If you have heard any of the reports coming out of Ukraine over the past year, you likely heard about the off-the battlefield psychological effects on the Ukrainian soldiers: the issue is hypervigulance.
As I described in the "Church as Counterintelligence" article, both those who catch spies and the church are required to be on alert always. I mentioned in that article that Britian's version of the FBI, MI5, used to have a lidless eyeball as their logo - always watching.
The bible uses equivelent watchful/waking/alert language describing the job of the Christian. Here's a smattering:
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24:42.
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert,
Acts 20:29–31a.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour
1 Peter 5:8.
Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Revelation 3:2.
So if you are at this point concerned with your responsibility to stay awake or be alert, then I suggest a few principles not only to watch, but to advance in watching (to get good at it).
Consider the following verse:
Let your loines be girde about, and your lights burning,
And ye your selves like unto men that wait for their master, when he wil returne from the wedding, that when he commeth and knocketh, they maye open unto him immediatly.
Luke 12:35–36.
Here Jesus is giving a series of warning against becoming comfortable in this life. He contrasts the sleepy and comfortable with the above verse:
The waking have their loins girded. Similar idea to Nehemiah having the workmen rebuilding Jerusalem's wall to sleep with their day-clothes on. You dress like you are going to need to go on a journey or do hard labor or fight - always.
The waking have their lights burning. They don't just prepare halfway, they are 100% ready with a light in the middle of the night to do the labor, fighting, or travel. This is complete readiness.
They know their place. Jesus continues past the text I've quoted to warn against servants who don't oversee the master's property well - they are decapitated and treated as hypocrites.
So these are the basics. To advance you must practice this continually like a soldier, or like a skilled craftsman, or like a olympic sportsmen - becoming the best.
When you get to a point where you are watching, waiting, and ready at all times, your skill will grow to be very comfortable in hard, dark, and uncertain times. You will know your job in pitch black and daylight alike and fulfill your calling as a professional.
Welcome to the real discipleship. This is what the church was supposed to be preparing you for all along.
S.D.G.