--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we go to God by prayer, the devil…" description: "\"When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore he opposes us all he can.\" — Richard Sibbes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png" --- # When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to… ![“When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore he opposes us all he can.” quote by Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png) > “When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore he opposes us all he can.” [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer invites divine strength, prompting spiritual opposition that must be faced with faith. **In simple terms:** Prayer brings strength; the devil resists. Key Takeaway Persist in prayer despite perceived opposition. Themes faith spiritual warfare prayer resilience Mood reflective encouraging Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - personal crisis - temptation - morning devotion - conflict resolution Key Concepts theology inner conflict spiritual discipline Questions to Reflect On - What inner doubts arise when you pray? - How does recognizing opposition strengthen your resolve? A Different Perspective Opposition may be internal, not always external. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-prayer/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) ## Related quotes > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [If you're going through hell keep on going don't slow down if you're scared don't show it you might get out before the devil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-going-through-hell-keep-on-going-don-t-slow-down-if-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The devil knows the Bible like the back of his hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-devil-knows-the-bible-like-the-back-of-his-hand/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Knock my soul like we be callin black fool. I mean devil knows you prolly fucked another dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flo-rida/knock-my-soul-like-we-be-callin-black-fool-i-mean-devil-knows-you/) [Flo Rida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flo-rida/) > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer, The Devil always builds a chapel there; And 'twill be found, upon examination, The latter has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a-3/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“He wanted three miracles tonight. It was the prayer of a devil. How dare he even ask? But Beckett had no shame. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-wanted-three-miracles-tonight-it-was-the-prayer-of-a-devil-how/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-h-king/no-one-is-a-firmer-believer-in-the-power-of-prayer-than-the-devil-not/) Guy H. King > [“Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And t’will be found, upon examination, the latter has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a-2/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Complaint is a prayer to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/complaint-is-a-prayer-to-the-devil/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Satan would seem to be mannerly and reasonable; making as if he would be content with one-half of the heart, whereas God challengeth all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/satan-would-seem-to-be-mannerly-and-reasonable-making-as-if-he-would/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [No, evidently habit means a lot. The devil knows what habit can do to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-evidently-habit-means-a-lot-the-devil-knows-what-habit-can-do-to-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The devil knows more from experience than from being the devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/the-devil-knows-more-from-experience-than-from-being-the-devil/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“the devil knows he has no power over your future so he has to keep a tight grip on your past, of who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-n-joy/the-devil-knows-he-has-no-power-over-your-future-so-he-has-to-keep-a/) [E.N. Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-n-joy/) > [Of course we look for our own path and try to hide from everything evil and vicious. But remember one thing: No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-course-we-look-for-our-own-path-and-try-to-hide-from-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Richard Sibbes > [Let weak Christians know that a spark from heaven, though kindled under green wood that sobs and smokes, yet it will consume all at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/let-weak-christians-know-that-a-spark-from-heaven-though-kindled/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [Measure not God's love and favour by your own feeling. The sun shines as clearly in the darkest day as it does in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/measure-not-god-s-love-and-favour-by-your-own-feeling-the-sun-shines/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [It is better to go bruised to heaven than sound to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/it-is-better-to-go-bruised-to-heaven-than-sound-to-hell/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/the-winter-prepares-the-earth-for-the-spring-so-do-afflictions/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [ The tenets of \[the Christian life\] seem paradoxes to carnal men; as first, that a Christian is the only freeman, and other men are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/the-tenets-of-the-christian-life-seem-paradoxes-to-carnal-men-as/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [See here, for our comfort, a sweet agreement of all three persons: the Father giveth a commission to Christ; the Spirit furnisheth and sanctifieth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/see-here-for-our-comfort-a-sweet-agreement-of-all-three-persons-the/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [God takes a safe course with His children, that they may not be condemned with the world, He permits the world to condemn them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/god-takes-a-safe-course-with-his-children-that-they-may-not-be/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [Sin is not so sweet in the committing as it is heavy and bitter in the reckoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/sin-is-not-so-sweet-in-the-committing-as-it-is-heavy-and-bitter-in/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [What coward would not fight when he is sure of victory?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/what-coward-would-not-fight-when-he-is-sure-of-victory/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [There is not a minute of time in all of our life but we must either be near to God or we will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/there-is-not-a-minute-of-time-in-all-of-our-life-but-we-must-either/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [The life of a Christian is wondrously ruled in this world, by the consideration and meditation of the life of another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/the-life-of-a-christian-is-wondrously-ruled-in-this-world-by-the/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [When a man is to travel into a far country...one staff in his hand may comfortably support him, but a bundle of staves would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-a-man-is-to-travel-into-a-far-country-one-staff-in-his-hand-may/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [The wronged side is always the safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/the-wronged-side-is-always-the-safest/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [If believers decay in their first love, or in some other grace, yet another grace may grow and increase, such as humility, their brokenheartedness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/if-believers-decay-in-their-first-love-or-in-some-other-grace-yet/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [What is the gospel itself but a merciful moderation, in which Christ's obedience is esteemed ours, and our sins laid upon him, wherein God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/what-is-the-gospel-itself-but-a-merciful-moderation-in-which-christ-s/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) [Explore all 85 Richard Sibbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. The enemy of the plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-devil-jason-heaved-the-tick-over-his-shoulder-like-a-collier-with/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist”—Charles Baudelaire “The second greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled-was-convincing-the-world-he/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) [Browse all 4,283 Devil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore he opposes us all he can.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Sibbes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-knows-we-go-to-fetch-strength/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-knows-we-go-to-fetch-strength/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f18/richard-sibbes-7950_devil_when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-kn_438939.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore he opposes…” — Richard Sibbes", "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": "Richard Sibbes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we go to God by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-knows-we-go-to-fetch-strength/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-we-go-to-god-by-prayer-the-devil-knows-we-go-to-fetch-strength/#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 } } ] } ```