. . . for whatever reason we may call upon Him . . . Deuteronomy 4:7 (NKJV)

I love the New King James Version of Deuteronomy 4:7. It says that for whatever reason we may call upon the Lord. For whatever reason! You lost your car keys? Call upon the Lord; He knows where they are. You received a concerning report from the doctor? Call upon the Lord; He is Yehovah Rapha, our Healing God. Your children aren’t following Him? Call upon the Lord; He is their Creator who knit them together in your womb, the Author of their faith who wrote their stories. You are homeless? Call upon the Lord; He is Yehovah Jireh our Provider, the Lord Jesus who is going to prepare a place for us. Trouble with a friend? Call upon the Lord Jesus who knows what it’s like to be rejected. You lost a loved one? Call upon the Lord, our great Comforter. You don’t know where to turn? Call upon the Lord and He will make straight your path.

“For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?” Deuteronomy 4:7 (NKJV)

Those who have been following My TEA CUPP Prayers for awhile now know how much I love to use God’s Word in my prayers. To avoid vain repetitions, I will often take a verse from my daily Bible reading to use in prayer. The last P of the TEA CUPP is for Petitions where we pour our hearts out to Jesus. As you call upon the Lord for whatever reason, today I’d like to show you the many ways you might present those petitions to the Father using His Word. Though “please bless” and “I pray for” are wonderful ways to share your heart with the Lord, here are a sampling of other ways you might begin your prayers:

• Arise for . . . (Psalm 10:12, 68:1)

• Awake to . . . (Psalm 59:4; Isaiah 51:9)
• Carry . . . (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11)
• Come to . . . (Psalm 101:2, 119:77)
• Deal with . . . (Psalm 109:21, 119:124)
• Defend . . . (Psalm 20:1, 59:1)

• Deliver . . . (Psalm 59:1, 60:5; 2 Peter 2:9)

• Do not forsake . . . (Psalm 38:21, 71:9)

• Do not pass on by . . . (Genesis 18:3)
• Forgive . . . (Matthew 6:12-15; Luke 23:34)
• Give . . . (Numbers 27:4; Psalm 2:8)

• Give ear . . . (Psalm 5:1, 80:1)
• Grace be with . . . (Acts 4:33; Revelation 22:21)
• Guide . . . (Psalm 32:8, 48:14)
• Have mercy on . . .  (Matthew 15:22, 20:31)
• Hear and see . . . (Isaiah 37:17; Luke 10:24)
• Help . . . (Psalm 60:11, 109:26)
• Hold . . . 
(Psalm 73:23, 94:18, 119:117, 139:10)
• How long . . . (Psalm 80:4, 89:46)
• I ask . . . (Matthew 7:7; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14-15)
• I beg You earnestly for . . . (Mark 5:23; Luke 7:4)
• I call for . . . (Genesis 4:26; Psalm 91:15)
• I cast . . . (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7)

• I come to You for . . . (Matthew 11:28, 24:3)
• I cry for . . . (Psalm 61:1, 77:1, 88:1-2, 88:13, 107:28) 

• I implore You to . . . (Psalm 116:4; Luke 9:38)
• I petition for . . . (Esther 7:3; Psalm 20:5)
• I pour . . . (Psalm 62:8; Isaiah 26:16)
• I pray for . . . (Exodus 33:13; James 5:13)

• I request for . . . (Romans 1:10; Philippians 4:6)
• I want You to . . . (Psalm 23:1; Matthew 20:32)
• I will not let You go unless you bless . . . (Genesis 32:26; Psalm 67:1)
• It is time for . . . (Psalm 119:126, Revelation 1:3)
• Look upon . . . (2 Samuel 16:12, Psalm 119:132)
• Make haste to . . . (Psalm 38:22, 40:13, 70:1)

• Preserve . . . (Psalm 16:1, 64:1)

• Remember . . . (Nehemiah 13:14; Psalm 106:4; Luke 23:42)
• Restore . . . (Psalm 60:1, 80:3, 85:4)

• Return to . . . (Psalm 6:4, 90:13)
• Save . . . (Psalm 106:47, 108:6; Matthew 8:25)
• Shelter . . . (Psalm 61:3-4, 143:9) 

• Shine on . . . (Psalm 67:1, 80:1, 94:1, 119:135)

• Strengthen . . . (Psalm 27:14, 68:28)

• Take this cup from . . . (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)
• Turn to . . . (Psalm 25:16, 86:16)
• Whistle for . . . (Isaiah 5:26; Zechariah 10:8)

Today’s TEA CUPP: I know you will find many more ways to share your heart with the Lord Jesus in prayer.  Try one of these petition-starters in your prayer journal today. We can conclude this list of petition prayer starters with another 4:7 verse:

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 1Peter 4:7 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.