"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 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: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." ( Matthew 6:16-18)

 

We can see that our motives in fasting must be pure. We are not to do it in order to broadcast it, but we are to do it as quietly and simply as possible so as not to attract attention to ourselves. We are to appear to others as though we are not fasting. There are exceptions, such as when we are fasting as a group for a specific thing. Then it must be announced so that others can take part.

 

We find this in Joel 1:14, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord." The main thing the Lord desires is that it be done unto Him and not as a show unto men. Our heart attitude must be right to produce spiritual results.

 

Jesus, by fasting, set an example that we might follow in His steps. Matthew 4:1-4,

"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

 

Food Guide:    
Abstain from all meats, sweets, junk food and fast foods for the duration of the fast. 
You may eat fruits, vegetables, and grains for the duration of the fast.

Reflection: 
Daniel did not want to defile himself with the king's food.  Not only was the food rich, but it had more than likely been offered to idols.
Daniel requested that he and his friends be given pulse and water instead, but the commander was afraid that they would look more poorly than the others.  Daniel then requested 10 days to prove to the commander that a simple diet was better for them than the king's rich diet.  He agreed.  Daniel and his friends were graced and favored by God so after 10 days, he and his friends looked healthier than the others who had eaten the king's rich diet.  
The word "pulse" in the Hebrew (according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) means "something sown" such as food - vegetables, herbs, fruits, and grains.  Daniel and his friend requested to eat only foods that had been grown and to drink water.  Daniel 1:8-16
On another occasion Daniel was fasting and he did not eat anything that was pleasant or desirable.  He ate no meat and drink no wine.  He abstained from pleasant bread (sweets) so as to give himself entirely to God in prayer.  Daniel 10:2-3.
Daniel's focus and purpose was to draw closer to God and to hear His voice in every matter before him. May we all live and fast as Daniel did so that we may reap the results and manifestations that Daniel received.