Tips To Survive a 21 Day Fast

At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.  I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips – Daniel 10: 2, 3 (NIV)

At the beginning of the year, many churches and Christians embark upon a corporate or personal fast.  Many of these fasts are based on the 21 Day Daniel Fast where the fast allows eating of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and water.  Sometimes this list is modified but basically, this is what is allowed.

The Purpose of This Post

I was raised in a very traditional Pentecostal church, so I grew up fasting.  However,  there are many different denominations that didn’t observe this practice.  So, my purpose here is to add some insight to help “rookies” survive a 21 day corporate fast.

Prepare for the Fast

For me, the most important element to surviving a 21 day Daniel Fast, without falling off the wagon, is preparation.

• Positive Attitude:  Approach the fast with a can do attitude.  Christianity is based on faith, so you must believe that you can successfully endure the fast.  A negative or defeatist attitude will most likely result in defeat.
• Caffeine and Sugar Withdrawal:  If you are heavy coffee and soda drinker or eat a lot of chocolate and sweets you will probably experience withdrawal in the form of headaches or cravings.  To help with these symptoms, start to cut back on sweets and caffeine at least a week before the fast begins.  The symptoms won’t last the entire fast but probably for about 3 days.
• Know Your Food Groups:  It’s difficult to survive a fast if you don’t have enough to eat, so you should know your food groups.  For instance, some fasts will say you can only eat fruits and vegetables.  Did you know that nuts are a fruit?  Nuts are also a great source of protein.  Learn your food groups.
• Go Grocery Shopping:  Make a list of what you are allowed to eat during the fast and purchase what you need for at least a week.
• Cook Ahead And Freeze:  Soups and some vegetarian casseroles can be prepared ahead of time and frozen.  You can make a very hearty bean soup with vegetable broth.
• Take Your Lunch To Work:  Taking your lunch to work will relieve the stress of finding what you can eat on a restaurant menu.

Notes About Fasting

• If you have severe medical conditions, check with your doctor before beginning a fast.
• You can pray without fasting but you can’t fast without praying.  A fast without prayer is a diet!
• Be humble in your fasting.  It’s not necessary to announce to the world that you are fasting (Matthew 6: 17, 18).

Tweet This Post 

Tags: 21 day fast, Daniel Fast, how to fast, tips for fasting