On The Plain Of ‘O-No’

Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” (Nehemiah 6:2)

When Nehemiah heard the call of God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he stayed focus on the task at hand and did not let any distractions derail him. The opposition who did not want the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt, led by Sanbellat and Geshem, did everything in their power to distract Nehemiah from the work God had set before him.

Now a distraction is anything that turns your attention away from something you are focused on.  So, I am using the “plain of Ono” as anything that the devil uses to distract God’s people from doing God’s work. The devil uses everything at his disposal to distract and derail our devotion to God. So, what should be our response? We must never forget that our enemy the devil “seeks to kill, to steal, and to destroy” (John 10:10).

They were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. (Nehemiah 6:2-4)

Our response, should be the same response of Nehemiah when the devil sends his distractions our way . . .  “O-NO” I will not go! Perhaps a tweet or a text distracts your focus; maybe it’s an email or an Instagram post that distracts your attention. Whenever anything comes up that will steal our focus from what God has called us to do, we must respond, “O-NO” I will not go! What rules the heart shapes the life. We need to keep our focus on Jesus and set up clear guard rails that will keep us from getting derailed from what are called to do.

Think about the areas that are most distracting in your life right now, and resolve to minimize them or remove them altogether, which will automatically increase your devotion to Jesus and your progress in the work He has called you to do. Here is a question that has helped me over the years that just might prove helpful to you, “Is what I am choosing to do right now, the absolute best use of my time?” Remember, there is a season for every activity under heaven – a time for devotion and a time for a bit of distraction. The key that unlocks the door leading to living the life God has called you to live is to know when there is too much distraction that is driving you into the “Plain of O-NO!”

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!