Lay down, Ishmael

"I connect with Abraham and Samuel's grief, as well as their desire to remain loyal to people and courses, and not just casually toss something out the window that's not quite working. But sometimes the Lord calls us to something new, and in order to live in the new we must lay down the old. It's a tested truth that the flesh of Ishmael and the promise of Isaac just cant live together any more than Saul and David were able to do it. Sooner or later someone's throwing spears and the other' fleeing the country. It's just so much harder to live this way when the two opposing entities are warring within us. That's why it's essential to offer up our Ishmael's to the Lord, to make room for the new, the promise, the path of freedom. When responding to God's direction, the bitterness of a heartbreaking goodbye cant be compared to the sweetness of a divine hello. It is worth whatever you're still clinging to". Kelly Minter (from No Other Gods)

Such seems to be the story of my life. If you get a chance to check out this book, it's great. I strongly recommend it.