National Fast For SA Elections: 18 April – 8 May

The May 8 general election is almost here. On New Year’s Day, God spoke to me about South Africa and its future. On one hand we have economic implosion and state failure. Our country has been sold out to demonic forces of witchcraft, fascism, socialism, hatred, and racism. This is intertwined with the moral degradation, greed, and corruption that has created monstrous debt and forced us to the edge of an economic abyss. On the other hand is unimaginable blessing as a huge wave of God’s glory is building up, filling the space between heaven and the earth. It promises not only to release heaven’s treasure, but to saturate our land, causing dry wells to bubble up and rivers of life to flow. This is the life-cycle of heaven.

We are at a defining moment
South Africa is at the Red Sea. We must cross over. The body of Christ dares not stand back. Let me be clear, my focus here is not political. It is spiritual. The Church must awaken to its responsibility of realigning SA to its true destiny. A new kingdom dispensation must be ushered in. Just and Godly government must be set in place with a cohort of capable leaders who, irrespective of political affiliations, will put God first and the population above traditional party lines. No earthly government can open the heavens and usher in a new spiritual dispensation. And politicians – even Godly ones – lack the spiritual muscle to pull a nation back from the brink. It’s up to the Church to do the heavy-lifting. With the future in the balance and a slim window of opportunity to re-establish God’s order in our land, what do we do? 

A call to fast
First, pay attention to the sound of thunder rolling in from the desert. This is the call to repent. We must repent individually and corporately. We must ask God to bring our leaders – in politics and the Church – to repentance. We must also repent of our government’s hostile stance towards Israel. SA must return its heart to Israel and its ways to God. And we must fast. Fasting was – and still is – the most powerful way to defeat the enemy and realign a nation to God’s plan and destiny. For this reason, I am calling a national fast from April 18 to May 8.

Historic precedents
Scripture has many examples of fasts to save Israel. Esther fasted to undo Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews (Esther 4). Ezra called a fast to protect the nation’s gold reserves, its children, and the generations to come (Ezra 8). Daniel fasted for his nation and, after 21 days, an angel came with answers (Daniel 10). This 21-day period is a benchmark for setting a nation free.

Prayer changes circumstances
Throughout the Second World War, Rees Howels and a group of intercessors battled in the spirit. At times catastrophe loomed. At Dunkirk, the entire British army and 140 000 allies were pushed against the sea by the Germans. But then King George VI called a national prayer day and churches overflowed. Hitler inexplicably halted his army and as German soldiers stood idle, 800 boats crossed the English Channel to evacuate 338 000 trapped allies within three days. A national day of thanksgiving followed for ‘the Miracle of Dunkirk’. 

Prayer has also changed the course of African nations
In newly independent Kenya, prayer stopped a plot to overthrow the government and install a Marxist regime. In northern Uganda, from 1986 to 2006 the warlord Joseph Kony seized control, displacing two million people, killing 100 000, and abducting 66 000 children. In 2005 the International Criminal Court indicted Kony for crimes against humanity. Yet neither national nor international forces could dislodge him. That is, not until prayer began and two intercessors went into Kony’s no-go zone to prayer walk. In 2006, Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army were ejected from Uganda.

SA has prayer victories too!
South Africa has prayer victories too, including the peaceful transition to democracy. While Nelson Mandela is rightfully credited with steering the nation through turbulence, the fact is that prayer and fasting were ongoing throughout and national prayer days were held at the Union Buildings. In all these cases, the threat was the same. So too was the solution: “If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land,” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

SA needs clean governance
God’s desire is for SA to thrive, for its people to live in peace and to prosper. But this requires clean governance by capable leaders, willing to uphold justice and protect civil liberties, including the freedom of speech and religion – which allows the Gospel to be preached. We must fast and pray for God’s order to be restored so government can exercise its God-given mandate to protect citizens and facilitate peace and growth.

Principles of fasting
Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” – Matthew 16:24-27. The main principle of fasting is self-denial. Understanding this, being Holy Spirit-led, and knowing the types of fasts provides a strong foundation. Fasting is not dieting. It is posturing your heart, setting time aside, and intentionally fasting unto God. He will empower you. A measure of grace is given and the point to which you can deny the flesh is the point at which miraculous breakthrough happens. 

What do we pray?
Thank God who is the God of the second chance and ask for fresh mercy for our land. Pray for awakening to:
• The plight of the next generation if SA continues on its ungodly trajectory
• The dangers of division and self-interest and the need to become a united nation of citizens and patriots
• The need to vote, and to seek God for His choice of candidates
• For the Church to awaken to its
duty to usher in just, Godly government

Ask God for:
• A new heart for our nation – in all spheres
• SA to be realigned to its true destiny and kingdom purpose
• SA to be realigned to Israel
• Fraud-free voting and the IEC to be beyond reproach
• Capable leaders who will put God and country first

Know that as we humbly pray and fast, God has promised to hear us and heal our land. 

Date published: 18/03/2019
Written by: Janet Brann-Hollis
Article source: JOY! Magazine