--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't pray that God's on our side, pray…" description: "\"Don't pray that God's on our side, pray that we're on his side.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png" --- # Don't pray that God's on our side, pray that we're on his… ![“Don't pray that God's on our side, pray that we're on his side.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png) > “Don't pray that God's on our side, pray that we're on his side.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates aligning personal morality with divine will rather than seeking divine favor. **In simple terms:** Align with God's side, not vice versa. Key Takeaway Seek moral alignment over favor. Themes morality faith responsibility Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decision making - political leadership - social justice Key Concepts divine alignment ethical stance Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be on God's side? - How to reconcile differing faiths? A Different Perspective May conflict with pluralistic beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) ## Related quotes > [We should not pray for God to be on our side, but pray that we may be on God's side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/we-should-not-pray-for-god-to-be-on-our-side-but-pray-that-we-may-be/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I'm a Roman Catholic. Or was. I was brought up that way and used to say my prayers every night, but I don't pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-m-a-roman-catholic-or-was-i-was-brought-up-that-way-and-used-to-say/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him, when he is full already with something else. Before we pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-believe-many-a-man-is-praying-to-god-to-fill-him-when-he-is-full/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as he always has. But he can't if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-eagerly-waiting-for-the-chance-to-answer-your-prayers-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't have to pray to attract great things, because great things are attracted to you already. Pray that you won't throw them away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-pray-to-attract-great-things-because-great-things/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We cannot really know God if we do not pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-cannot-really-know-god-if-we-do-not-pray/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“But we don't pray for that, I pray that I may do the will of God here. Give us this day...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-solschenizyn/but-we-don-t-pray-for-that-i-pray-that-i-may-do-the-will-of-god-here/) [Alexander Solschenizyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-solschenizyn/) > [I don't pray for God to take my problems away, I pray only for God to give me the strength to go through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-pray-for-god-to-take-my-problems-away-i-pray-only-for-god-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You don't pray for the growth and success of the organization you work for, but you pray God favours you before your boss.Really?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faithful-akpaloo/you-don-t-pray-for-the-growth-and-success-of-the-organization-you/) [Faithful Akpaloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faithful-akpaloo/) > [Don't pray God not to remove problem, but pray to give strength totakle the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/don-t-pray-god-not-to-remove-problem-but-pray-to-give-strength/) Author Name > [We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/we-must-first-pray-that-god-would-make-us-wise-before-we-can-wish-he/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Some days I pray to the God of sex and drums and rock and roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meat-loaf/some-days-i-pray-to-the-god-of-sex-and-drums-and-rock-and-roll/) [Meat Loaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meat-loaf/) > [I do not care to die, but I pray to God I may never leave this field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfield-scott-hancock/i-do-not-care-to-die-but-i-pray-to-god-i-may-never-leave-this-field/) [Winfield Scott Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfield-scott-hancock/) > [“But the best reason to pray is that God is really there. In praying, our unbelief gradually starts to melt. God moves smack into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-griffin/but-the-best-reason-to-pray-is-that-god-is-really-there-in-praying/) Emilie Griffin > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't pray that God's on our side, pray that we're on his side.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-that-we-re-on-his-side/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-that-we-re-on-his-side/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/abraham-lincoln-88_god_don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-t_1995752.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't pray that God's on our side, pray that we're on his side.” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't pray that God's on our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-that-we-re-on-his-side/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-pray-that-god-s-on-our-side-pray-that-we-re-on-his-side/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```