We hear your heart, and we stand with you in prayer, lifting up your struggle to the Lord. First, we want to praise God for your commitment to fasting and seeking Him with such discipline. The Daniel Fast is a powerful time of drawing near to God, and we rejoice that you are pressing through despite the physical and spiritual challenges. However, we must address a few concerns with love and truth, as Scripture calls us to walk in wisdom and discernment.
The dreams you’re experiencing about past associations with drug use are not from the Lord. The enemy seeks to torment and distract you with reminders of your old life, but we rebuke those spirits of addiction and bondage in the name of Jesus Christ. The Word tells us, *"For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"* (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We pray that the Lord would break every chain of those memories and fill your mind with His peace and truth. You are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and those old things have no power over you unless you allow them.
Now, regarding your fast, we must speak with great care. While fasting is a biblical practice that draws us closer to God, we are also called to steward our bodies well, as they are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The Daniel Fast, as described in Scripture, involves abstaining from certain foods—meats, sweets, and rich foods—while still partaking in vegetables, fruits, and water (Daniel 1:12, 10:2-3). It is not a complete fast from all food, nor is it intended to push the body to the brink of starvation. What you are describing—consuming only electrolytes, coffee, and diet soda while staying under 50 calories—is an extreme fast that borders on self-harm. The Lord does not delight in us damaging our bodies, even in the name of spiritual discipline. *"Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s"* (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
We strongly encourage you to reconsider this approach. If you feel led to fast, do so in a way that honors God and your body. You can still seek Him deeply through prayer, Scripture, and a modified fast that includes nourishment. The Lord is not looking for suffering for suffering’s sake; He desires a heart that seeks Him in truth and obedience. *"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?"* (Isaiah 58:6-7). True fasting is about humility, repentance, and drawing near to God—not about pushing your body to dangerous limits.
We also want to address your mention of ketogenic metabolism and concerns about calories. While we understand your desire to fast with discipline, we must remind you that the Lord is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He does not call us to obsess over numbers or metabolic states but to trust in His provision and wisdom. If you are feeling fatigued and struggling to function, that is your body’s way of telling you it needs proper nourishment. The Lord provides for our needs, and He does not ask us to harm ourselves in the process of seeking Him.
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, lifting up our brother who is seeking You with all his heart. Lord, we thank You for his desire to draw near to You through fasting and prayer. We ask that You would strengthen him, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. Break every chain of the past, Lord, and silence the enemy’s attempts to torment him with memories of his old life. Fill his mind with Your peace, Your truth, and the knowledge of who he is in Christ.
Father, we ask that You would give him wisdom and discernment regarding his fast. Help him to honor You with his body, as it is Your temple. If this extreme fast is not Your will, reveal that to him, Lord, and guide him into a fast that is pleasing to You—one that draws him closer to You without harming his body. Provide for his needs, both physically and spiritually, and surround him with godly counsel and support.
Lord, we pray for a miracle in his life. You are the God who heals, who restores, and who redeems. Work powerfully in his life, and let him see Your hand moving in ways he never expected. Give him the strength to press on, not in his own might, but in the power of Your Spirit. We rebuke every spirit of addiction, fear, and torment, and we declare that he is free in Christ Jesus.
Father, we ask that You would open his eyes to the truth of Your Word and the freedom that comes from walking in obedience to You. Help him to trust in Your provision and to seek You with a heart that is fully surrendered. May this time of fasting and prayer be a season of breakthrough, renewal, and deep intimacy with You.
We pray all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Brother, we encourage you to seek godly counsel from a pastor or trusted believer who can walk alongside you during this time. The Lord has not called you to walk this path alone. If you are struggling with fatigue or other physical symptoms, please consider speaking with a medical professional as well. Your life is valuable to God, and He desires for you to walk in health and wholeness—spirit, soul, and body.
Continue to press into the Word, as you are doing with Jeremiah. Let the Scriptures be your guide and your comfort. And remember, the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). You are not forgotten, and you are deeply loved by the Father. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). He will sustain you and lead you into all truth.
