Ready to combat sugar cravings? In this post I share how to win the war against the enemy of sugar addiction with a Daniel Fast. Keep reading to learn more about this way of eating and get links to my free 7-Day Daniel Fast Meal Plan.
What is a Daniel Fast?
- Daniel Fasting is a term used to describe the biblical diet which Daniel, from the Old Testament of the Bible, chose while in captivity from the Babylonian king. It is a time to focus on gaining spiritual strength.
- In Chapter 1 of the book of Daniel it describes how he was chosen as a captive to be a servant to the king. Daniel was offered a diet of the “king’s delicacies” which he believed would “defile his body“.
- Instead of partaking in the king’s feasts everyday, Daniel chose a simple diet of “vegetables and water” including “no meat or wine“. This is known as a partial biblical fast because some food is consumed, but rich foods like animal products and alcohol are abstained from.
- After ten days of Daniel’s diet, he was noticeably “better and fatter in appearance” than the other captives. Because of this, the king agreed to allow him to maintain this simple diet.
- During his time as a captive, Daniel was blessed by God with spiritual strength, special talents and abilities. He also became favorable among the king and his men which allowed him to be treated relatively well.
- In Chapter 10, the book of Daniel also mentions he fasted on simple plant-based foods, including “nothing tasteful“, for 21 days. During this fast he was given revelations by God.
When we are Daniel Fasting, we are focused on enduring through temptations and not giving in. By abstaining from foods which defile our temple (or poison our body), we are declaring to God that we are repenting for past sins and asking for him to give us the strength to overcome temptations from the enemy to sin.
Daniel Fasting gives us a plan to follow to avoid being in situations of constant temptation.
Biblical fasting to combat sugar cravings
- Biblical fasting is a term used to describe times of abstinence from addictive foods in order to focus on serving God. When we abstain from addictive foods, we can focus on serving God because we aren’t in sin.
- Where there is sin there is no love. We are apart from God. Our spirit is weak.
- The enemy, Satan, wants our spirit to be weak and to destroy ourselves. Food addiction is one way he tricks us into doing this. Binge eating is called “feeding our fleshly desires“. We cannot love ourselves, others and God when we are focused on serving the enemy. Binge eating weakens our mind, body and spirit.
- During a partial biblical fast, we focus on feeding our spirit, not our flesh. We abstain completely from serving the enemy and rely on God for strength to get us through temptations. When we rely on God, he blesses us.
- Our spirit, which lives in our temple (our body), needs for us to eat healthy foods so we can feel good to be able to serve God.
- Our flesh, which is prone to sin, wants us to eat whatever we want, regardless of if it harms our body. Our flesh is easily tempted by Satan. We need God to overcome temptations, but when we are apart from God he cannot help us.
Combat sugar cravings with a Daniel Fast
Fasting is a time for abstaining from foods our flesh craves and is addicted to. It is a time to gain spiritual strength and get closer to God to be able to fight and win against the enemy – Satan.
In this case, we are focused on combating sugar cravings. Daniel Fasting helps combat sugar cravings because it is a diet which abstains from all processed sugars.
Foods which contain processed sugar are very crave-able, which is what causes us to have sugar cravings. This is temptation from the enemy.
Oftentimes, processed sugars are combined with fat and salt. This combination is usually what makes us want drive to the store to buy them, then eat and eat and eat. For example, cookies include sugar, butter and salt – the trifecta for sugar cravings.
Biblically, when we are craving these foods it is considered sinful because we are eating them to satisfy our flesh, not our spirit.
Foods that satisfy our flesh serve the enemy
Foods that satisfy our flesh are ones we crave and don’t need to eat. Satan wants us to eat foods which harm our temple so he tempts us with crave-able foods.
We don’t need to eat cookies. Satan wants us to eat cookies. See the difference?
Mark 14:38 NKJV
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Our flesh is tempted to eat cookies. Our spirit wants us to eat healthy foods that maintain our body. We have to choose one or the other when we have an addiction to sugar. Abstinence is the best method.
Processed sugars are found in foods which are abstained from while Daniel Fasting, including:
- Cane sugar
- Baked goods
- Candy
- Cookies
- Cake
- Ice cream
- Specialty Desserts
- Soda
- Sugar added to beverages
Foods that nourish our spirit serve God
However, you can still enjoy sweet foods, including:
- Fresh Fruit
- Juice from fruits
- Pureed fruits like applesauce
- Dried fruit
- Stevia extract
How to end sugar cravings
This is where God comes in and saves the day. Let’s review this bible verse to understand how:
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
What Paul is explaining to us in this verse is this:
- Your sugar cravings are not uncommon, everyone experiences cravings which feel overwhelming at times. This is the enemy tempting you, it’s not God.
- Remember, God wants you to succeed and will be there to help you combat the enemy – just ask!
- When you are tempted by sugar cravings, if you are faithful to God and focused on serving Him, he will provide you a way to overcome temptation.
Another bible verse which helps us remember our power over the enemy is this:
Mark 6:7 NKJV
“And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.”
When we declare Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, he gives us full power and authority over Satan. When we tell Satan and his temptations to leave – they have to go.
Doing the Daniel Fast
While doing a Daniel Fast it is common to do these eight things everyday, including:
- Abstain from animal products, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Read the Bible everyday
- Submit to God (surrender to His desires instead of our own)
- Repent about past sins (ask God for forgiveness)
- Rebuke and abstain from sin (saying “no” to harmful things and standing strong against temptations)
- Exercise
- Meal prep healthy meals
- Enjoy a simple meal plan
How long do I need to fast to end sugar cravings?
- Many people Daniel Fast for 7, 10, 21 or 40 days. This time of abstinence from processed sugar will allow your body to reset and get used to not having it.
- I recommend starting with a 7-day Daniel Fast and focus on combating sugar cravings.
- Repeat the same 7-day fast again as many times as you need to feel fully free from cravings.
- The ultimate goal is to not go back to eating processed sugar if you are addicted.
Learn more about Daniel Fasting in my Ultimate guide to Daniel and fasting biblically in 2024.
How to stop sugar cravings immediately
In order to defeat the enemy, we need to understand what is actually going on. In the bible verse below it describes the battlefield:
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The mistake we can make is thinking we need to fight against our flesh. However, in the verse above it clearly describes we don’t need to fight ourselves, we need to understand this a battle larger than ourselves.
The Whole Armor of God
It’s a battle for our soul between Satan and God.
But, God wins. He has given us the power and authority to rule over evil. When we are unaware of this power, we aren’t protected with the Whole Armor of God.
When we have the whole armor of God on, all we have to do is command Satan to leave.
Just tell his evil temptations and cravings for sugar to go away – and he must go immediately.
It’s that simple.
We have been given the power and authority over the evil in this world. Evil wants to destroy us, but we don’t have to let it.
We just have to remember that we are in control to stop sugar cravings, not Satan.
Further reading:
Here’s a video where I share what I eat in a day while Daniel Fasting:
