The world of social media and online access to the lives of others gives us a false look into what time with God looks like. We can search #quiettime on Instagram and see a curated feed of perfectly positioned pages, coffee mugs and succulents. But is this the prayer time Jesus told us to have?

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And you Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-8, English Standard Version)

This sounds extremely opposite of sharing your time with others. There’s a time for alone time and there’s a time for fellowship. Heart posture is an aspect we don’t always consider. That bible picture we post with what God just taught us…hopefully it reaches someone and gives them a little clearer picture of the glory of God. But it needs to be more than just a perfectly crafted, curated image.

“proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:31, ESV)

There’s no law of how we are to share the gospel. We are told to go and tell it. We cannot let the legalistic ways creep into our gift for sharing.

Another problem can arise though…the problem of not sharing your time with the Lord.

Are you a parent just waiting on nap-time and the perfect amount of quiet before you dive into the word? Are you a college student waiting until no one might interrupt your perfected routine?

We’ve all been there. And like Jesus tells us, there’s time to go away and pray alone. But He also tells us to go and tell.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” (Matthew 28:10, ESV)

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:16-20, ESV)

The scariest thing about this is that if someone never witnesses another studying scripture, it become a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do scenario. If we never witness someone carrying their bible, might we become too ashamed to do it on our own? If we are never taught how to look up a scripture, will we one day depend on an online search engine to explain this?

Long before us, there was a generation who decided not to be witnesses for God. The next generation struggled.

“And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10)

Let’s not be like them. Let’s go and tell. Let us use our wisdom to be unashamed in the sharing and teaching of not only what the bible says but how to read the bible.

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wind. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3-5)

This isn’t just for those of us who have the next generations in our homes. This is for all of us. We don’t even have to necessarily be older in age. But if we are more mature in our walk with the Lord, it’s our job to make our time with the Lord visible. It’s our call to allow others to witness what the Word of God can do!

Visible Quiet Times