Sermon preparation was an unrelenting discipline. At times he might have sermon outlines written out for two or three weeks in advance. Of course, there were those times when it did not come that easy and the outline would not come as he wanted. It did not matter if he was riding a bus or train, or if someone was driving him to an appointment across town, as soon as he would get settled in his seat, out would come a book. This might be a book he was reading at the time, or a spiral notebook in which he would make notes for a sermon or article. He was constantly studying, reading, writing and thinking. Hours were spent mulling over a word or phrase.

He meticulously prepared sermons that were majestic and profound. He learned to use crisp, precise, climactic sentences. Not possessing a strong voice, his message nevertheless penetrated the soul. You never forgot what he said.

Tozer's forte was his prayer life. His entire ministry of preaching and writing flowed out of his fervent prayer life. He often said, "As a man prayed so was he." What he discovered in prayer soon found expression in sermons, articles, editorials and finally in his books. The major part of his preparation was prayer. True preaching always begins in prayer. Any sermon that does not originate in prayer is just not a message from God, no matter how learned the preacher is. Preaching must be the present voice of God to a particular people.

Tozer early realized that to be effective in preaching he would have to develop sensitivity and precision in the use of words. He developed an aversion to dead words and led a vigorous crusade against overworked cliches.

The reading habit Tozer acquired as a young man developed, and as a pastor his appetite and acquisitions increased. In New York, Chicago, and other cities Tozer frequently rummaged through the offerings of secondhand bookstores. He had a good eye for the unusual, and his library held books with which the average reader is unacquainted. He read theology, history, philosophy, poetry, and literature in general, and was irresistibly attracted to the ancient writers, particularly the church fathers and Christian mystics.

High above all other books he placed the Bible, which he read diligently. With dictionary, lexicon, and concordance at hand he sought the etymology of all doubtful words. He devoted long hours to memorizing the Scriptures and great poets. The accuracy and appropriateness of his quotations in sermons and writings reflected his familiarity with many branches of learning. He seemed to always have at hand what he wanted when he wanted it.

According to Tozer, every preacher must develop the habit of observing good reading. For example, Tozer cautioned against reading a good book. He said many good books are published every year; the problem with the majority of these is they are merely rehashing what someone else has written. In your reading don't become enamored with the latest release. Go back to the classics, he often counseled, and learn from them. Read some of the great Puritan authors and some of the mystics. Read and memorize good poetry. Observe how these writers express themselves. Become word conscious. Pay attention to words and the effect they have. Get and use a dictionary. Nothing takes the place of using the right word. Flaubert used to say there are no synonyms; find the right word and use it. Tozer's trademark in his preaching was that he always seemed to have at his command the right word.