Do I need to be awake at 3am to be a Watchman?
By Nicola Robson,
GNOW Team
Do I need to be awake at 3am to be a Watchman?
The concept of a ‘Watch’ comes from cultures where it was necessary to be continually alert to potential dangers and attacks. Watchmen would be assigned a different watch and rotate out with the other watchmen of their company as their watch came to an end. This has continued within military and emergency response organisations.
The Romans used a Four Watch system through the night, Evening Watch (6pm-9pm), Midnight Watch (9pm-Midnight), Cockcrow Watch (Midnight to 3am) and Morning Watch (3am to 6am). Previously the ancient societies, including the Hebrews, would have set three watches – Beginning (Sunset to 10pm), Middle (10pm to 2am) & Morning (2am to Sunrise). They would also have daytime watches, creating a rhythm for the entire 24-hour day of alertness but also to keep track of the passing of time. In our modern societies these rhythms are no longer part of our structures as we manage our time very differently.
From a Spiritual Watchman perspective, we are not restricted to times of the day or the night. You may find a temporal rhythm is useful to your focus as a watchman, but unless the Lord directs you to a particular pattern for a season, hold these rhythms lightly. There are patterns and structures that have been developed by the Church over the years that many people find helpful, including specific prayer systems which you may wish to investigate such as the Celtic Christians or the above Hebrew watch structure. You should be aware that many world religions use similar structures and they are used to bind people not to mature them, so be on your guard against false methodology, including the three night watches which are used in Buddhism.
The question is not “should I be awake at 3am” but “What is the assignment You are giving me, Lord?” To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and there is no point standing a Watch that the Lord has not given you. Psalm 127 tells us, “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (ESV)
What might my Watch look like then?
There will be changing seasons in your life as a Watchman, and the Lord will lead you to stand your watch in different ways. Let me challenge you to ensure you are following the nudging of the Holy Spirit and do not get stuck in stale religious practice that has no use to the Kingdom of God.
These are some thoughts on what different seasons might look like:
- The Lord wakes you every day at 3am and instructs you to watch through until 6am about a range of issues in your area of responsibility as He gives you revelation and direction.
- Your assignment is regarding the darkness at work in a nation and Holy Spirit instructs you to closely follow the public news providers for a season. He will enable you to discern what is really happening and give you direct revelation of what is not reported.
- You are assigned to watch over a specific event in your area of responsibility, such as a gathering of world leaders at the G7. You will understand the event and those attending since a Watchman knows their territory well. The Lord will give you greater insight into what is happening behind closed doors.
- You are given a vision of a war room in Heaven and are invited into an unusual season of being shown the Lord’s plans for a region, being permitted to regularly return to that room for more insight. You are shown strategy and opportunities.
- You are assigned to watch over a region. The Lord regularly speaks to you throughout the day, giving you revelation and strategy. Throughout this season you have a rhythm of watching in this way for days and then short periods of rest followed by more revelation.
- Your assignment is the Church, both local and regional. You regularly have dreams relating to this and you spend time with the Lord to understand the interpretation.
- The Lord wakes you in the night with an alert due to an impending crisis within your area of responsibility. You pray and alert others if you are able. This happens as part of a broader context of watching.
All of these experiences as a Watchman – and many others – are equally important and valid. Some may feel more exciting than others, some may feel more overwhelming, but there will always be a grace to carry out the watch you are being assigned. Lean into the Lord if you are finding it hard but also check if you are following His current path for you.
Whatever your ‘watch’ looks like, you will see similar outworkings of it. You will be alert and focused on the issues you are aware of in your area of responsibility. You will stand as a prophet, a spiritual warrior and as an intercessor.
- The Holy Spirit gives you revelation of the plans of the Lord. You are also given insight into the schemes of the spiritual forces of the enemy. Some of these things you may have had no prior knowledge of, others you will have understanding of because you know the territory, but the Lord will focus your attention on specific areas.
- You will be responding during your watch with a spiritual warfare posture, and you will share revelation with the wider Church in your context so that others can join you in the spiritual battle or preparation needed. As a Sentinel you will begin by calling a ‘challenge’ to the enemy, as a Gatekeeper you will be ready to engage directly in spiritual battle.
- You will almost certainly experience an intercessory burden for your area and carry this in various ways, including regular prayer, tongues, intercession, weeping, travail and more. You will inspire others to pray as you share the insights you have been given and have the capacity to lead them strategically.
The key to standing a Watch as a prophet, as with our whole Christian life, is that we follow the instructions of our Commander in Chief, our Lord Jesus. Others around us may be able to give us good examples to follow, but we are each responsible before the Lord for where He has positioned us. Pray especially for the fruit of the Spirit of faithfulness, patience and love to characterise your watch and find ways to encourage other Watchmen.
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