Wild Olive Faith

 

Approximately a week and a half ago, P Squad underwent a HUGE transition. Kyla, Kim and I had spent days, hours, and nights praying over
the 66 people on this squad. Our goal? To ask the Lord a.) who He wanted us to
pull up as new squad leaders, and b.) what team changes needed to be made.

We prayed, made drafts and came back to the table. We moved
people around and prayed some more. Though it seemed like a huge undertaking,
it was really a beautiful process in which we drew near to Jesus and listened
to his voice.

 

When looking at our new teams on paper, some didn’t make
sense in my natural understanding. But the underlying theme of our final draft
was PEACE. The three of us were confident that God had moved. We then prayed
for the squad to receive these changes with open minds and open hearts.

 

The Lord gave me a word just days before launching with this
squad last July. That morning, I clearly heard him speak, “GRAFT.� There is one
place in Scripture (Romans 11) where this word is used, so that was a pretty
easy game. As He brought revelation to my heart, I wrote in my journal, “God, I
know this revelation is not only for me but also all of P Squad.�

 

Over the past few months, I asked the Lord if it was time to
share this word. His answer was repeatedly, “No,� until just the other day.

 

 

The basic idea the author expresses in Romans 11 is that we
are wild olive branches that have been grafted into God’s cultivated olive
tree. This isn’t natural and most likely feels quite uncomfortable at first.
But over time, the blood of the cultivated tree runs through that branch.
Though it once felt so alien, eventually that little branch doesn’t feel a
difference between it and the tree to which it’s been grafted.

 

The word that most stands out to
me in this passage is FAITH. God calls us as wild branches to stand by FAITH
and FAITH alone. It is FAITH that allows us to stand at all and remain grafted
in the cultivated tree.

 

God has done a massive grafting in
each of our lives, and it hurts. Change is hard. It makes the ground
feel unsteady, and it’s not comfortable. It exposes the depths of our hearts
and reveals the things we’ve clung to for stability other than Christ. At that
point, we’re forced to make a decision. Will we choose to stand by faith, or
will we choose to stand in unbelief?

 

Later that afternoon, Kyla, Kim and I handed out cards to
each person on P Squad. These cards had the names of their new teammates
written on them, and we asked each person to take their note before the Lord.
They were instructed to turn off all ipods, computers, or other electronic
devices and find a quiet place to be with God. It was “go time.�

 

An hour later, everyone was released to spend the rest of
the day with their new teams.

 

Now, you must understand something. We put teams together at
training camp and force them to become very intimate very fast. Though it’s met
with some resistance by most at first, little do these racers realize just how
much they are going to need this family to make it through the year; how much they
will lean on this family in the good and the bad; and how much they will grow
to love these people.

 

Then, three months later, we mix everything up. That’s not
exactly easy or “fair.�

 

 

 

P SQUAD:

THANK YOU for choosing to trust us and to trust God, even when things don’t make
sense.

THANK YOU for choosing to walk by faith, even when the path
is not lit.

THANK YOU for being the people of God who WILL inherit the
Promised Land!