because dieting and fasting have two very different reasons for doing them. Dieting tends to stem from health-related reasons whereas a fast tends to stem from spiritual reasons. You can read my blog here on fasting to get the basic understanding of fasting and if you should go on a fast or if you should go on a diet.

I certainly would not embark on either or without knowing the point of either or is. Because both the diet and the fast has an end goal in mind and depending on what your end goal is, it depends on which you will do. The last thing you want to do is to a fast to lose weight?

And if that statement confuses you then I suggest you check out my ebook on the art of spiritual fasting, how to do it, and why to do it. In which I specifically warn against fasting for diet reason as fasting is normally about a spiritual connection in the Christian community, which I will talk about below.  You can check out my eBook here to learn more about the book or click the picture below. In any case, Right why don’t we just right into it shall we? The Daniel Fast Vs. The Diet, When To Do Each & What For

1. The Daniel Fast Vs The Daniel Diet ~ What Is The Daniel Diet

The first thing I am going to explain is the Daniel diet. It is VERY important for you to know that Daniel did a fast and a diet different times in the Bible for two different reasons and that is why they have different meanings. Therefore, I want you to look at the following Bible verses that illustrate when Daniel when on the diet and why he went on the diet. And then we can discuss below.

But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see”  Daniel 1:11-13

You can read the full chapter one to get the entire picture. But basically Daniel was under the king’s care and the king ordered the men under his care to be fed a certain diet to make them stronger.  Daniel refused the king’s diet and suggested that he eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days instead to prove that his diet was better than the king’s diet.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.” Daniel 1:15-16

Also check out my video below where I talk more about how to honor your temple in what you eat. And don’t forget to subscribe to my channel by clicking here. 

2. What’s the overall point of the Daniel Diet

The overall point of the Daniel diet is that it is exactly what it sounds like, a diet to work on your health and lead you into a healthier lifestyle. The reason we know that is from reading the Bible in which Daniel was specifically training under the king and was put on a certain diet to ensure that he was smarter, stronger, and learned better.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.

He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that, they were to enter the king’s service. Daniel 1:3-5

So remember the Daniel diet, by its origin, is specifically related to getting into better health.

3. How do you do the Daniel Diet?

If you want to do the Daniel diet then once again read the Bible as there are some specifics that he has mentioned in regards to what to do which include:

  • But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine (Daniel 1: 8). Which basically means no alcohol. 
  • Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. (Daniel 1:11) Which pretty much means you are going vegan. 

I  know that this can sound extreme for some of you but remember it is a diet not even Daniel did it forever. You can choose for this to be your everyday way of life or you can choose to do it for a specified time it really is up to you. See my recommendations below for the Daniel diet. Keep in mind that each one has it’s own variation, but you can choose what you want to do and how you want to follow it based on the information they give you.

The Daniel Diet is more about health and weight loss. So I have included books that pertain to that and recipes because I know the whole vegan thing can sound a little boring and you may want to spice up your food like.

4. What Is The Daniel Fast 

Remember how I said that Daniel both fasted, dieted, and they were on two separate occasions for two different reasons. You should have an understanding of what the diet is about and so we shall get into the reason for the fasting.

The second time we see Daniel limiting his food, it is more for a fasting reason:

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

The common theme with fasting is that it is normally for a reason and the reason is to normally get more spiritually connected with God. You can read my benefit of spiritual fasting post here but give you a few examples:

  • Esther fasted to prevent the killing of the Jews. Esther 4:16
  • David fasted to prevent his son from dying. 2 Samuel 12:16
  • Moses fasted before he got the 10 commandments. Exodus 34:28

Do you notice the difference? It is not about health, losing weight, it is about getting God’s attention. Daniel got a vision of a great war and was in mourning and he fasted,  after which time he received a vision.  Typically, with Biblical fasting, something spiritual happens afterward or you are wanting something spiritual to happen during the fast hence the reason why you fast. Also check out my video below on spiritual fasting.

5. What’s the overall point of the Daniel Fast Is

The point of the Daniel fast or any Biblical fast for that matter is to have a spiritual connection toward God. You may want a prayer answered, to hear from God, or to get closer to God. There are MANY MANY reasons why people fast but in the case of Christian fasting, there must be some type of spirituality associated with it. It is not for weight loss.

6. How Do you Do The Daniel Fast

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 10:2-3

Or for this case, I actually would like to give you the easy to read Bible verse so that you can better understand the verse. In no way am I encouraging you to just go out and not eat for three weeks.

 At that time I, Daniel, was very sad for three weeks.  During those three weeks, I didn’t eat any fancy food; I didn’t eat any meat or drink any wine. I didn’t put any oil on my head. I didn’t do any of these things for three weeks. Daniel 10:2-3

What Daniel was saying as that he was staying away from foods that he enjoyed or like. For you, that maybe cakes, sweets, cookies, or anything in food that is your weakness. He also did not eat any meat or drink any wine. So what did that leave? Unlike the Daniel diet where it was just veggies and water, you could still have dairy. So this would be more like a vegetarian type of thing.

And when it comes to the oils and lotions, I think it speaks to just denying yourself of the finer things in life. I  mean can you imagine walking around being ashy with no perfume and smelling basic. It would probably make you feel awkward. And that’s the point, is that fast is about denying yourself of something that you feel you need. You can see my book picks below that can help you do the Daniel fast. Remember each of these books focuses on the spiritual connection which as we just learned is the entire point of the fast.

7. The Daniel Fast ~ Overall points.

  • The overall point is that if you are looking for a healthier lifestyle then stick with the diet.

  • If you want you can also add the concept of the Daniel fast into the diet, as many people have.

  • Which includes, adding dairy and even fruits.  Or you can stick to the actually Daniel diet AKA is known as being vegan.
  • As for the fast, you can also stick to the Daniel fast exactly as the Bible or you can do your own rendition as the point is to deny yourself of something AND most importantly it is to make a spiritual connection with God. 

If you know someone who may need to read this post then go ahead and share it.

So I know that I have just laid a lot If you want to know more about spiritual fasting then get this complete comprehensive guide on spiritual fasting that will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know to start and finish a successful fast FOR ONLY .99 cents. Just click here or watch the video below to learn more.

    

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