21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

During the month of January we dedicate 21 days to prayer and fasting to starting our year off right. This year our 21 days of prayer and fasting will happen from January 4-January 24, 2026. There are many types of fast’s that you can do during this time. We encourage you, especially if you are new to fasting to participate in the Daniel Fast. You will find information about the Daniel fast below.

What is the Daniel Fast?

The Daniel Fast is based on the prophet Daniel’s fasting experiences as recorded in the Bible. The fast is a biblically based partial fast. According to Daniel 1, the results were: (v. 17) learning, skill, wisdom, spiritual understanding, favor, and better appearance! (v. 19) In Daniel 10, the fast resulted in answered prayer and spiritual insight. (vv. 11-12) One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food, but rather to the kinds of food you can eat.

Daniel Fast Recipes

Foods to Eat on the Daniel Fast

  • Amaranth, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, freekeh, millet, oats, purple rice, quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, teff, whole grain pasta, whole wheat, and wild rice.

  • Black beans, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), great northern beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, pinto beans, and split peas.

  • Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, nut butters, peanuts (actually legumes but people think of them as nuts), pecans, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pine nuts, pistachios, poppy seeds, walnuts, sesame seeds, soy nuts, sunflower seeds.

  • All vegetables are allowed (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned).

  • All fruit is allowed (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned). However, any dried fruit shouldn’t contain added sugar (check ingredients to be sure).

  • Oils (such as coconut, olive, and sesame, for example) are allowed but should be used minimally. For example, you can sauté foods in olive oil but avoid deep-frying them.

  • Unleavened bread (whole grain bread made without yeast, sugars, or preservatives

    All herbs, spices, and seasonings are allowed, including salt and pepper.

    Soy products (such as edamame and soy nuts) and tofu are acceptable.

  • Water should be the main beverage on your Daniel Fast. Distilled, filtered, sparkling, spring, and mineral water are allowed as well. However, you may have 100% fruit juice on occasion (just don’t overdo it). You can also use 100% fruit juice in recipes. Also, unsweetened non-dairy milk is acceptable (such as almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk).

Foods to Avoid on the Daniel Fast

  • -Meat (bacon, beef, bison, chicken, lamb, pork, and turkey).

    -Dairy (butter, cheese, cream, milk, and yogurt)

    -Fish

    -Eggs

  • Agave nectar, artificial sweeteners, brown rice syrup, brown sugar, cane juice, corn syrup, honey, malt syrup, molasses, and raw sugar.

  • Yeast and, therefore, leavened bread isn’t part of the Daniel Fast.

  • White flour and white rice. Only whole grains are allowed on the Daniel Fast. A whole grain product contains the entire grain kernel ― the bran, germ, and endosperm.

  • Foods that contain artificial flavorings, chemicals, food additives, and preservatives.

  • Examples are corn chips, French fries, and potato chips. (Baked chips are acceptable if they don’t contain restricted ingredients. Check the label for “baked” to be sure.)

  • Butter, lard, margarine, and shortening.

  • Milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, and cacao.

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  • coffee, caffeinated tea, and energy drinks.