When it comes to praying don’t think that the amount of time is the goal. Don’t get discouraged and quit just because you don’t pray for an hour. Start small and watch how your time in prayer grows.

The goal of prayer is communion with God. You need to be intentional in developing your prayer life. If you feel like you run out of things to say in just a couple of minutes into your prayer time, try this pattern.

(This is not original with me) C.A.T.S. Confession. Adoration(Worship). Thanksgiving. Supplication. Set your timer for five minutes and spend a minute on each topic. Leave one minute at the end to be silent and to listen for God to speak.

Soon enough you’ll no longer pay attention to the time but on spending time with God.

Jeremiah 33:1-3 is chock-full of encouragement in prayer. In this chapter, Jeremiah has been arrested on the king’s order because he does not like the message God gave for Jeremiah to deliver.

Even though Jeremiah is in jail, God can’t be silenced. In your darkest hour, God is not far off. He knows right where you are and will speak to you. This requires you to be silent in prayer and listen.

Hearing from God may be the make or break moment you need while you wait for your answer to prayer!

God reminds Jeremiah that He is the LORD who made the earth, formed it and established it. The words “made” and “formed” are the same two words used in Genesis when God created the world.

The same God who took a world that was dark and void of life and gave it light and made it teem with life has the same power to turn around your present circumstances. You’re never out when you’re with God.

Our confidence in prayer is not in the length of our prayer nor the eloquence of our words but in the name of Jesus! When Jeremiah prayed, he knew the name of his God.

This will change how you pray and will boost your boldness in prayer. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us with titles that define His nature.

YAHWEH-JIREH: “The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14)

YAHWEH-RAPHA: “The Lord Who Heals” (Exodus 15:26)

YAHWEH-NISSI: “The Lord Our Banner” (Exodus 17:15), this defines that God is our victor.

YAHWEH-M’KADDESH: “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28)

YAHWEH-SHALOM: “The Lord Our Peace” (Judges 6:24

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16)

YAHWEH-ROHI: “The Lord Our Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1)

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: “The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35)

YAHWEH-SABAOTH: “The Lord of Hosts” God will accomplish what He determines to do. (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7)

Revisit your prayer list and apply the name of God to your need! This is what John 14:14 means when it says, ““¹⁴ If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Prayer is aligning our need with God’s will. Prayer is not a vending machine. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we say, “not my will but your will be done.”

In Jeremiah 33:3 God instructs Jeremiah to “Call to me and I will answer you.” The word “call” is an invitation from God to pray. God cannot lie, He will answer you.

God says, “I will show you great and hidden things that you have not known.” God has insight into your situation and understanding about the answer that He will reveal to you if you call to Him.

Nothing can stop God from intervening in the life of the person who prays in His name, according to His will. No situation is too far gone that is beyond God’s reach. Call to Him!