41 Bible Verses about Watchfulness, Of Believers

Be sober, be alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

And Jesus answered them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

And he cautioned them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

I urge you, brethren, to take note of those who cause divisions and difficulties, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; avoid them.

Be on the your guard, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Watch and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Then he said to his disciples, "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Therefore we must pay more careful attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

See to it that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less shall we escape, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

And we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the members of the body. The tongue corrupts our whole person, sets the whole course of our life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.read more.
But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

For, "He who would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. And pray for us as well, that God may open a door to us for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,

Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.

Watch at all times, and pray always that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and petition. And with this in view, keep alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

The end of all things is near; therefore be clear minded and sober for your prayers.

Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the owner of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;read more.
but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. While the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry: 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No, there may not be enough for both us and you; go rather to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us!' But he replied, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore keep watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

"But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.read more.
Watch thereforefor you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, so that they may open to him immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and will come and serve them.read more.
If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly like a trap.read more.
For it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch at all times, and pray always that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us be alert and sober.read more.
For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.")

but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect;

Be careful, then, how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me."read more.
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,

And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

And they watched him closely, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.

but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night, to kill him;

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.