Prophetic Word for this new Era
I was driving up 85 North in Atlanta. It's a long drive from my city, and I was in a time crunch to make it to a lunch meeting. I definitely wasn't feeling particularly spiritual that morning, and my mind was filled with lot of things. About halfway through my drive, I noticed a truck pull in front of me with bold, black letters across the back of it that said, "ALPHA" The word stuck out to me and instantly made me think of one of the names of God. Only a few moments later, another truck merged in front of me from the off ramp. It, too, had a word in bold, giant letters on the back of it that read, "MEGA"
The timing of the passing of the trucks in front of me, one after the other, only moments a part, caught my attention. I felt that the Holy Spirit was giving me a message in a mystery. He was speaking about one of the names of God: "Alpha and Omega." “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 NIV The moment came and went as a fleeting thought, as I focused on the heavy traffic around me. I completely forgot about the uncanny happening as the day went on.
My meeting was in a part of town where I grew up. I have so many memories from different seasons of my life in that place, and they starting flying past me in 3D. Places of major life milestones with friends and family, moments of revival from ministries I have served throughout the years, the memories from a theater in town where I used to perform. On my way home, I drove through all of these old familiar places (like the Billie Holiday song) with a grateful heart, thanking God for all of the amazing times throughout the years.
As my heart turned toward the Lord to thank Him, I saw a huge sign for a building in front of me that said, once again, "ALPHA" The beginning. I was, for all intents and purposes, shook.
I felt the fear of the Lord God through me like liquid fire.
God was speaking.
I have had this kind of moment many times in my life now, because I am called to hear His voice. They are subtle mysteries, usually hidden in an average, ordinary moment that I could easily miss. But I have learned to tune my ear to the sound of heaven. I have learned to look for his voice. And I can say, I have found Him. So I keep looking. Again and again, like a game of hide-n-seek with my God. And if you know me, you'll know that I want these moments for you, too. And everyone. Literally everyone. It is my greatest desire to see people know Jesus intimately through conversation with Him. He's really the kindest person I know.
So, what exactly was God speaking to me? With the phrases "ALPHA AND OMEGA," I thought about how these words are the beginning and end of the Greek alphabet. They are the first and last letters. Jesus refers to himself as this title in two places in the book of Revelation. I mentioned the first reference already from Revelation 1:8, but here is the 2nd mention:
“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:12-13
On Christmas Eve, I was leaving my sister's house late at night when I looked up and saw a big billboard that said "OMEGA" in giant letter with a watch. Once again, God was getting my attention. He was saying something that needed my attention. And it's moments like these that remind me that God wants to speak a word to us even more than we want to hear one from Him. He's just that good. And when stuff like this happens to me, I have a responsibility to seek out the meaning and share it when it's time. I feel that what God is speaking is not just for me, but it's for others too. Here are a few of my thoughts on what it all means for you and me.
Prophetic Word: The Completion of the Process
As the words alpha and omega refer to the first and last letters of the alphabet, I can't help but think about how we need the alphabet to write anything. Through this message, I believe that the Lord wants to remind you:
God has been and is still writing your story. It's been a long journey for many, many people. You feel like you saw God's hand in your life at the beginning of a process. Maybe it was this year, or last year, or even 3 or more years ago (I believe there is significance to the 3 year journey right now however). God gave you a word, a promise, or He started something in your life that you knew that was His doing. You knew it was His plan. You were filled with hope at the beginning because you could start to see a roadmap, a glimmer of a vision of what God had for you—and it was good. Because, after all, when God is involved, it's going to be good.
Little did you know, it was actually the beginning of your story that He is writing.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:15-16 And things started to come together, even if it was just a short period of time. However, something happened. It felt like everything shifted. For some people, it feels like everything fell apart and shattered in a million pieces. For others, it felt like a slow fade, as you watched your life unfold in a way that was the complete opposite of the dream or word God spoke to you. God took you into a wilderness. He took you into the fire. He took you into test after test. You wondered if you were abandoned and left for good. You began to doubt his work in your life. You wondered if you missed it completely. You have wondered if you should abort the promise. However, God was working in your life behind the scenes like Joseph (who was actually a precurser, a prophetic picture of who Jesus would be. He was made lowest of all to be brought to a high position through a process of suffering.) He sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles
and placed his neck in irons,
until his prediction came true
and the word of the LORD proved him right.
The king sent and released him;
the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household,
ruler over all his substance,
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom. Psalm 105: 17-22
Joseph was given dreams, and then it all fell apart. It looked the complete opposite of what God showed him. Many of you feel like Joseph. You have been in the middle of the journey, the very middle of the process. It has not gone the way you thought it would. But it is not the end of your story. Don't you know, it's not just about the dream God has given you, but the timing of it. It's all in the timing.
The dream had to die first. You had to let it go. It's part of the pruning process, the process of a seed when it dies and falls into the ground so it can create an innumerable forest of redwoods that last for decades, creating a legacy in your life. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25 NIV You didn't miss it. It may have looked very different than what you thought. You may feel battered and bruised, and feeling like you can't take another step forward. You may feel like all hope is lost. Don't you know this is not the OMEGA yet? All of these things were the very middle of your God process. It was not the end. After all, we know that in this life, if it's not good, it's not the end. Even through our own individual journeys of suffering and heartache, trials and pain, God is weaving a greater, grander story that leads to the ending, the OMEGA, the greatest fairytale conclusion of all time: the return of our Bridegroom King. That is our ultimate hope, no matter what we face in this life. But I do believe that God is speaking that there is a finishing, an OMEGA, coming to the processes many of you have been in. God took the pen and started a story in the life with the letter alpha, and your process has been long, but the omega is coming. You have seen him as the Starter, but you will finally experience him as the Finisher in your life. I believe this is a word for us as we step into 2022. I know you are weary from fighting the fight of faith, praying, asking, knocking, and seeking. It's okay to rest now. Remember these words from Paul to the Galatians: Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Galatians 3:3 If God started it, he is more than strong, capable, and wise to finish it. Some of you may feel like you failed, like you don't believe anymore. I want to also encourage you that God is a good Father, and it's a moment like this, when you literally feel "done" that you'll see God as who he is supposed to be in your life: the Provider. He never wanted you to carry it alone, figure it out out or make it happen on your own. It is here, where you will experience the love and grace of a good, faithful Father and Friend. He has not abandoned you, my friend. He hasn't left you in the middle of the process. It's time to lean in and trust at a new level. Let go so you can watch and see what He does. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 He is both the Alpha and Omega in your life, and as we finish this year, it's time to rest in Him and simply trust. It's time to watch and see how God puts the final puzzle piece in place in the process that has left you puzzled. Your hope will rise from the ashes, as you see what God does. I understand that so many of you are tired, and it may be hard for you to receive this word in your heart. I totally get it, friend. But what you saw as a finished book was just sentence. The bigger picture is greater than you can see. That's why I want to pray for you! My prayer for you: God I pray you would fill every person reading this with hope again. The kind of hope that is expectant and overflows into every area of their life that has felt depressed, weary, anxious, frustrated, and sad. I pray that you would give us your perspective to see what you want us to see. Help us violently kick hope deferred to the curb so we can have a clear path to run in front of us. I thank you for what you have BEGUN in the lives of so many people, and Lord, I pray that you would bring the COMPLETION, to the processes that are time to be finished. I pray you would renew faith in your sons and daughters. I pray you would surprise us with the good things you will do. I pray there will be a domino effect of testimonies of people saying how you broke through for them in the next few weeks and months. As you finish the stories you are writing, Lord, I pray people would be bold to share what you have done. Let there be such powerful, miraculous testimonies that it causes not only breakthrough, but many people to believe in the living God, Jesus Christ, who died for us. In the beautiful name of Jesus, our Alpha and Omega, amen.
Love y'all,
Mariel
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." Psalm 126:1
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All the love,
Mariel
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