Four Ways To Make Jesus Known on Instagram

My friend Michelle has the heart of a missionary. Sure, she’s been on short-term mission trips to Haiti, and she even used her nursing skills on the field by serving with Mercy Ships for a year overseas. But, Michelle also shares her redemption story everywhere she goes if someone will listen.
​
Recently, she broke her ankle and spent a few weeks unable to venture out much. If you know Michelle, you’d realize how hard that was for her. She doesn’t slow down, and on the weekends you will usually find her hiking a trail in her new home state of Arizona.  Now that she lives half way across the country, we keep in touch via social media quite a bit. 

During her down time, Michelle started chronicling her long-rehabilitation on Instagram. She posted pictures of each new cast, and once Instagram rolled out their new “Stories” video feature, she streamed video live from her doctor’s office. I started watching her every night as I’d eat a snack on my couch after work. 

She is brave, I thought. I wonder how many people are actually watching this along with me? She is just being herself and taking us along for the ride. 

A couple of days later, I pushed play on a video of Michelle and expected her to fill me in on her progress, but instead she wanted to share her story. 

Michelle explained that a co-worker had asked her how following Jesus had changed her life, and so she testified how yielding her life to Christ had transformed her story from trauma to triumph. Asking God to forgive her sin and re-direct her life was the best decision she’d ever made. God had taken her shame and condemnation and replaced them with new-found peace and purpose. 

Michelle’s bold choice to proclaim God’s redemption in her life on Instagram has challenged me. I mean, what am I so afraid of? Why do I fear sharing my story? 

I’ve started to think about how taking brave steps of faith to use social media for God’s glory could actually save a life. I mean, Michelle works as a surgery nurse every day, but if someone gave their life to Jesus after hearing her story on Instagram, then that is bigger than any work she may do at a hospital. 

I have the healing balm that this world needs. If I don’t share it, lives are at stake. So, I’ve started to pray and ask God to help me be courageous. I want to creatively share my story on social media. 
Do you want to join me?  I’ve got a few simple suggestions.

Four Easy Ways to Share Jesus on Instagram:

• Count God’s blessings and create a visual gratitude journal on Instagram to point to His goodness. 
• Share Scripture verses or Christian quotes and explain how they hold meaning to you.
• Use the video feature to pray for your social media friends and invite them to look to God with expectation. He specializes in doing the impossible. 
• Tell your salvation story using Instagram stories just like Michelle.

Instagram isn’t just a place to share well-lighted pictures of your profile. We can use Instagram for God’s greater Kingdom purposes. 

About Lyli

Lyli Dunbar loves teaching.  For 17 years, she mentored teenagers in the Christian school setting, and now she has serves as Associate Director of Curriculum at Trinity International University Florida. Lyli married her Prince Charming in her 40’s and has a heart for encouraging young couples and singles in God’s waiting room.  She enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. Lyli writes about life lessons and faith on her personal blog. You may also connect with her on Facebook,Twitter, and Pinterest.

---

If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.

Sharing this over at these awesome blogs.