I want to encourage you today with a prophetic word and insight for the prophetic season we are leaving and the NEW prophetic season we are about to enter! It's going to be brimming with hope for you ...
The Old Prophetic Season is Shifting
Have you felt squeezed, constricted and in "dire" times at all over the past few weeks? Have you felt like giving up, wondering if you are on the right path? Have doors closed on you, leaving you confused? Have you been wondering if you misheard the Lord? Have you faced more opposition and discouragement than seems normal?
I have good news! We are passing through a prophetic time of a narrow path, but the Lord is bringing us out on the other side.
On the Jewish calendar, we are about to end the time referred to as "Between the Narrow/Dire Straits" This is a 3-week period that ends on July 27th (the 9th of Av on the Jewish calendar.) The Dire Straits is known as a time marker of difficult historic events for the nation of Israel. But the story doesn't end there.
(I believe that studying the Jewish calendar and feasts can give us prophetic insight for the times and seasons we are in today. You can read more thoughts on this on my blog about Rosh Hashanah and the pomegranates.)
We are coming out on the other side of this prophetic time now that July is ending. Through the squeezing, pressing, and constriction, the Lord has been preparing you, and producing new oil for the journey ahead. God is aligning us with His plan on His narrow path—which may feel hard, but it is the path that leads to His promises for your life. Stay the course, you're coming out on the other side into a wide space soon.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
When I discovered the prophetic time we have been in, I felt a huge sense of relief—do you too? It brought understanding and clarity to some of the challenges I've faced recently. This is why I love that the Lord has given us the gift of the prophetic ... so we can understand the times and seasons of our lives ... and know how to navigate them them with God.
With that said, we are about entering a new prophetic season heading into August and September, which marks a NEW YEAR on the Jewish calendar.
A New Prophetic Season is Coming
As I write this, I am listening to the International House of Prayer room, and they are prophetically singing this song:
"Put Your word in their mouths. Put Your fire in their hearts. Let them speak it out and let it burn."
It's moments like this where I feel the Lord is encouraging me in such subtle ways. It's as if He is whispering,
"Release this word, Mariel. I am going to encourage My people through it." I truly believe that God is speaking in these times, and He wants us to hear from Him even more than we want a word from Him. He is pouring out His Spirit on His sons and daughters so that we will dream dreams, have visions, and prophesy (Joel 2, Acts 2). He is still speaking through signs and wonders. He is still answering when we call to Him. We are invited on the incredible adventure of seeking Him out. That's why when God gets my attention in a new way, I pay attention! It all started when the Lord started to speak to me through the prophetic and biblical sign of the dove. As I began to seek the Lord on this word, He showed me that we are entering a new prophetic season.
This blog today is part 1 of a series of prophetic insight I will be sharing over the next few weeks. (Make sure to subscribe to my encouraging word list here so you don't miss an update!)
Let's get into what the Lord is saying for many right now ...
The Prophetic Sign of the Dove
It all started with a prophetic dream.
A good friend and prophetic intercessor had a dream that she prayed the Lord would speak to me by giving me the supernatural direction from God I was praying for through the sign of a dove.
Not every dream is from God, but I knew this one was.
Tip: Whenever a biblical symbol, like a dove, appears in a dream, it's a good sign it may be a prophetic dream. (Do you want to grow in understanding your dreams and biblical and prophetic dream interpretation? Check out my next online Prophetic School here!)
Whenever I believe the Lord is showing me something, I start in the first, best place to interpret and discern what the Lord is saying:
"Can I find this symbol in the Bible? If so, where is it?"
That's what is amazing about the prophetic—it will draw us deeper into the Word of God and into His presence if we start to seek Him for the deeper meaning!
So, I started my research.
I already knew the dove was a symbol for the Holy Spirit. My first reference for the dove from Scripture was the moment Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. (Luke 3:22)
I felt there was more to it, but I needed more revelation.
Then I realized another place a dove is found in the Bible: the story of Noah and His Ark.
A Prophetic Message from Noah's Ark
As I reflected on the dream and the story of Noah, the Holy Spirit began to ignite my heart. He was speaking a new prophetic message of hope not just for me, but to His people.
Let's get into some further prophetic insight from Noah's story and the dove, and how it applies to many in this current season. (I encourage you to read Genesis chapters 6-9 to dive even deeper into this word!)
A Ready Heart to Obey the Lord
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Genesis 5:32 NIV
As we see in the start of Noah's story, Noah stood out from the rest of the world. He was faithful to God, and He was a pure light in the middle of dark humanity. God decided to save him and his family from the coming flood as a result.
Prophetic Word For Now
Right now, we are living in dark times, but the Lord's eye is on His obedient, faithful ones. Those who are willing to listen to Him and follow Him at any cost. He is looking for those who are willing to be set apart for His plans and His glory and build with Him, like Noah.
I believe right now the Lord is releasing a supernatural grace to obey Him with joy and supernatural faith. He is releasing refreshing to those who have walked through disappointment. Like Noah, maybe you've been building and waiting for a long time after feeling like you heard the Lord, and haven't seen the breakthrough yet. You've felt like giving up, like it's not worth it. God is releasing a new desire to pursue His presence, stirring a fresh hunger in our hearts. He will give you grace to have a ready heart to pursue Him again, hear His voice, and obey Him ... even as He first pursues your own heart!
It is so worth it to obey the Lord.
If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. Deut. 28:1 NIV
Receive Specific Direction from the Lord
So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.
Genesis 6:14-16
In this passage from the story, the Lord gives Noah incredibly specific instructions on how to build the ark. God not only called Noah, but he gave Him exactly what He needed to fulfill his assignment down to the very detail.
Prophetic Word for Now
When God has a divine assignment for you, when you are willing to obey no matter the cost, you can get your faith and hopes up to hear the Lord for the specific instructions and direction you need in this season.
God's direction for you may come through His still small voice, a sign, a wonder, a confirmation, unexpected resources, connections, and provision, divine coincidences, dreams, visions ... or a seemingly coincidental occurrence in your life. Don't overlook the signs and don't limit the ways He may speak to you! He is increasing your faith to not give up, but instead to pray and contend for the breakthrough in your next steps. He is releasing a new, unwavering confidence in your ability to hear His voice, know what He is saying, and begin to build in faith.
The Lord has many assignments He is waiting to release to the willing. I pray he would release fresh assignments ... for you, your family, and your friends ... to walk in purpose in these times. And that He would release miracles, signs and wonders as you take steps forward. As you take steps of faith, I pray the Lord would give you sharp insight and specific, clear instruction you need for this new season.
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23 NLT
Follow and Believe the Lord Against All Opposition
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Genesis 6:22
Like Noah, it's time to build on the word of the Lord in faith, even if it looks wildly impossible to others. It's time to take the Lord seriously at His word and complete the assignments He has given you. It's time to take small and big steps of faith forward in obedience. It's time to shake off doubt and unbelief and all of the voices that would try to convince you to give up and stop building and stop believing the Lord. Stand, against all opposition, and complete your God-given assignment. You must keep going, you must not give up. The breakthrough is often nearest when the storm clouds start to gather. When things seems to be the worst. You are so close to striking gold. Do not be intimidated by what you can see. Walk by faith and not by sight. Do not stop praying and standing in faith. Rest in His promises. Breakthrough is nearer now than it was before.
For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37
The Sign of the Dove Part 2
There's more prophetic encouragement coming! In the next few weeks, I'll be sharing more prophetic insight about this new season we are entering! You can go ahead and read FOLLOW THE DOVE part 2 here!
If this word encouraged you, please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you! If you want to support my ministry, you can partner with me here.
All the love,
Mariel
P.S. Do you want to grow in the prophetic gift?
Growing in hearing God's voice has completely changed my life! I want to help you step into breakthrough in this area for you life, too!
We believe Acts 2:17 is a promise for us today. God is pouring out His Spirit on His sons and daughters so they will prophesy, dream, and have visions. These are all ways we can hear God for our lives ... and how we need His voice to navigate the times we are in and to lead the lost to Him.
It's time to build a biblical foundation for the prophetic gift and the supernatural ... so you can hear God with confidence and walk with purpose in this season. God has called you for such a time as this! Will you join us on the adventure of growing in hearing God's voice?
About the Author
MARIEL VILLARREAL is a writer, speaker, and prophetic mentor. Her heart is to encourage this generation with right-now prophetic words that reignite hope during the waiting between a prophetic promise and its fulfillment. Through her ministry, the Embolden Co., she holds seasonal prophetic mentorships, training programs, and retreats to empower people around the world to develop their spiritual gifts and hear God for their lives—so they can bring revival to the nations.
You can get her new book, Prophetic Promises: Navigating Your Adventure to God's Promises, here on the site or on Amazon!
You can follow her on social media on Instagram @Mariel_Villarreal_ and Tiktok @Mariel.Villarreal and Facebook @TheEmboldenCompany to get more prophetic encouragement!
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I love love this...I commented already but didn't post the doves in my backyard...well here they are!!!
Thank you soo much for being obedient. This word and the first one blessed me so!!! I’m literally in a season of awaiting a promise God gave me in 2018. He’s been showing me that it’s on its way to fulfillment. I’m so encouraged and so honored to be trusted by the Lord for what he wants to do throughout the earth. I just want to bless you for being obedient and getting these prophetic words out to God’s children to give us the extra push/encouragement that we need.
This is such a timely word for me and my parents. We are going to soo much of warfare in every area of our lives. Our finances, my career,my future, my dad's health he had a stroke for the 2nd time yesterday. I felt like giving up, I feel so upset and hurt at the same time. I am so very weary I just want all this to end😭
I am just reading this as the night before my right foot began to itch. I could not get it to stop; I finally felt led to research the spiritual meaning and it was a new journey or adventure awaits. This could mean a number of things to many but to read your blog and you mentioning a shift into a new season even though there may have been trials, struggles, tribulations...Glory to God as He continues to speak, give signs and wonders, and raise up His sons and daughters. Thank you for your obedience to God!
Wow, just today I had a vision while meditating on my union with Christ and it was brief but like I could see a room in heaven and there was an angel in front of me, then it stepped off a pedestal and tuned into a dove.