Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants (Luke 12:37-38 NKJV).
In Winkie Pratney’s little book The Daniel Files he asks, “Are you an owl or a fowl?” Pratney goes on to explain, “Israel divided their night into three watches; (1) from 6 to 10 pm, (2) from 10 pm to 2 am and (3) from 2 am to 6 am. Jesus promised special blessing for those ready at the second or third watch (Luke 12:38). If you are an owl, use the second watch for extra time you need [to seek God in prayer]. If you are a fowl, go for the third watch and get up earlier."
I want to thank each of you who pray in the night seasons, whether you are an “owl” who stays up late or a “fowl” who gets up early. Methodist founder John Wesley was a “fowl” who rose at four to pray. Pentecostal Holiness author Noel Brooks was as well, once commenting that he was least happy when life circumstances prevented him from being found at prayer “when the lark’s first song ascends.” I too am a “fowl,” enjoying my time with the Lord during the 3rd watch of the night.
But not all are so called. My daughter Anneke often works and prays through the “2nd watch.” About 3:20 one morning we passed each other in the hall. She was headed to bed after wrestling like Jacob through the night. I had just popped out of bed (even earlier than usual) to head for my “secret place.” In passing she said, “I knew this would happen one day,” and stumbled off to bed. But when I realized that someone was praying in our home throughout the 2nd and the 3rd watches of that one night, the Lord birthed a desire in my heart to see someone somewhere bathing the ministries of the IPHC in prayer at every hour of every night.
Many battles are only won in the night watches. We need both “owls” and “fowls.” If you do not yet know the joys of praying when everyone else is asleep, please consider joining us.