T = Thanksgiving
E = Exalt His Name
A = Admit my sins
C = Call for my life
U = Understanding my story
P = Promises (claiming God’s)
P = Petitions (pouring out my heart)
My TEA CUPP is a prayer outline that God has given me to pray and share with others. It uses God’s Word in prayer, and helps me stay focused as I pray. I have seen in church how many of you have dear hearts for prayer already, and may not need My TEA CUPP prayers. But perhaps you want to add a new flavor to your prayer routine, and so I hear God calling me to share this with you. As you read His Word, and pray the scriptures, you will be blessed.
Before I tell you about My TEA CUPP prayers, I want you to know, there is no special way to pray or do good works that can save us. Only faith in Jesus Christ will save us from sin, and give us eternal life with Him in heaven. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave to eternal life. All who believe in Jesus, ask His forgiveness, and give their lives to Him are saved. This is a free gift.
My friends, there is one prayer that is not part of the TEA CUPP that I hope you have already prayed, and if you haven’t I pray that you will today. That prayer is the salvation prayer that started me on this journey 23 years ago. When my college cross country team died in a plane crash, I ran far away from God and I fell into depression, an eating disorder, and poor relationships, I was at rock bottom. And I cried out to God to help me. He sent me friends who introduced me to Jesus Christ. When I asked Jesus into my heart, to save me from my sins, and wash away all my mistakes, I became a new person.
Jesus is Lord of my life. My TEA CUPP prayers have brought me closer to Him and His Word. Following any special way to pray is only beneficial if you believe in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.
The neat thing about the TEA CUPP outline is it has seven parts, just like the days of the week. A person could pray them all each day, or just do one part each day if you have young children begging for your time. The prayers can be journaled or just prayed, you can pray at home or driving in the car or while washing dishes. There is always time for a TEA CUPP with the Lord.
WORD OF GOD AS PRAYER
Christians have always wanted to know how to pray. The disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And so Jesus gave His disciples the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer brings comfort to many as they recite it daily or weekly. I’m challenged to go beyond the Lord’s Prayer to use all God’s Word in prayer. For when we use God’s Word in prayer, our prayers are everlasting. God promises in Luke 21:33 (NIV), “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.”
And in Psalm 12:6 (NIV) “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”
And in Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) …”So is My Word that goes out from my mouth it will not return to Me empty, it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Matthew 6:7 (NKJV) says, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words.” By adding more verses from God’s Word to our prayers, we will break the habit of vain repetitions and add new life to our prayers.
I’d like to show you how God’s Word can be used to THANK, EXALT, ADMIT. And how His Word can help you listen for His CALL, UNDERSTAND your story, and claim His PROMISES, and how God’s Word will let you PETITION God and pour out your heart to Jesus.
You are invited to a very special TEA CUPP Party.
Don’t worry about what to say, His Word will be your conversation starter.
Please come as you are right now!
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica