The Daniel Fast is a 21-day partial fast based on Daniel 1 and Daniel 10: you eat vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and drink water, while giving up meat, dairy, eggs, sugar, yeast bread, processed food, caffeine and alcohol. Many churches hold it in January; in 2027 most start on Sunday, January 3, or Monday, January 4. A prayer lock app like Prayer Latch can keep each morning's focus on prayer.
The Daniel Fast takes its name from two moments in the life of the prophet Daniel. As a young captive in Babylon, he refused the king's rich food. Years later, he spent three weeks mourning and seeking God without meat, wine or "pleasant bread." Churches today use it as a way to start the year with prayer. If you add a phone fast, Prayer Latch, an app that locks your apps each morning until you pray, keeps that focus in the first minutes of every day. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, which is in the public domain.
"Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink." Daniel 1:12
"In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." Daniel 10:2–3
"Pulse" means food grown from seed: vegetables, grains and beans.
What can I eat on the Daniel Fast?
| Eat | Avoid |
|---|---|
| All fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried or canned with no added sugar) | Meat, poultry and fish |
| Whole grains: brown rice, oats, quinoa, whole-wheat pasta, popcorn | Dairy and eggs |
| Beans, lentils and other legumes | Sugar, honey, syrups and other sweeteners |
| Nuts, seeds and nut butters | Yeast bread and other leavened bread |
| Olive and other plant oils | White rice, white flour and processed foods |
| Herbs, spices and salt | Deep-fried foods, margarine and shortening |
| Water | Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks and alcohol |
This is the most common version, popularised by author Susan Gregory. Lists differ on a few items, like coffee, herbal tea, 100% fruit juice and tofu, so check what your church is using. The point isn't the exact list but the hunger it creates, and what you do with it.
When is the Daniel Fast in 2027?
There's no single date: each church picks its own. Most start on the first Sunday or Monday of January and run 21 days. Announced 2027 dates include:
| Church | Dates |
|---|---|
| Foursquare Church | Monday, January 4 to Sunday, January 24, 2027 |
| Heartland Church | Sunday, January 3 to Saturday, January 23, 2027 |
As of October 2026, Free Chapel, whose pastor Jentezen Franklin leads one of the largest January fasts, hadn't announced its 2027 dates; its 2026 fast ran January 4–25. Check your own church's announcement.
Why is the Daniel Fast 21 days?
Because Daniel fasted for "three full weeks" (Daniel 10:2). In Daniel 1 the test lasted ten days, which is why some people start with a 10-day version.
Is the Daniel Fast a diet?
No, though it's healthy for most people. It's a spiritual practice: going without good things in order to seek God. Jesus expected his followers to fast and taught them to do it quietly: "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret" (Matthew 6:17–18, KJV). If you're pregnant, diabetic, on medication or have a history of eating disorders, talk to your doctor first, and choose a non-food fast if you need to.
What should I pray about during the Daniel Fast?
Write down two or three things you're seeking God about before you start: direction for the year, a relationship, a habit you want broken, someone who doesn't know Jesus. Each time hunger hits, turn it into a short prayer. Daniel's fast in chapter 10 was focused on understanding what God was doing, and an angel told him, "from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard" (Daniel 10:12, KJV).
Prayer Latch tip: Turn your written fast requests into your morning prayer in Prayer Latch. Choose the 5-minute quiet timer, pray through them in your own words, then hold to say Amen before your apps open. Twenty-one mornings of the same requests is how Daniel prayed too.
Can I add a phone fast to the Daniel Fast?
Yes, and many people do. Food is the classic fast, but for many of us the phone is a bigger daily appetite. Add one simple rule for your 21 days, like no social media until after morning prayer. For more options, see 21-day fast ideas.
How can Prayer Latch help during the fast?
Prayer Latch locks the apps you choose at your wake-up time. When you reach for one, it asks you to pray first, so your morning starts with the prayer focus of your fast instead of the feed. You pray with a guided prayer or in your own words, hold to say Amen, and your apps open until the next lock time. Install it before your church's start date: the first 7 days are free, which covers the first week of the fast.
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Updated October 27, 2026 by the Prayer Latch team at Janus Works LLC.