Day 21 - Daniel 10:2-3

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 21

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.” -Daniel 10:2-3

As I surpass the halfway mark of this fast, this passage especially stands out to me. Daniel has been a very prominent book of Scripture for me over the last 4 years or so. It is again now as a church whose sermons I listen to regularly recently began a series on it. Trinity Bible Chapel is a church up in Canada who was one of the rare churches in the world to stand firmly on God’s Word when up against satanic government. Canada’s government took even more tyrannical steps than ours. Here, and there too, government had no qualms arresting pastors yet allowing people to gather at other institutions like liquor stores or “social justice protests.”

One of those arrested Canadian pastors is a man named Tim Stephens. Here is a short minute or so long video of his arrest which also includes some words by Jacob Reaume about law enforcement “just following orders.”

Reaume is the senior pastor of Trinity Bible Chapel who is doing the series on Daniel. Here’s a link to the first part of that series:

Back to the verse for today. Was Daniel being hypocritical like the Pharisess in Matthew because he told people that he was fasting? How many millions, or maybe even billions, of people have read this passage in Daniel over time? Should all of them and all of us write Daniel off because he memorialized his fasting? He’s received his reward already, right? I think not. It is included in God’s Holy and inspired Word so it ought be meaningful to us as well.

Daniel included this information intentionally to show that his mourning was genuine. That he truly was seeking God’s will through a mournful, humble fast and prayer. Later in the chapter an angel who came to visit Daniel said, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” Daniel had a true intention and heart with his prayer about the vision he had had.

The angel, whom many believe to be Gabriel, came to answer Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel clearly saw Daniel’s true intent and outward action as recognized here. Thankfully, Daniel was inspired to include these details, even about his time of fasting, so that all who would come to read his words would have a better understanding of what transpired, and why. Daniel 10 itself is a remarkable piece of Scripture. We learn a bit about the angelic realm and spiritual warfare taking place there. We learn about Daniel’s vision. Very interesting to me, as is the whole book. Daniel is certainly one of the preeminent “Biblical Whistleblowers” that I harken back to often.

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.