AWAKE WITH PURPOSE

For most of my life, I have been a good sleeper. Unlike some when I went to bed, I usually was able to sleep at least eight hours. However, I noticed my sleep pattern has changed for the past year, and I find myself waking up anywhere between 1 and 3 a.m. no matter what time I go to bed.

I believe that this occurrence is happening in the lives of many believers. At first, many of us probably tossed and turned, trying to go back to sleep but failed. After a while, some of us gave up trying to go back to sleep, got up, and started doing chores. If you were like me when this event began to happen consistently, I realized, though I prefer to be sleeping, I am awake for a purpose. Yes, God is causing me to wake up because He wants me to pray. This, I am sure, is part of His kingdom assignment for believers to have dominion and subdue the earth. As I pray, watch, decree, declare, pull down strongholds and pray in the spirit (to name a few of the methods I utilize), I am advancing God’s kingdom.

In the past, when I woke up in the night, I prayed randomly; however, recently, I was reminded of the eight prayer watches about which people have written books and articles. If you are interested in more information on this topic, I recommend you google it, and you will receive a host of useful information and instructions. For now, I will share only a smidgen to whet your appetite, and since I am sharing the night watches, I will also include information on the day watches.

Initially, there were only three watches in Old Testament times: beginning watch, middle watch, and morning watch. Each watch covered a four-hour period, which started at 6.p.m. and ended at 6.a.m. In AD70, when the Roman Empire ended the Jewish occupation of Israel, times were changed to adhere to the Greco-Roman style, and the times were decreased to three-hour periods. Please note following God’s plan found in Genesis 1:6, “And the evening and the morning was the first day,” so the first watch starts in the evening with the sun setting.

The First Watch is from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is a time to reflect on your day and thank God for what He did throughout the day. Also, pray for direction for tomorrow.

The Second Watch is from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. This is the time to discharge warring angels to set up ambushes against the enemy’s diabolic plans that he will orchestrate on the morrow.

The Third Watch is from 12:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. These are the hours of greatest spiritual activity and warfare. Pray against the plans of witches and warlocks, and the satanic cult, over people and places. Pray for exposure of their plans and the breaking of their strongholds. Furthermore, speak peace, guidance, and release for those that need deliverance from this cultic bondage. 

The Fourth Watch is from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. This is the last watch of the night, and it is believed that the demonic host is reporting back to their home base. In this time, pray and cancel all the weapons attempting to form. Also, pray to dismantle the enemies’ footholds.

The Fifth Watch is from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This is the time of commanding, equipping, and strengthening people for the challenges of the day. Pray for traveling mercies and protection as adults and children leave their homes for work and school. Additionally, pray for guidance for the day and the seven spirits of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2)  to rest on believers.

The Sixth Watch is from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. These hours are believed to be the brightest time of the day. It is time to pray for God’s promises to be fulfilled in our lives.

The Seventh Watch is from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. These hours represent rest. Thank God for His secret place, His banner over you of love, for His daily provisions, and the ability to cast your cares on him.

The Eighth Watch of the day is from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. This is a time of dying to self and praying for the deliverance of mind, spirit, and body. During this time, thank God for keeping you alive to begin another day.

Once again, I reiterate what I said above; for those who want more detailed information on the watches, google “The Eight Prayer Watches,” and you will receive many articles on this topic.

Finally, just in case you’ve forgotten, I must say it is so amazing that we all live in many different time zones in our world. Therefore, multitudes are praying in each one of these watches, hitting the necessary targets, all day long, and I say, “Hallelujah” to that. I recognize that this is God’s design to have believers as a corporate body praying without ceasing.