How to Be Spiritually Awake: A Biblical Call to Watchfulness

What Does it Mean to Be Spiritually Awake or Asleep?

A good night's rest is something many of us don't experience. Sleep is necessary and good unless you are in a dangerous situation that requires you to be alert. Bad things happen when we fall asleep on the job. We may not hear alarms going off when we are asleep. In battle, an asleep soldier is a vulnerable soldier.

Sometimes we literally fall asleep in church. Some of us look spiritually awake but we are really in a deep sleep. We have lost that sense of urgency about our faith we once had. We fail to see the danger that being asleep can bring. Christians are called to remain spiritually awake because Christ is coming and there is a spiritual battle taking place. As a Christian, are you asleep or awake and what does it really mean?

When Scripture talks about sleep in a symbolic way, it often refers to being apathetic about your faith. It implies that there is a lack of knowledge about what you should be doing. Sometimes it is a way to refer to death. The opposite is to be awake. An awake Christian is one who is repentant, spiritually aware, and obedient.

Why Do Christians Fall Asleep Spiritually?

As Christians, when we become spiritually asleep, it often happens because we have slipped into living like the world. We have become conformers instead of non-conformers. Conformers just want to fit in so life will be easier. We should ask ourselves, "Are we different?"

Perhaps it is because religion has become routine to us. It's just something we do because we grew up doing it. Church on Sunday is what your friends do or what your community thinks 'nice' people should do. Routines often become boring to us.

Spiritual sleepiness can happen because we have forgotten the importance of prayer. Prayer itself can become a thoughtless routine. We forget that we are speaking to our living and holy God. We forget not just to speak to Him but more importantly to listen.

When we don't know God's Word because we have failed to read and study it, we become more vulnerable to 'falling asleep'. We don't hide His Word in our hearts. This is necessary, Scripture says, because when we know His Word, it helps us not to sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

What Does Spiritual Wakefulness Look Like?

But spiritual wakefulness is more than simply avoiding sin or recognizing danger. A spiritually awake Christian is someone who is actively walking with God. They seek His will through prayer and Scripture, remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance, and desire to live in a way that reflects Christ. Spiritual awareness allows us to recognize the battle around us and faithfully serve God in the place where He has called us.

Paul Reminds Us it Is High Time to Be Awake

Romans 13:11-12 Paul tells us,

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light."

What time does Paul say it is? High time! In other words it is urgent. It is long overdue that we wake up. When we miss an alarm going off, we're late for work. Paul recognizes how much work we need to be doing for God. Why does Paul say we need to urgently wake up? Because "our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." The day of the Lord's return and the fulfillment of His kingdom is closer now than the day we first believed.

Paul and the other disciples lived expecting the Lord's return. If they believed that 2,000 years ago, how much closer are we now to that day? This is our hope and our expectation. Jesus Himself used this same picture in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:5. Their bridegroom was delayed and some of them became drowsy and fell asleep. Only those who remained vigilant with oil in their lamps knew when the bridegroom came.

It is difficult to be ready, if not impossible, for an important event if you are asleep. Our Lord Himself tells us to be ready in Luke 12:40 because we don't know when He may return. In Mark 13:33 Jesus reminds us to "watch and pray" or as some translations say, "stay alert." Being spiritually awake is more than simply watching. It requires us to prepare ourselves for the work God has given us to do.

When you awake, what is the first thing most of us do? We cast off our sleeping clothes and put on the clothes we will work in. Paul says the same. "Cast off the works of darkness" or the sinful ways of your past. Replace them by putting on "the armor of light." This is our battle mode.

The light of Christ shining in our lives is our defense against evil. No sleepy soldiers here! The call to stay spiritually awake was not unique to Paul. Spiritual sleep is dangerous because it leaves us vulnerable in a battle that we may not be aware is already taking place.

The Enemy Who Seeks Our Destruction

We battle a spiritual enemy that is seeking our destruction. For this reason Peter explains in 1 Peter 5:8 that we need to be alert and sober-minded, because the devil seeks to devour us. The devil is aggressively trying to deceive us and cause us to be fearful. He wants to create chaos in our lives. His goal is for us to abandon our faith. He wants us to stay asleep because then we are no threat to him.

This is one reason being faithfully involved in your church community is so important. The encouragement of other Christians helps us remain faithful. Sometimes, though, we fail by falling into sin because we have forgotten to put on our armor. In Thessalonians, Paul explains what that armor is.

Putting On the Armor of Light

Paul repeats this warning in 1 Thessalonians 5:6. We are to watch, stay awake, and be sober, not asleep like others are. Paul continues to warn not to sleep and to stay away from sinful activities which are often done under cover of darkness. But you and I belong to the day. Why?

Again, because we are children of light. As children of the light, we are spiritually alert and sober. He continues to tell us we are protected spiritually by "putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

A breastplate is a piece of armor that protects your heart. It is symbolic of protecting your spiritual life. Our faith in God is the foundation of our relationship to Him. Out of that faith proceeds love; love for Him and love for others.

A helmet is to protect your head, symbolically your mind. Our hope of salvation is not wishful thinking but joyful expectation of the day we live eternally with our Savior. This is what protects us against the temptations that the devil attacks us with.

Jesus gives this same warning to an actual church that had grown spiritually sleepy. In Revelation, the church of Sardis is told to "Be watchful" or "Wake up" and "strengthen what remains" (Revelation 3:2). There is clearly urgency here. They have faith but it is weak and their works are few. Outwardly the church appeared alive, but spiritually it was dying.

Does this describe some of our churches today? I think so. Scripture does not warn us to wake up simply to frighten us; there is a blessing for those who remain watchful.

The Blessings of Being Watchful

John tells us in Revelation 16:15,

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

When He comes He shouldn't find us in our old night clothes, but instead we should be clothed with Christ, ready for the day and the work at hand. Because we don't know when the Lord will return, we should always be awake: waiting, watchful, and prepared. Any of us can experience spiritual drift when we stop remaining spiritually awake. A spiritually awake Christian may still struggle, but they will remain sensitive to God's voice, quick to repent, and willing to follow where He leads.

Faithful Servants Who Stay Awake

Let us pray that we are armored up and prepared for any battle. Like a good soldier our prayer is to stay alert for danger. Our goal is to stay awake so we can be faithful servants of the God we love. We serve a God who never sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He calls us to do the same.