Watchfulness
Spiritual disciplines are simply that - repeated, structured practices which discipline our spiritual lives. Many of us would include things such as Bible reading and prayer, but watchfulness is one which has fallen out of favor. In our fast-paced society, “watching” requires a stillness and introspection that our schedules simply will not allow, yet how much trouble could be saved if we spent some time watching our own souls? Before we dive into the book, let us define watchfulness. Brian Hedges uses a definition from the late John Owen:
A universal carefulness and diligence, exercising itself in and by all ways and means prescribed by God, over our hearts and ways, the baits and methods of Satan, the occasions and advantages of sin in the world, that we be not entangled.
What is he saying? Each of us have our own particular weaknesses, and we should be mindful when our hearts and habits drift toward those areas and when Satan attempts to tempt us in those areas. Instinctively, we practice this in earthly things. The Snickers commercial says, “You’re not you when you’re hungry; grab a Snickers.” His friends are being watchful over him, and they find a solution before things get ugly. What does this look like in regards to spiritual things?
Brian Hedges offers several practical suggestions, and I shall note a few. First, labor to know our own hearts. Our hearts is a broad term, covering our habits, temperaments, demeanors, and how we are likely to respond. For example, when we are tired, we know what sins we are prone to most. If we do not know our hearts, then how can we improve upon Hedge’s second suggestion to guard our paths? If we know which areas are most prone to weakness, those are the areas we can labor the most to strengthen. John Bunyan notes that the entry points most prone to attack are the “Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and the Feel-gate.” How do we guard these? Third, but not finally, we must keep our eyes on Christ. Only the shield of faith can extinguish the fiery darts of Satan. Watchfulness is not simply navel-gazing, but watchfulness requires that we “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1)
You may be asking: “Zach, why should I waste my time with Watchfulness?” On the one hand, is not our sweet communion with Christ valuable enough to be guarded and our enemy dastardly enough to attack at any front? Which of us would sleep while an unseen attacker lurks outside to harass our family? Would we not check every lock, batten down every latch, and secure each window? Sin, Satan, and society lunge at us with such ferocity that we cannot rest for one second. Watchfulness ensures that foxes do not spoil our vineyard, that our sweet joys and sense of assurance are not robbed from us. Yet on the other hand, does not spiritual decay abound? A house forsaken will rot, and a car neglected will rust . Or as C.S. Lewis states, “The safest road to Hell…the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Days of failure in personal devotion will become weeks of spiritual ineptitude if we are not watchful. In a day where hurry and haste are the two defining aspects of a generation, watchfulness becomes the best investment of our time.
I encourage you all to read this short book. You will find your soul refreshed and strengthened that you may walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called. For anyone interested, I would love to read and discuss the book with you. You can buy Watchfulness here.
