Want to be an online missionary, but time is a challenge for you?
Try these tips to help you manage your time and be a more effective digital disciple:
- Set a specific time aside
We’re familiar with the term “time is money.” We would do well to budget our time the way we do our money. Intentionally setting time aside allows you greater opportunities to work for the Lord. For example, choose a 30-minute period each day to connect with friends on a deeper level. You may have people on your contact list you haven’t spoken to in ages. That half-hour period is a great way to share what has been going on in your life and inviting them to share.This doesn’t mean that after that time is up, you step out of your mission role. This is simply a way to ensure that you make a deliberate effort to reach out and connect with others.
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Swap out time-eaters
Time eaters are like bad investments. These are activities we put time and effort into but get little to no return. It could be anything—maybe endless scrolling on social media or constantly hopping from one news website to another for hours on end. For another person, it may be binge-watching on Netflix or constant texting. Sometimes we don’t even realize we’re wasting time until it’s hours later!If you start by giving up just one activity that hinders productivity, you gain dedicated time to explore the Bible with someone or connect with people who are searching for truth.
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Carve out time to pray
One of my favorite quotes on prayer is from S.D. Gordon: “The great people of the earth are the people who pray—people who take time to pray. They have not the time. It must be taken from something else. That something else is important, very important and pressing, but not as important and pressing as prayer. There are people who put prayer first and group the other items in life’s schedule around and after prayer. These are the people today who are doing the most for God in winning souls.”
Like traditional mission work, online evangelism takes time. Many assume that they can’t be missionaries because they don’t have the time. But there is one particular principle the Bible provides for prioritizing our time, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33, KJV).
Begin each of your daily mission efforts with prayer, and you are already on the right track.