Starting January 5, 2009, Healing Wings will be starting a 21-day fast for breakthrough in our personal lives and in our ministries. We are fasting of God's kingdom to be established on the earth and for a foundation of justice and righteousness to rule our nations. In addition to this, we will also be praying for the salvation for our unsaved loved ones. Because we feel such a sense of urgency stirring in this hour, we wanted to extend this invitation to you to join us. For those of you who have never fasted before let me say, once you have experienced even a taste of what fasting accomplishes, you will wonder why you never fasted before!
 
Fasting is such a great spiritual discipline. When you fast, you are denying the flesh the pleasure and comfort of eating in order to "feed" your spirit. Your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and sharpened by the things of God. This will result in becoming more sensitive to God's voice, His direction, wisdom and revelation. It breaks selfishness along with self-serving ways and self-centered thinking. I can't think of a better time to accomplish this than during the time we typically set goals for the coming year and look wide-eyed with fresh expectancy into a brand new year.
 
Fasting creates breakthrough and opens the door for the miraculous. It is a secret weapon in your arsenal of prayer! In his book the "Hidden Power of Prayer and Fasting," Mahesh Chavda says this about fasting: "Imagine that you have been using the hand grenades of prayer to move mountains of unbelief, hindrances or demonic obstructions in your life or ministry. When you combine your prayers with fasting you suddenly drop a hydrogen bomb on the mountain that is blocking your call and divine assignment. I am not talking about a slight difference. Fasting boosts the intensity and effectiveness of your prayer at least ten fold, and often a hundredfold!" 
 
According to Isaiah 58:8, fasting also brings healing. "Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear."  Fasting promotes health in your body because it cleanses and detoxifies your system. Dr. Don Colbert in his book "Toxic Relief," talks about how fasting allows your body to heal by giving its organs a time to rest. He recommends juice fasting, because the juices from fresh fruits and vegetables create an alkaline environment that aid in the waste and toxin elimination process. By effectively detoxifying the body, we gain energy and metal alertness as well.
 
It also promotes spiritual health because you are so much more sensitive spiritually that it serves to "spring clean" your life. Issues like unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, pride, fleshly attitudes, carnality and selfishness all begin to come to the surface to be dealt with. When we fast, it literally breaks the power and control the flesh has over our life. I remember one time in particular that I was fasting my dinner every day. By the 3rd day, I could feel control that my soul had over my spirit breaking. It was absolutely amazing!
 
Fasting is not simply going without food; that is just dieting! Fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Unless you put prayer with your fasting, then you will simply be hungry. You must focus on prayer and God's Word during your fast.
 
By starting the year with a fast, you set the course for the rest of the year. You offer God the first fruits of your year just like you give Him the first fruits of your day. By seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, you release the principle found in Matt. 6:33 where all things will be given to you as well!
 
Some of my Georgia relatives go to a church that has been corporately fasting the first fruits of each year since 2000. There have been amazing testimonies that have come out of this church as a result. Testimonies of loved ones getting saved, diseases being healed and miraculous financial provision to those in dire need. One story in particular that touched my heart was of a struggling mom with a son that had been diagnosed with leukemia. After going through chemotherapy this boy was lying in the ICU fighting for his life with a 107-degree fever. On the first day of the fast, the pastor added this family to his prayers, and at that same moment the boy's fever broke and suffered no brain damage from the high fever. In fact the leukemia went into total remission. Another member of the congregation wrote that her unsaved husband woke up in the middle of the night crying. The next morning he gave his life to Christ! In fact because of the 21-day fast, her husband, all their children and even her sister-in-law were baptized!
 
If one person fasting is powerful can you imagine what could happen if many people joined in? That power is multiplied! There are many churches all over the world that start their year with a fast. The largest church in the world is pastored by Dr. Cho in Seoul, South Korea. Every January 750,000 members join together in prayer and fasting. Think of the possibilities!
 
You may choose to do the whole 21 days without food, or you may choose to fast one meal a day for 21 days. Many people choose the Daniel Fast by eating only fruits, vegetables and raw nuts and seeds when fasting long periods of time. Whatever works best for you, just choose to consecrate this time to God and let the results speak for themselves.  Whichever fast you choose, it can only be done in God's power and strength.

Since we are fasting for breakthrough determine where you need breakthrough. Breakthrough will be different for everyone on a personal level. Don't forget to pray and fast for our government and the condition of our country and the church as well! Also formulate a "hit list" of those people you want to come into relationship with Christ. Maybe you have been praying for years for that family member or neighbor. It truly is God's desire that they come to the saving knowledge of who He is! Fasting won't change their will, but it can remove the barriers that keep God from having His way with them!
 
Remember to spend the time in prayer that you would normally spend on your meal. You may not feel like anything is happening, but you can't always "see" what is happening in the spiritual realm. Don't confuse your fast with feelings. Remember, we don't base our faith on feelings. 
 
Drink lots of water. Many will do a liquid fast by supplementing it with juice, protein drinks, etc. You don't need to be legalistic about it. God will meet you where you are. 
 
We want to hear from you as well! As you join us during these days of consecration, we would love to hear what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you. Please check our website often to connect with the ministry blog. We hope to have something set up so you can leave comments and be able to report all the ways God is moving on your behalf!