O ye who believe! be steadfast and strive to excel in steadfastness and be on your guard and fear Allah that you may prosper. Islam, The Holy Qur’an, 3:201
The strong believer is better and more dear to Allah than the weak believer, and in each of them there is good. Be vigilant for what is to your benefit and seek the help of Allah and do not falter. But when you are stricken by some setback, do not say: ‘If only I had done such and such,’ rather say: ‘It is the decree of Allah and He does whatever He wills.’ For verily, the saying ‘if’ (i.e. if only I had) begins the work of the devil. Islam, Saying of the Holy Prophet (sa), Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2664
A person’s longings are one thing, but the design of fate and destiny is quite another, and it is this phenomenon which is true to life. Bear in mind that the circumstances of a person’s life are in the knowledge of God Almighty. Who knows what life has in store for them? This is why an individual must constantly awaken their heart to make it vigilant.
Islam, Saying of the Promised Messiah (as), Malfuzat – Vol. I, p. 148
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Judaism, The Tanakh, Proverbs 4:23
The firm control of the senses is what is called yoga. One must then be vigilant, for yoga can be both beneficial and injurious.
Hinduism, Katha Upanishad 2:3:11
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. Christianity, the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6
The glory of him who is energetic, mindful, pure in deed, considerate, self-controlled, right-living, and heedful steadily increases…The ignorant, foolish folk indulge in heedlessness; the wise man guards earnestness as the greatest treasure. Buddhism, Dhammapada 21-26