I’m sure to some degree you know this story… but let’s take a deeper dive into this incredible bible story and how the powerful results Daniel got are just a decision away for you too.

Daniel Chapter 1 (paraphrased/edited)

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and be-sieged it. Then the king ordered the 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.

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.

Among those who were chosen was DANIEL and he resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

The official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.

Daniel then said to the guard “Please test your servants for ten days: GIVE US NOTHING BUT VEGETABLESTO EAT AND WATER TO DRINK. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days DANIEL AND HIS MEN 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.

There are many reasons Daniel had such great success.

1: He had GOD on his side.

2: He understood that the foods/wine offered by the king were not healing foods.

3: He understood the benefits of fasting and how fasting can actually enhance and heal the human body! Fasting is abstaining from something like food, drink or entertainment for a period of time to create some type of benefit in body, mind or spirit.

There are many types of fasts which include: Standard Fast (water only), Absolute Fast (No water or food), Partial Fast (restrict certain food and drink categories) and Intermittent Fast (Only eat during small daily window, for example: 1pm-6pm

There are many variations of these fasts, and there are spiritual benefits of all of these, when we are able to devote the time spent eating to focus on God and serving others. If you are looking for a healing breakthrough in body, mind and/or spirit, then you may consider doing a fast.

Fasting Benefits: There are numerous benefits to Daniel-type fasting, but it all starts with an inward, spiritual motivation.

“This is the fast that I have chosen…to lose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke. Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth.”–Isaiah 58:6

Studies show autolytic and autophagy (your body eating diseased and degenerative tissue) within 18-24 hours of fasting (first 24 hours are actually the highest)

• You dramatically increase hormone sensitive
• 1300-2000% increase in growth hormone in 24-hour fasts
• Men: Studies also show a 180% increase in Testosterone! (Ps. Married Ladies: If you want to spice up your sex life, get your man to start fasting! The effects are 180% greater than any pill!!)
• Fasting dropped leptin levels by 76.3% on average in obese males and females. Leptin is your fat burning hormone and the ability for your body to burn fat is turned OFF when leptin levels are too high. This ultimately increases lipolysis (fat burning)
• Insulin and blood sugar drop drastically (great for diabetics)
• Hormone sensitivity increases (thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, insulin etc)
• Decrease in blood pressure
• Decreased blood inflammatory markers-perfect for anyone hoping to overcome any condition connected with inflammation.

If you are not fasting at least a 24-hourwindow on a monthly basis-it’s time to hop into GODS healing plan for you. I have become so addicted to the health benefits of fasting I now do a 24 hour fast several times per month and fast an average of 16-18 hours every single day.