Praying Leaders

Weekly Thought – August 25, 2026

Fred was born on September 1, 1915. This year would be the 111th anniversary of his birth. He was the third of five boys. His Mother and Dad taught him the value of integrity. Matthew Bunyan Smith and Amye Anderson Smith were praying parents. Fred followed their example and until physically unable, he knelt by his bed nightly asking for wisdom and “talking things over” with God.

Praying Leaders

Prayer alone will not produce a leader. The Apostle Paul was a leader before meeting Christ, but he was leading in the wrong direction. But no one can become a competent Christian leader without prayer. As healthy plants require rain, so powerful leadership requires prayer.

There is disuse, misuse, and abuse of prayer. I want to talk about four steps of useful prayer:
1) Positioning – Prayer positions me. It reminds me I am not the ultimate leader; He is. I am ever a steward and never an owner. Sometimes kneeling helps me to physically experience this step.
2) Shifting into neutral – Prayer is most effective when I shift into neutral gear. This means I come willing to accept divine leadership. This is the toughest part of my prayer life. Leaders are usually strong-willed and feel extremely uncomfortable, even awkward, if they aren’t in a forward gear. “Your will be done” is so much harder than “this is what I think we should do.”
3) Dynamic peace – Tournament golfers standing over a crucial putt, block out the crowd, the money, and focus on nothing other than the pure stroke. Often, as leaders we must block out our fear of failure. We must avoid second guessing our decisions. Prayer helps us to find a dynamic peace – not a sleepy slumber, but an exhilaration. Confidence comes and concentration follows. Prayer does not improve our basic skills, but it gives us concentration that permits us to do our best.
4) Acceptance – When I’ve done my best, only then in prayer can I peacefully accept failure and success, “treating those two impostors just the same,” as Kipling said. A leader prays himself into the conscious presence and will of God so that he accomplishes “my utmost for His highest” and hears the welcoming benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

This week think about: 1) What causes me to pray? 2) Who is my model as a praying leader? 3) How can I deepen my walk with Jesus?

Words of Wisdom: “Prayer alone will not make a leader.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1 NET Bible)

Our Father

Weekly Thought – August 18, 2026

Fred understood the human condition. When talking about commitment he wrote, “Another escape is perfectionism. Waiting for perfection in relationships, causes, or jobs may sound sensible but it’s utter foolishness.” He also understood the importance of prayer in the life of imperfect human beings.

Our Father

Prayer is a critical element in the devotional life. Sadly, too many see it as an exercise in getting God to go along with whatever is desired. I once heard it described as the “divine bellhop” approach. I would like to mention three points which seem important to me in considering prayer:

1) Prayer is relational. When I asked my friend Ray Stedman what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ, he wrote, “Christ has a personality, is knowable, and has the qualities of love, care, and understanding.” When we talk with God, we are approaching Him through the person of Christ. We are able to talk with Him because we are accepted through Christ. Gratitude is a crucial part of this relationship. When I come to the person of Christ with a thankful heart I am much more prepared for the time. I come with open hands, not a shopping list.

2) Prayer is positional. I always think of prayer as a way of getting into proper tune with God like the orchestra tunes up. The musicians line up with A440; the Christian is in tune when he gets in the position of saying, “Not my will, but yours.” I find that I struggle until I can get to that point of relaxed comfort with God. I once spoke with a plumber who goes into tiny spaces. “Don’t you get claustrophobic? Before I crawl under the house, I get my body into a relaxed position and stay that way. If I don’t I get inflexible and seem to swell up.” When I find myself swelling up and becoming spiritual inflexible, I remember the position of letting go of my will.

3) Prayer is directional. Father Cavanaugh, President of Notre Dame, used to say to other leaders: “Be right.” Prayer is a great way to get our direction pointed right. When we are going the wrong way, prayer recalibrates our compass. My friend Steve Brown told me a man came to him asking for prayer. The topic? Whether he should give up his mistress or not. Steve told him to get lost. “Man, you and I both know you’re wrong and there is no need praying about it.” The witness of the Spirit lets us know when we are out in the weeds.

This week think about: 1) How has prayer changed me? 2) What is my definition of a personal relationship with Christ? 3) When is prayer most meaningful?

Words of Wisdom: “The witness of the Spirit lets us know when we are out in the weeds.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.” (Matthew 6:9 NET Bible)

Working Worship

Weekly Thought – August 11, 2026

Fred appreciated mothers. His Mom, Mrs. M.B. Smith, was the wife of a Baptist pastor who raised 5 boys in the mill district of North Nashville. Her consistency formed Fred’s view of parenting. One of his favorite conversations was overheard in Blowing Rock, NC. “It’s time to leave, come on.” The little girl responded, “I don’t like you anymore!” The Mom quietly said, “I will always like you and we are going home.”

Working Worship

Work is worship (or it should be). This was very much part of our early American beliefs, but as churches became more organized and staffed by vocationals, we moved away from this idea. We secularized our work and left worship to the professionals. Is this the best approach?

The Shakers, for example, were known for the perfection of their woodworking because they believed the work of their hands was praise from their heart. I think it is time to get back to that.

When we take this view it does not mean our only option is “full-time Christian service.” Our skills, training, and talents should be used for the common good. If I am a Christian architect, I don’t have to limit my work to churches. It is the motivation that counts.

The word “excellence” has become part of the modern lingo. Long before, it was a craze it was the modus operandi for God. He is the author of perfection. I guess we could say, “He wrote the book on it!” He wants our work to represent Him through our integrity. I believe “a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” is part of my worship. If I accept money and not fulfilling my responsibilities, I am being dishonest. That is not worship.

Honesty, loyalty, and credibility are critical to me. We once built a house and hired a tradesman who was a pillar in the community church. I visited the job site, found him resting, and inquired about his condition. “Well, Mr. Smith, I am fasting and praying this week, so I am too tired to really do much work.” When I mentioned he should be exercising these disciplines on his own time and not receiving my money, he was quite incensed. He thought I would be pleased with his spirituality. That was a workman not worthy of his hire.

Paul wrote to his converts that whatever they did, it should be to the glory of God. I don’t think he just meant this for church service. When Christians segment their lives they lose the joy of wholeness. I see people who live like grapefruit – with little sections for each area. Until it becomes unified, the value of work as worship is lost on them.

Think carefully about: 1) How often do I stop and think of my work as worship? 2) What tempts me to do “grapefruit living?” 3) Who can I encourage with this idea today?

Words of Wisdom: “He wants our work to represent Him through our integrity.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23 NET Bible)

Selective “Selectric” Thinking

Weekly Thought – August 4, 2026

Fred “changed his address from earth to heaven” on August 17, 2007. It is one of the few times in the year of weekly thoughts, his daughter and BWF President Brenda steps out and makes personal remarks. Dad’s desire to be helpful, productive, and useful marked his entire life. The thousands of pieces of paper in my BWF files attest to Dad’s belief in writing everything down he believed worth remembering. I am most grateful for this habit, for it makes breakfastwithfred.com and the Weekly Thought possible.

Some of my most prized possessions are letters from him. A few were pages long; many others were ripped off scraps of paper with simply a scripture reference or a phrase, but all were sent to encourage me on the way .Thank you for sharing in the legacy of his God-given wisdom. Continue to stretch others and as he would say, “write it down.”

Selective “Selectric” Thinking

Writing gives one many advantages: clarity in our thoughts, precision in our words, additional tools for thinking, and organization in our presentation. A writer doesn’t have to be a literary stylist. You must decide what you need to say, how you can best do it, and of course, always determine your purpose for saying anything at all. Speaking has always come more naturally for me, although I work very hard at honing my skills. Having a message is critical to both writers and speakers. My good friend, Zig Ziglar, tells of the young man who rushed up to him almost breathless, “I want to do just what you do!” “Well, young man, what is your message?” “Oh,” he answered, “I don’t have one, but I can get one – I want to be on stage.” Writing is like that because you have to have a message.

Brevity is a beneficial byproduct of writing. In ordinary business writing we must be our own editors. Most want more space than they deserve. Rewriting is a courtesy to the reader and to us when making decisions. Concise writing indicates clear thinking. Writing it down burns the fuzz off.

I strongly recommend making notes of what you hear. Retention is better and they spur our own creative thinking. Notes are a storehouse for future reference. Over the 46 years of association with Maxey Jarman I took voluminous notes. What better source of reading than the ideas you have been impressed with enough to capture? No one has a good enough memory to recall one-tenth of all the good and helpful things we hear. Write them down.

May I say a warm word for letters? I may have written a few thousand personal letters in my life. It is my joy and curse. I probably think more letters than I actually get down for I thoroughly dislike courtesy only, fluffy ones. “Smith’s Night Letters” are typed with two fingers on my old IBM Selectric with a continuous roll of paper fed through the back. Sometimes a friend gets two inches of letter. Other times, they get one three feet long! I don’t have copies of those letters, but I have the memories of great nocturnal journeys spent in conversation pecking away.

This week think about: 1) How much clearer is my thinking when I write it down first? 2) Where do I do my best thinking? 3) What letter is in my mind that should be put to paper?

Words of Wisdom: “Writing burns the fuzz off our thinking.”

Wisdom from the Word: “David said, ‘All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.’” (1 Chronicles 28:19 NET Bible)

Meaningful Success

Weekly Thought – August 28, 2026

Fred distinguished between intrinsic and accumulated value. “When someone says so and so is worth a million dollars, I always think, ‘He may have accumulated a million, but he may not be worth a plug nickel.’ I am valuable because Christ died for me and so are you – not because of the balance in your checkbook.” He thought of success as part of a process and not just the gathering of material goods.

Meaningful Success

I believe in working for success much more than just praying for it. Pray for maturity and work for success. If both come together, then you will know best how to use it, how to enjoy it, and how to perpetuate it. As you work, do so enthusiastically, intelligently, intensely, and ethically.

A friend wrote this reminder on his wall: “A thing that needs doing can be done honestly.” Good ends never launder dirty means.

I find the way to go includes three elements:
1) Get yourself a clear definition of success. The dictionary always uses a financial measure, but to me that isn’t it. Success is using your talent and gifts to their highest advantage and contribution. Wealth may come with it, or it may not. My associate, Joe Dominy gave me this one: Something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. The reward is usually paid in the “coin of the realm.” In business this means money; in politics, power; in ministry, blessing and respect; in teaching, the satisfaction of passing knowledge from one generation to another. Ironically, the only coin that gets criticized is money. No one is lambasted for too many degrees, or too much respect, or even too much power. The multiplication of money should be seen as necessary for the multiplication of ministry.

2) Clarify your philosophical base. Behind every plan of action, every commitment of time and energy, should be a solid philosophical base. From it comes the answer to the question, “why.” For example, why not stay where it is comfortable? Why push ahead, risking failure? Those answers are found in the fundamental belief system we each have. This will then be translated into that unscratchable itch. Some call it stewardship; some call it ego drive; others see it as responsibility. If it is only for materialistic accumulation, often it ends up like the scripture verse, “He gave them their desire, but sent leanness of soul.” Life is a two-stage rocket. The first is physical energy – it ignites and we are off. As physical energy diminishes, the spiritual stage must ignite to boost us into orbit or we fall back.

3) Select a pleasant route. Too often we think only of our destination and not the possible ways of getting there. Recently, on the west Coast, I decided to turn off the interstate and follow a small scenic road. It is so easy to use the “A to B in the fastest possible time” way of living, we miss so much. I must admit I took this approach when our children were small. We pulled into the Grand Canyon, I pointed out the big hole, and then off we were! Too often, we have our goal so much in mind we fail to take another, more leisurely way. Goals and destination should both be interesting. We spend a lot more time getting there, so it should be pleasant. As I like to say, look for the joy in the journey.

Think about: 1) How fast am I traveling? 2) What is my personal definition of success? 3) Who models success for me?

Words of Wisdom: “Good ends never launder dirty means.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity – every good way. For wisdom will enter your heart and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.” (Proverbs 2:9,10 NET Bible)

Older, But Never Old

Weekly Thought – July 21, 2026

Fred finished well. His mental, emotional, and spiritual disciplines overcame physical immobility. One of his favorite illustrations was the young man with severe limitations who sat on the front row as Fred spoke. Afterwards, he said, “I have disabilities, but they don’t have me.”

One of Fred’s best-loved Leadership Journal articles was titled, “Older, But Never Old” These timely and timely principles bear repeating in this excerpted section on the benefits of aging from this classic piece.

Older, But Never Old

When I heard a friend call himself old for the first time he was seventy-six. I was offended. It’s a serious problem when people start thinking of themselves as old because they’ve accepted that categorization. It begins feeling like a holding pattern. They are starting to coast to the finish line.

Older is a fact, but old is an unhealthy attitude.

I think it is important to look at some of the benefits of getting older:
1) Selective tension – Older people are usually tense over important things, not over everything. As we age we shouldn’t lose tension, but should apply it selectively. Getting older means we should be able to allocate tension to the important instead of the trivial.

2) Clarified values – Who we are influences our happiness much more than what we have. One concern is our eagerness to pass on values, but need to do it in a way that is received. We can’t expect younger ones to accept our values with the same certainty we have gained over a lifetime.

3) Experience – Experience turns knowledge into wisdom. Experience, like faith, is a teacher, but faith keeps us from bearing the scars of willful experiences. Wise experiences should direct us to the wisdom of “this is the way, walk ye in it.

4) Increased excitement – As the years get shorter, the excitement of fully utilizing them can be a great motivator. Just like reaching the 400 mile marker while driving the Indianapolis 500, the last 100 are exciting because they are the reason you drove the first 400. Aging is like that.

5) Tested relationships – As we grow older, relationships mature. We begin laughing about the things that caused us tears. I used to tell Mary Alice, “the things we cry about today we’ll laugh about tomorrow.” We discover what is important and what is not; we know which friendships will hold and which ones will always be tentative.

6) Death is part of life – Whatever I have known to now has been fragmentary and transient. The great hope of heaven is that I will know the full truth. I think it’s important as we go through life to create thirsts only death can satisfy. For example, the thirst for truth, for God, for immortality, and renewing relationships who have gone ahead.

This week carefully consider: 1) Who do I know who is getting older but not old? 2) What lessons can I learn about aging? 3) Where does fear immobilize me?

Words of Wisdom: “The wise man fears the loosed lion; the fool fears the lion in a cage.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The glory of young men is their strength; and the splendor of old men is gray hair.” (Proverbs 20:29 NET Bible)

Managing Fear

Weekly Thought – July 14, 2026

Fred was a realist. He looked at life through a theological grid which saw mankind as fallen with the opportunity for redemption. Their son, Fred, once asked his Dad, “If you had only one speech left to give, what would be the topic?” Fred, Sr.’s answer: “The nature of man and the nature of God.” He understood the human condition, but also accepted the good news of God’s word.

Managing Fear

Most of our fears are the everyday garden variety, but they are still very real. We have nagging fears of self-doubt and discouragement. We dread sickness and loneliness. We, as Christians, God doesn’t give us a “spirit of fear.” We know He doesn’t give us a constant fearful condition. However, we must still fight against destructive anxieties in order to experience the “love and power and a sound mind” which is promised.

Some of our fears are natural reactions to hurt and inadequacy. They are not phantom emotions; they are surely real. Because they are, we must deal with them realistically.

When fear becomes unbearable we run in terror or strike out blindly without a plan. Once I suffered a terrible embarrassment. I knew right then what people meant when they said they wanted to scream or faint. To scream would be to let others know of my fear. I wanted to faint to avoid the entire situation.

It is only when fear becomes a hindrance to our concentration and an impediment to our normal functions of life that we need to attack it. Oftentimes, we must just wait it out. If it hangs on, then we must take the responsibility to drive it away or keep it manageable.

Some fear is good. A true existence requires healthy fear. Most winners are driven by the fear of failure. Athletes call it, “playing for pride.” Fear turns on our juices, but we must use them constructively. Properly controlled, fear becomes our cautious guide. Treated intelligently, it guides us around dangers. Only when it gets out of control does it begin to guide us into the dark places which lead to immobilization. The wise man fears the loosed lion; the fool fears the lion in a cage.

Years ago, Charlie McCormick of spice fame, gave me a line he saw on an English pub wall: “Fear knocked at the door; faith answered, and no one was there.” “Perfect love casts out fear.” The reason simply this: fear is recognizing our vulnerability and love is accepting it. Fear respects vulnerability and love, like a sponge, absorbs it.

This week think about: 1) How healthy are my fears? 2) When has fear protected me? 3) Where does fear immobilize me?

Words of Wisdom: “The wise man fears the loosed lion; the fool fears the lion in a cage.”

Wisdom from the Word: “For I am the Lord your God, the one who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am helping you.’” (Isaiah 41:13 NET Bible)

Head in the Game

Weekly Thought – July 7, 2026

Fred loved exercise, if done by others. He teased Dr. Ken Cooper, founder of the world-renowned Cooper Clinic and Aerobics Center in Dallas one of his favorite activities was driving through the donut shop, parking, and eating while he watched others run. But he believed serving others meant taking care of himself. He chose manual “temporary” projects around the house as his favorite outlet for fitness. He was the king of duct tape!

Head in the Game

As a way of starting, let me ask you to take a piece of paper, draw a line from top to bottom, dividing it into two columns. On the left, list those emotions which you must discipline in order to stay mentally healthy. These are the ones that bring us mental discomfort or even make us sick. On the right, list the one that move us toward healthy living. For example, unrestrained anger, jealousy, greediness would be on the left; gratitude, excitement, and positive tension would be on the right.

The next step is to use our willpower to focus on the healthy and avoid the unhealthy. Until we identify them and their affect on us, we cannot do anything about it. But we need to recognize that emotions vary in their affect. Fear may be paralyzing and immobilizing to one person, while it is only distracting to another, or even energizing. I cannot make a list for you, nor you for me. But we can think about it together.

One important point is most emotional problems are not sin, per se. they are the result of being human and living in a human, fallen world. But we have to recognize that sin does play a part in some situations. When this is true, willpower isn’t the answer – repentance is. We must take responsibility for emotional difficulties that are sin-based. I cannot handle my rebellious spirit by calling it an unhealthy attitude. No amount of counseling will cure me. I must confess, repent, and go God’s way.

I wish there were an easy way to maintain a healthy mental life without discipline, but there isn’t. In many ways our will is who we are and who we will become. Actually, a harmful emotion can be turned into a good one by the action of this will.

Scripture talks about self-control and it speaks of it as a purposeful action. That is the way to emotional health. I found out a long time ago, if you decide to live with the unhealthy emotions, decide also to indulge and suffer. Health is a choice.

This week consider: 1) How do I handle negative emotions? 2) Which emotions are the best for my mental health? 3) Who models emotional health for me?

Words of Wisdom: “If you decide to live with the unhealthy emotions, decide also to indulge and suffer.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NET Bible)

Ask Fred

Weekly Thought – June 30, 2026

Fred believed in focused effort. Random activity rarely produces results. He also believed in effectiveness. Doing something for the sake of efficiency had little appeal to him. He was hired as a management consultant because he could identify the sticking points in organizations and make recommendations for positive, remedial solutions.

Paul D. Robbins and Harold L. Myra interviewed Fred for Leadership magazine, asking about his philosophy of management. This week’s thought features an excerpt.

Ask Fred

Paul and Harold: “You always appear so relaxed, even casual, yet there is below the surface, a lurking intensity. Does this intensity have a special meaning for you?”

Fred: Yes, I guess it does, for it is one of my gaugepoints, like a channel marker for a ship’s captain. Intensity is the boiling point of effort; the concentration of energy’ the tip of the welding flame. Most men of accomplishment have a special ability to develop intensity at the right time over the right issue. Jackie Robinson at second base could come out of his relaxed pose, snap into action as the play came to him, and then go back into poised relaxation, saving himself for the next time. Most pros have this ability. Only amateurs keep jumping up and down constantly. Many hardworking people fail to accomplish much because they lack intensity at the crucial time.

Paul and Harold: “Do you have a management system?”

Fred: “Yes. I like to find the essence of each situation like a logger who finds the key log, blows it out, and lets the stream do the rest. Almost all problems have a key log if we learn to find it. I try to decide what I’m trying to do, what it takes to do it, and who I can get to do it better than I can.”

Paul and Harold: “Say a word about executive systems.”

Fred: “I use this definition: “An executive is not a person who can do the work better than the others; he is a person who can get others to do the work better than he can.” My responsibility is to be a supervisor, not a superworker. This requires competent people. Selection, development, and motivation are key to the effective use of this system.
It is very important that the people who work for me understand my job. If they don’t, they often try to do it. That’s why I must know what I want to control. This is simple: I make a list of what only I can do. I add a few things that I prefer doing and that is what I hold on to. The rest I assign until I can delegate.”

This week think about: 1) What question would I have asked Fred? 2) How am I defining leadership? 3) What can only I do best?

Words of Wisdom: “Many hardworking people fail to accomplish much because they lack intensity at the crucial time.”

Wisdom from the Word: “But as for you, be strong and don’t get discouraged for your work will be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:7 NET Bible)

True Comfort

Weekly Thought – June 23, 2026

Fred’s friend Steve Brown urges believers to be “free in Christ.” Freedom comes at a price – whether the blood of Jesus or the blood of Americans throughout the centuries. Independence Day reminds us of Fred’s last days when he learned to be “delightfully dependent.”

True Comfort

We walk together in this “vale of tears.” No one is exempt from the dark that sometimes obscures the path. We can comfort or we can sympathize – I prefer comfort.

Oftentimes sympathy is synthetic empathy. Sympathy is sometimes offered to a troubled person by one who is not with relative ease. Sympathy can get in the way of God’s work as Chambers points out, “Be careful not to work against God in sympathizing with those with whom He is working.” Strong words!

Sympathy can be an addictive emotion and one that cripples the receiver. Loss can develop into a syndrome of sympathy blocking healthy relationships. Conversations begin and end with an emotional discussion of the loss. No doubt Christ was cutting through this psychological thicket when he asked the man at the pool, “Would you be made whole?”

I usually ask, “When do you want to get over this hurt?” Then I follow it with, “What are you willing to do to get over it?” Pharaoh was not willing to do what it took to rid himself of the frogs. Too often when we have problems we, too, want “one more night with the frogs.”

I have talked about the ills of empathy to set the backdrop for the merits of true comfort. Comfort recognizes the hurt without placing blame. Comfort shares the hurt. The word “compassion” means “with pain”… when we are compassionate we are with the other person in their hurt. I saw an older widow comfort a younger one by simply asking, “It hurts, doesn’t it?”

Serious hurt always casts a shadow over alternatives. A man facing serious financial disaster came to talk. We explored options he hadn’t considered. They shed small rays of hope. When he left I thought how hypocritical it would have been to appear sympathetic, quote some scripture, and promise to pray for him.

Comfort is a process by which we try to find opportunities for healing, unknown avenues of explanation, and understanding. Comfort is never clichés. True comfort is unique, personal, one to one.

Comfort lights a candle in the darkness.

Think carefully about: 1) Which is easier for me – sympathy or true comfort? 2) What brings me comfort? 3) Who is hurting I can comfort?

Words of Wisdom: “Comfort shares the hurt.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4 NET Bible)

1 2 3 ›»