Fasting: What's Getting In The Way?

Daniel 1:8- "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank."

There were 3 main reasons why Daniel did his fast in Daniel chapter 1.
1.  The king's food was against the dietary laws of God's people.
2.  Daniel had given a vow to God that he would not drink wine.
3.  The king's food had been offered on the altar of false gods before it was given to the people.


For Daniel, the things he was fasting from actually effected his life spiritually.  It was a spiritual decision to avoid things that tainted or got in the way of his relationship with God.

Most areas of our life are not bad in and of themselves.  However, they become detrimental to us if they distract us or effect us spiritually.  How does that play out?  Many of us don't struggle to find an hour for lunch, a hour to watch TV, or time in our schedule to do other things that we want to do.  

However, isn't it sad how despite finding the time for all of these things we seem to never be able to find sufficient time to spend with God in prayer, Scripture reading, and meditation and silence?

I'm praying that your time of fasting would help eliminate areas of your life that are taking precedence over your spiritual health and relationship with God. May we look at these areas of our lives and, like Daniel, refuse to allow these things in that would deter us from intimacy with God.