Days of Deliverance 2025: God’s Fasting Plan

Isaiah 58:6-8 (NIV)

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

I love this passage about fasting in Isaiah 58! Often, we focus so much on what to give up during a fast that we lose sight of what God, our loving Father, wants to give us through it. Fasting is more than abstaining from food—it’s a spiritual practice where we use hunger as a reminder to pray, seek God, and rely on Him fully.

Types of Biblical Fasts

The Bible highlights several types of fasting, each with unique spiritual purposes. Let’s take a closer look:

1. The Complete Fast: Abstaining from all food and relying solely on liquids, as demonstrated by Moses and Jesus during their 40-day fasts.
2. The Daniel Fast (Partial Fast):
   Found in the Book of Daniel, this fast involves abstaining from rich or indulgent foods. Daniel and his companions requested a diet of vegetables and water instead of the royal food and wine:
   • “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food…” (Daniel 1:12-13 NIV)
     Later, Daniel fasted for 21 days:
   • “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 10:3 NIV)

   The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, emphasizing simple, plant-based foods while abstaining from meat, dairy, sweeteners, and processed foods. It’s not just about physical health but also spiritual clarity and deepened prayer.

3. The Absolute Fast: Refraining from all food and drink for a short, intense period, such as Esther’s three-day fast to intercede for her people (Esther 4:16).
4. The Fast of Repentance: A communal fast seeking God’s forgiveness and mercy, like the city of Nineveh’s response to Jonah’s warning (Jonah 3:5-7).
5. The Social Justice Fast: Found in Isaiah 58, this fast focuses on serving others—sharing resources, lifting oppression, and bringing justice.

What God Offers Through Fasting

Isaiah 58 teaches us that fasting is not just about what we give up—it’s about receiving what God desires to pour into our lives.

1. Freedom
   Fasting breaks chains, both physical and spiritual. God promises liberation from injustice and oppression, offering increased favor and freedom from harmful patterns, addictions, or spiritual strongholds.
2. Vision and Empathy
   Fasting opens our spiritual eyes and ears. Isaiah highlights sharing food, providing shelter, and showing compassion as a way to live out our faith. Fasting creates space for God to show us how to serve others more effectively, deepening our connection with Him and those in need.
3. Transformation
   Isaiah declares that light will break forth, and healing will appear. Fasting invites God to transform our hearts, circumstances, and communities. It positions us for divine intervention and lasting change—both spiritually and physically.
4. Guidance and Protection
   Verse 8 assures us that fasting aligns us with God’s leading and ensures His protection. He promises to guide us on paths of righteousness and guard us every step of the way.

The Daniel Fast and Its Purpose

During our 21-Day Fast we will be focusing on the Daniel’s Fast as an excellent example of how fasting draws us closer to God while promoting discipline and focus. By abstaining from rich foods and choosing simple nourishment, Daniel and his companions demonstrated their devotion to God’s principles. The fast led to:

• Physical Strength: At the end of 10 days, Daniel and his friends appeared healthier than those eating the royal diet (Daniel 1:15).
• Spiritual Clarity: During his 21-day fast, Daniel received profound visions and revelations from God (Daniel 10:5-14).
• God’s Favor: Daniel’s commitment set him apart, and he gained wisdom, insight, and influence in a foreign land.

The Daniel Fast teaches us to set aside worldly indulgences to experience God’s provision, clarity, and power in our lives. Remember, fasting is denying ourselves a food we are accustomed to and enjoy, then when the hunger for that food pulls on us, we use that “pulling” as an alarm clock to pray and seek the face of God. Let’s push in as we believe to start the New Year experiencing days of deliverance!