Prayer before Sermon Composition

It is a fact that sermons don't just fall out of the sky nor are they found under a stone on our morning walks. The truth of the matter, each preacher has his/her own method of sermon preparation. I don't know a preacher who does not pray before composing a sermon, but then, I have never asked. I suppose there are many things that the seminary I attended many years ago leaves me in some ways at a place where I find myself at a loss. For example, what should I ask of God before writing and most important delivering a sermon? I write sermons, but my writing style is frequently not my delivery style. I hesitate. I want to make a sermon fresh, airy, with life and something that will not put a congregation to sleep. I want it to waken minds and hearts to enliven and activate a Christian life. This all began in Grade 4. I had a teacher who inspired me to write. She gave me the courage to believe in myself. We all need someone who inspires. With this in mind, I offer a prayer for sermon preparation. It is a highly edited form of St. Thomas Aquinas' prayer before study. Prayer before Sermon Composition True Source of light and wisdom, graciously let a ray of Your brilliance penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Give me a sharp sense of these scriptures and the ability to grasp them fundamentally. Grant to me what is needed to explain and express myself with thoroughness what you would have me say about these texts at this time. I want to make a sermon fresh, airy, with life and something that will not put a congregation to sleep. I want it to waken minds and hearts to enliven and activate a Christian life. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in completion. through Christ our Lord. Amen. ---St. Thomas Aquinas/Annette Fricke