God's Altar and You

When You Feel Alert While Others Sleep

Some believers do not rest easily—not because of anxiety, but because of assignment.

You sense things before they happen.

You feel burdens that are not yours alone.

You wake in the night with urgency but no clear words.

You discern shifts others overlook.

This is often the mark of a watchman or intercessor.

This calling is not about fear, hype, or exhaustion. It is about position, responsibility, and alignment.

What Is a Watchman?

A watchman is someone spiritually positioned to discern, warn, and pray.

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night.” — Isaiah 62:6

In biblical times, watchmen:

• Guarded city walls
• Watched for approaching danger
• Announced transitions
• Stayed alert while others slept

Spiritually, watchmen stand at thresholds—times of change, vulnerability, or movement.

What Is an Intercessor?

An intercessor is someone who stands in the gap through prayer.

“I looked for someone among them who would stand in the gap…” — Ezekiel 22:30

Intercessors:

• Carry burdens in prayer
• Pray beyond personal needs
• Engage in spiritual labor
• Partner with God for intervention

While all believers pray, not all are called to sustained intercession.

Watchmen and Intercessors Often Overlap

Many people are both.

Watchmen discern what is happening.

Intercessors contend through prayer.

This is why some believers feel a burden before knowing how to pray it.

Discernment precedes intercession.

Common Signs of a Watchman or Intercessor Call

You may carry this calling if you experience:

• Sensitivity to spiritual atmospheres
• Burdens that come suddenly and lift after prayer
• Night awakenings with alertness, not panic
• A deep pull toward prayer for others or nations
• Grief or urgency without personal cause
• Difficulty ignoring spiritual matters

These are not emotional issues by default—they are often spiritual signals.

The Burden Is Not Meant to Crush You

A critical truth:

A burden is an invitation, not a sentence.

God never gives a burden without also providing:

• Grace to carry it
• Timing to release it
• Boundaries to protect the vessel

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.” — Psalm 55:22

When intercession becomes exhausting instead of strengthening, something is out of alignment.

The Danger of Untrained Watchmen

Many intercessors burn out not because the calling is too heavy, but because:

• They don’t know when to stop
• They pray beyond God’s instruction
• They carry what they should release
• They confuse compassion with responsibility

Not every burden requires extended warfare.

Some require one obedient prayer.

Maturity brings restraint.

God Sets Boundaries for Watchmen

God does not expect 24/7 vigilance.

“Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” — Psalm 127:1

True watchmen:

• Know when to watch
• Know when to rest
• Know when to speak
• Know when to be silent

Rest is not disobedience—it is trust in God’s sovereignty.

Night Watches and Discernment

Many watchmen feel most alert at night.

This does not mean you are called to lose sleep consistently.

Sometimes God:

• Briefly wakes you to pray
• Impresses something upon your spirit
• Then releases you back into rest

If you feel compelled to stay awake every night, pause and discern. God values health and longevity.

How to Serve as a Watchman or Intercessor Wisely

1. Ask God What the Burden Is For

Not every weight is yours to carry.

2. Pray Until Release, Not Exhaustion

Stop when peace returns.

3. Guard Your Emotional Health

Sensitivity without boundaries leads to fatigue.

4. Stay Anchored in Scripture

Feelings must submit to truth.

5. Maintain Community

Isolation magnifies burden unnecessarily.

The Fruit of Healthy Intercession

When intercession is aligned:

• Peace follows prayer
• Clarity increases
• Burdens lift quickly
• Joy remains intact
• Strength is renewed

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

— Nehemiah 8:10

Joy is not optional—it is protective.

Final Encouragement

If you are a watchman or intercessor, know this:

You were not called to burn out.

You were not called to carry the world.

You were not called to live overwhelmed.

You were called to partner, not replace God.

Your assignment includes:

• Discernment
• Obedience
• Rest
• Trust

Stand your watch when He calls.

Rest when He releases.

He is faithful to finish what He begins.