Prayer over the Message

"But, beyond this, there is something specially helpful with which to conclude our preparation for the pulpit, and that is to pray our way through the forthcoming sermon, taking each section and each sentence in turn.  To start with a prayer that the Lord will grip the attention of the listeners, a prayer for the opening, for help over the forseeably difficult places; praise too for the wonder of the truths that are shared; prayer that at each point of the sermon our demeanor may commend the message." - Motyer, Preaching?, pp139-40