The Wake-Up Call: "The Secret to Great Planning"

Host: John David Walt (Seedbed)
Date: January 16, 2026

Overview of Episode

This episode centers on the interplay between faith and planning in the Christian life, drawing from Proverbs 16 and Psalm 37. John David Walt encourages listeners to embrace a “trust God and make plans” approach rather than seeing faith and planning as opposing forces. Practical wisdom, scripture reflection, and a call to “consecration” shape this episode’s message about releasing control, trusting God first, and allowing the Spirit to infuse our daily plans with divine wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Consecration and Belonging to Jesus

• Walt opens with an invitation to join in consecration, framing the day as an opportunity to belong to Jesus and to allow Him to belong to us.
• Quote [02:02]: “If we can walk out into this day belonging to him and knowing that he belongs to us, we already won...” — John David Walt

2. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 16 & The Relationship Between Trust and Planning

• Main text: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:1)
• Walt highlights the wisdom in not dividing trust and planning, but integrating them.
  • Is it “trust God or make plans” or “trust God and make plans”?
  • The answer: Both are essential—trusting God comes first, then planning in faith.
• Quote [03:15]: “We don’t put our trust in our plans, nor do we trust that our plans are God’s will. We trust God. Next we make plans. Then we trust God to establish our plans.” — John David Walt

3. Psalm 37 and the Posture of Wisdom

• Walt cites Psalm 37:3-4: “Trust in the Lord and do good... Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
• Emphasis on how trust builds wisdom, which then shapes our planning.
• Quote [05:10]: “Trusting God brings a quality of wisdom into our planning that changes the shape of our plans.”

4. Common Pitfalls and Practical Application

• Admitting a tendency to make plans first, then ask God to bless them.
• The right sequence is key: “Establish trust in God and then make our plans.” (06:14)
• Encourages listeners to reflect:
  • Why do we err towards either extreme?
  • What would it look like to trust boldly and plan confidently?

5. Memorable Prayer

• Walt offers a prayer for aligning will with God:
  • [07:40]: “Abba Father, I want to want your will over my plans. Grant me the grace to trust you more and then make my plans to reflect your will. And I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

6. Musical Interlude: “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”

• Walt leads listeners in singing “Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” tying the potter-clay metaphor to surrendering plans to God (Jeremiah reference).
• Quote [09:33]:
  • “Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”

7. Wisdom for Daily Life: Love As the Core of the Christian Journey

• Walt describes the Christian life as a journey of love “from Jesus to a person, through a person, to a person.”
• Encourages listeners to let God’s love flow into and through them as they encounter others during their day.
• Quote [13:02]: “The Christian faith is the journey of love from Jesus to a person and then to another person. It's Jesus always and a person... People are looking for Jesus and... it's life-changing.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:02 | John David Walt | “If we can walk out into this day belonging to him and knowing that he belongs to us, we already won...” | | 03:15 | John David Walt | “We don’t put our trust in our plans, nor do we trust that our plans are God’s will. We trust God. Next we make plans. Then we trust God to establish our plans.” | | 05:10 | John David Walt | “Trusting God brings a quality of wisdom into our planning that changes the shape of our plans.” | | 07:40 | John David Walt | “Abba Father, I want to want your will over my plans. Grant me the grace to trust you more and then make my plans to reflect your will. And I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.” | | 09:33 | Hymn | “Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.” | | 13:02 | John David Walt | “The Christian faith is the journey of love from Jesus to a person and then to another person. It's Jesus always and a person...” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 02:45: Introduction, consecration, the day’s theme
• 02:46 – 07:00: Scriptural reflection: Proverbs 16 and Psalm 37, faith and planning
• 07:01 – 09:10: Reflections on trust, plans, and a prayer for God’s will
• 09:11 – 11:16: Singing “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” (potter and clay imagery)
• 11:17 – 13:20: Musical reflections, practical encouragement, and the journey of love
• 13:21 – end: Final exhortation, sending forth with wisdom and love

Final Encouragements

• Make plans, but from a place of deep trust in God. When we trust first, our plans are infused by the Spirit, becoming a co-labor with God rather than a mere human endeavor.
• Let love flow. As you go about your day, remember that your interactions are opportunities for God’s love to reach others through you.
• Quote [13:50]: “People are looking for Jesus... let love fill your eyes with vision for them, your ears with compassion for them, your heart with a sense of presence and attunement for them.”

For further reflection, Walt suggests considering why we tend to lean toward either faith or planning, and what it would look like to let trust precede our plans, then plan with wisdom and confidence.

Summary by The Wake-Up Call Podcast Summarizer