The “Daniel fast” is mostly thought of as a fast of eating just fruits and vegetables. The purpose of the fast is to take control of your body through your eating. We are told in the book of Daniel that Daniel and his exiled companions requested this diet of the man over them in the Babylonian court. After ten days, they proved to be healthier, smarter, and wiser than the others who ate food from the king’s table.

I began to look at the first chapter of Daniel to get a better insight on this fast. I learned that the food at the kings table were usually foods sacrificed to idols. The food, usually meats, and wine were libations to the idols of Babylon. In order to keep themselves clean of any idol worship, Daniel and his companions requested just fruits and vegetables. Those would be the safest foods. The Jews had strict dietary rules on the preparation of meats which probably the king’s court did not observe. The animals were to be drained of the blood. The meat could have been of animals considered by the Jews as “unclean” or already dead when found. This not only had a health effect but also a spiritual meaning if the food was first offered to idols as was the custom.

Daniel and his companions were found to be smarter and wiser than all the magicians and enchanters. Yes, of course since those men were relying on demons as their source. Daniel and company were already men of high intellect, comely looks, and of noble birth. They were preserving their gifts from God and behaving in a godly manner. Faithfulness to Jehovah was their watchword.

I do not want Christians to believe fasting on fruits and vegetables are all that matters. There are other things to fast always:

1. Refrain from things that glorify idols of materialism, money, fame, education, drugs, sex, and ego.
2. Refrain from exalting the devil in horror movies, torture, crime, and evil deeds and thinking.
3. Refrain from idle talk, gossip, foul language, judgments, name calling, and slander.
4. Stay away from anything that brings God down and does not glorify Him: self righteousness, self promotion, arrogance, and anything filthy.

You cannot fast meals and still engage in pornography, horror movies, gossip, foul language, slander, and self-promotion expecting to come out as smarter and wiser blessed by God. God does not honor sin no matter how much you fast your foods. Do not be deceived!

Feast on the fruit of the spirit as found in Galatians 5:22—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

While you are fasting foods, what are you consuming through your eyes, ears, mind, and mouth? Are you consuming good literature, music, film, and godly talk. If you are, you will have knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. When examined by the world, you will be ten times better than magicians or enchanters.

Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

I am not putting down Daniel fasting. I want to be sure there is right understanding that other things are involved for fasting to be spiritually profitable and not just fashionable.