The Daniel Fast

When will we be fasting as a church?

The Daniel Fast will take place church-wide January 11–31, 2026.

What is the Daniel Fast?

The Daniel Fast is a biblical fast based on the prophet Daniel’s decision to abstain from rich foods in order to seek God. It focuses on eating simple, whole foods while eliminating distractions and indulgences, creating space for prayer, repentance, and spiritual clarity.

Scripture gives us insight (such as in Daniel 10:3) into what Daniel ate and did not eat; however, we do not know his complete menu. What we do know is this:

In Daniel 1, Daniel chose not to eat the royal food he was served and ate only vegetables and drank water. Later, in Daniel 10:2–3, he deprived himself of choice food, meat, and wine as he sought the Lord in prayer. Most commentaries believe “choice food” referred to bread and sweets.

Why are we fasting?

The intention of the Daniel Fast is not to duplicate exactly what Daniel did, but the spirit in which he did it. Daniel’s passion for the Lord caused him to hunger and thirst more for spiritual food than for physical food, which should be the desire of anyone choosing to participate in this type of fast.

Try not to get too hung up on what you should and shouldn’t eat. The most important part of the Daniel Fast is that you deny yourself physically so that you may seek the Lord in prayer and grow closer to Him. Your fast may look a little different than someone else’s, and that’s fine. Some people may need to be stricter than others in their food choices so that their fast is a sacrifice for them.

Remember: Fasting is not about perfection, but about posture—humbling ourselves before God and seeking Him with sincerity.

How should we approach prayer during the fast?

Daniel prayed consistently and persistently, even when answers were delayed. During the fast, commit to regular prayer, trusting that God hears you and will respond in His timing and according to His will (Daniel 10:12–13).

We also invite you to participate in our year-round prayer gatherings:

• Thursdays | 11:30 AM — Plano Campus

• Monday–Friday | 6:45 AM — Online via iCampus, Facebook, and YouTube

What foods are allowed during the fast?

• Fruit – fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, or canned
• Vegetables – fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, or canned
• Whole grains – amaranth, barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa, millet, and whole wheat
• Nuts & seeds – almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds; unsweetened almond milk. Nut butters are also included.
• Legumes – canned or dried; black beans, black eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), great northern beans, kidney beans, lentils, pinto beans, and split peas
• Quality oils – avocado, coconut, grapeseed, olive, peanut, sesame, and walnut
• Beverages – distilled water, filtered water, and spring water.
• Other – unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or soy milk; herbs, spices, salt, pepper, unsweetened coconut flakes, seasonings, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, soy products, and tofu

What foods are avoided during the fast?

• Meat & animal products – bacon, beef, buffalo, eggs, fish, lamb, poultry, and pork
• Dairy products – butter, cheese, cream, milk, and yogurt
• Sweeteners – agave nectar, artificial sweeteners, brown rice syrup, cane juice, honey, molasses, raw sugar, syrups, stevia, and sugar
• Leavened bread & yeast – baked goods and Ezekiel bread (if it contains yeast and honey)
• Refined & processed food products – artificial flavorings, chemicals, food additives, preservatives, white flour, and white rice
• Deep-fried foods – corn chips, French fries, and potato chips
• Solid fats – lard, margarine, and shortening
• Beverages – alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, energy drinks, herbal tea, and tea