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I recently wrote an article on ‘Watches of the Night’ so now I want to write on ‘Watches of the Day!’

Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes; ‘For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

The Four Watches of the Day

The First Watch of the Day: 6:00am-9:00am

The Second Watch of the Day: 9:00am-12:00pm

The Third Watch of the Day: 12:00pm-3:00pm

The Fourth Watch of the Day: 3:00pm-6:00pm

6:00am-9:00am

The disciples were praying in the morning watch when suddenly they all began speaking in tongues. Crowds who were gathered outside for the Festival of Pentecost heard them speaking in their own languages and were completely amazed. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re drunk, that’s all”

‘Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that…’ -Acts 2:15

So, there we have it – they were praying before 9am, the Holy Spirit was poured out and others heard them speaking in tongues at 9am. Imagine if we were filled with the Holy Spirit every morning by 9am, or up until the time we go off to our work or daily activities!

Let’s wake up to see the sun rise!

‘But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.’ -Malachi 4:2

9:00am-12:00pm

As we have seen, it was 9am when the apostle Peter preached to the crowd, resulting in 3000 new believers being baptized and added to the church that day!

‘It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.’ -Mark 15:25

At the time most people in the Western World start their days work is the time Jesus was crucified. If we spend the first part of the day (6:00am-9:00am) in prayer – by the time 9:00am arrives, we will have crucified our flesh (our old man), thus being crucified with Christ so that we can walk through the day – not I, but Christ who lives in me!

12:00pm-3:00pm

‘At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.’ -Mark 15:33

The prophet Daniel prayed three times a day: morning, noon and evening, as described in Daniel 6:10

The paradigm shifting vision that the apostle Peter had, occurred when he went up on the flat roof to pray at about noon! (see Acts 10:9-21)

As we pray in this window, we can declare the promises of Psalm 91:

‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in the darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.’ -Psalm 91:1, 5, 6, 14

3:00pm-6:00pm

‘Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”‘ -Mark 15:34

3pm is the time Jesus died on the cross

‘Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”‘ (Acts 3:1-6)

‘In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.’ (Acts 10:1-3)

Let’s Work While It’s Still Day!

Jesus said, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light” -John 11:9-10

He also said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” -John 9:4

Let’s be like the sons of Issachar who understood the times and seasons and what the people of God should do! (1 Chronicles 12:32)

If you’ve enjoyed this article, you will also enjoy ‘Watches of the Night!’

I also recommend you check out: ‘Command the Morning’ for more on The Morning Watch