--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God's sovereignty does not negate our…" description: "\"God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence.\" — Jerry Bridges" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png" --- # God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to… ![“God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence.” quote by Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png) > “God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence.” [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God's ultimate control coexists with human duty; prayer is empowered, not replaced, by divine sovereignty. **In simple terms:** God controls everything but still wants us to pray confidently. Key Takeaway Pray confidently, trusting God's control. Themes faith responsibility prayer sovereignty Mood reverent hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal devotion - church services - counseling - mission work Key Concepts theology trust humility Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing God's control affect your prayer life? - What responsibilities arise from confident prayer? A Different Perspective Prayer may feel futile if one overemphasizes divine control without personal engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [God's Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-sovereignty/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty/) ## Related quotes > [Of all the doctrines of the Bible none is so offensive to human nature as the doctrine of God's sovereignty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/of-all-the-doctrines-of-the-bible-none-is-so-offensive-to-human/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [I learned very early that people need to have a good grasp of God's goodness and God's sovereignty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/i-learned-very-early-that-people-need-to-have-a-good-grasp-of-god-s/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Keep in mind that God's sovereignty allows Him to even use that which is not cooperating with Him (the bad) in order to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/keep-in-mind-that-god-s-sovereignty-allows-him-to-even-use-that-which/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [So though there are many things I would have done differently, I submit to God's sovereignty and His purpose in my life and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/so-though-there-are-many-things-i-would-have-done-differently-i/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [God's sovereignty is not in His right hand; God's sovereignty is not in His intellect; God's sovereignty is in His love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/god-s-sovereignty-is-not-in-his-right-hand-god-s-sovereignty-is-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Human fallibility recognised, God's sovereignty trusted; these are also the only stable foundations for human beings in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-welby/human-fallibility-recognised-god-s-sovereignty-trusted-these-are-also/) [Justin Welby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-welby/) > [The storms in my life have become workshops where I can practice my faith in God's sovereignty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-briscoe/the-storms-in-my-life-have-become-workshops-where-i-can-practice-my/) [Jill Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-briscoe/) > [Men treat God's sovereignty as a theme for controversy, but in Scripture it is matter for worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-treat-god-s-sovereignty-as-a-theme-for-controversy-but-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We count on God's mercy for our past mistakes, on God's love for our present needs, on God's sovereignty for our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/we-count-on-god-s-mercy-for-our-past-mistakes-on-god-s-love-for-our/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Prayer assumes the sovereignty of God. If God is not sovereign, we have no assurance that He is able to answer our prayers. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/prayer-assumes-the-sovereignty-of-god-if-god-is-not-sovereign-we-have/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [This is the essence of God's sovereignty; His absolute independence to do as He pleases and His absolute control over the actions of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/this-is-the-essence-of-god-s-sovereignty-his-absolute-independence-to/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“Some may object that to speak of election or predestination is to limit the kingdom of God to a few. Does it make God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-goldsworthy/some-may-object-that-to-speak-of-election-or-predestination-is-to/) [Graeme Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-goldsworthy/) > [The biblical authors wrote of God's sovereignty over His world, and of man's experiences within that world, using such modes of speech about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-biblical-authors-wrote-of-god-s-sovereignty-over-his-world-and-of/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [“So believe in God's sovereignty! It dose not matter whatever goes on in your life! Believe in God's Sovereignty! God is always supreme and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/musa-mkasi/so-believe-in-god-s-sovereignty-it-dose-not-matter-whatever-goes-on/) Musa Mkasi > [“First, God's sovereignty over the death of Christ does not mitigate the guilt of the human conspirators. On the other hand, the malice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/first-god-s-sovereignty-over-the-death-of-christ-does-not-mitigate/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) ## More by Jerry Bridges > [We must allow the Bible to say what is says, not what we think it ought to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-allow-the-bible-to-say-what-is-says-not-what-we-think-it/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 PETER 3:18)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/grow-in-the-grace-and-knowledge-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ-2/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [It is not the fact that we are united in common goals or purposes that makes us a community. Rather, it is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/it-is-not-the-fact-that-we-are-united-in-common-goals-or-purposes/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [A son or daughter in any human family is either born to or adopted by the parents. By definition, a child can't be both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/a-son-or-daughter-in-any-human-family-is-either-born-to-or-adopted-by/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“We must be careful to let the Holy Spirit do this searching. If we try to search our own hearts, we are apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-be-careful-to-let-the-holy-spirit-do-this-searching-if-we-try/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“Though the power for godly character comes from Christ, the responsibility for developing and displaying that character is ours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/though-the-power-for-godly-character-comes-from-christ-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [God's Word must be so strongly fixed in our minds that it becomes the dominant influence in our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-word-must-be-so-strongly-fixed-in-our-minds-that-it-becomes-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [The cure for impatience with the fulfillment of God's timetable is to believe His promises, obey His will, and leave the results to Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-cure-for-impatience-with-the-fulfillment-of-god-s-timetable-is-to/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [In a sermon entitled “God's Providence,” C. H. Spurgeon said, “Napoleon once heard it said, that man proposes and God disposes. 'Ah,' said Napoleon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/in-a-sermon-entitled-god-s-providence-c-h-spurgeon-said-napoleon-once/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Patience is the ability to suffer a long time under the mistreatment of others without growing resentful or bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/patience-is-the-ability-to-suffer-a-long-time-under-the-mistreatment/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Jesus said, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). We must honestly face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/jesus-said-any-of-you-who-does-not-give-up-everything-he-has-cannot/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [We ought to be as earnest and frequent in our prayers of thanksgiving when the cupboard is full as we would be in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-ought-to-be-as-earnest-and-frequent-in-our-prayers-of-thanksgiving/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [... self-control is not control by oneself through one's own willpower but rather control of oneself through the power of the Holy Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/self-control-is-not-control-by-oneself-through-one-s-own-willpower/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Bitterness arises in our hearts when we do not trust in the sovereign rule of God in our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/bitterness-arises-in-our-hearts-when-we-do-not-trust-in-the-sovereign/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) [Explore all 234 Jerry Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Bridges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-responsibility-to-pray-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-responsibility-to-pray-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/jerry-bridges-1451_confidence_god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-re_1828375.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray…” — Jerry Bridges", "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": "Jerry Bridges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God's sovereignty does not negate our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-responsibility-to-pray-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-sovereignty-does-not-negate-our-responsibility-to-pray-but/#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 } } ] } ```