Vigilance. Standing ready. Manning the post.

These terms and concepts are well-known to those who have served in the Armed Forces and have worked as a sentry. Those who have worked in law enforcement know these concepts. It involves being alert and focused, vigilant and prepared to face an adversary. It involves always being prepared to sound the alarm to warn others of an intruder.

While these concepts and words are common to those in a profession where it is highly probable that an enemy will be encountered, what if I told you they are just as common in the lives of the follower of Jesus Christ?

In Isaiah 21:8, the prophet writes, “Then the lookout called, “O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.”

Habakkuk 2:1 says, “I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the fortification; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me And how I may respond when I am reproved.”

There is in fact a very real enemy we must be on-guard and watching out for. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The enemy? Satan.

Regardless of whether we think danger is lurking around the corner, the truth is is that our number one enemy, the devil, would like nothing more than to sink his teeth into us and devour us. He would like nothing more than to get us off track from the path that we are on. Being vigilant in our daily walk with Christ means that we must watch out for the often subtle ways the enemy can attack. This may be something that comes across our television or cellphone screens. It could be an encounter with someone of the opposite sex and maybe he or she is just a little too friendly. When friendliness is borderline flirtation, husband or wife, you must run. Subtle dangers lurk around every corner and when we fall prey to those temptations, we are crossing in dangerous and deadly territory.

But standing guard and being vigilant doesn’t just mean protecting our own thought-life or fighting off our own temptations. And I could have given many more examples above. Being vigilant and manning our post also refers to those we are entrusted by God to lead. I think of my family. I think of my wife and children and what my role is as protector. Let me ask you. If you received a phone call tomorrow morning and the person on the other end of the line gave you an anonymous tip that someone was planning on breaking into your house tomorrow evening, what would you do? Would you go to sleep as you normally do? Would you not turn on every exterior light you have, make sure the doors were locked and windows were secured, leave lights on inside your home, and sit awake throughout the night? Your senses would be heightened, and it wouldn’t be because you wanted to make sure they didn’t steal your sixty-inch flat screen TV. You would be alert and prepared to defend your home and keep your family safe.

In this same way we must be on guard against the devil. He is subtle. He was subtle in Genesis 3 when he tempted Eve, and he is subtle today in 2026. Do you really think he doesn’t know that if you struggle with lust and pornography, that placing an image on your screen when you’re alone, isn’t going to cause your mind to wander? Do you really think that if you and your spouse or significant other are having problems, that placing someone else of the opposite sex in your path who just wants to hear about how unhappy you currently are, isn’t going to tempt you to stray from your relationship? He is clever and cunning, and I promise you that if we are left to our own strength, we will fail each and every time. We are not strong enough. There are so many stories of godly Christian men and women in both the Bible and throughout history that thought they were strong enough. They weren’t. Just ask David and Bathsheba.

So I urge you husbands to not fall asleep on your watch. I urge you to stand your post and protect what God has entrusted you with. Seek Him for strength and endurance. Seek the Lord for wisdom and help identifying the schemes of Satan. Be alert and ready to fight.