The Daniel Plan

04/11/2023

Enter in just as you are. Start with one thing, but start. Perhaps you will set a goal in faith to take time in God’s Word and be refreshed by his promises. Or you may start by eating more real, whole foods or walking with friends. The best place to start is wherever you are. As you focus on progress, not perfection, you will be equipped to run the race God’s set for you.

04/03/2023

One of the most important parts of the Focus Essential is to know your motivation, or why you must get healthy. Without an underlying clear sense of motivation, it is much harder to stay the course in good times and hard ones. But once you know why you care, why you must be healthy, your motivation literally provides the fuel for staying focused. Ask yourself why you must be healthy. Is it to live in God’s will? To have greater health and mental clarity? Or to be a great role model for someone you love? What's your why?

03/15/2023

This week is all about the GOOD. Greens are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. Explore the wide variety of greens from the classic, well-loved organic baby spinach to lacinto kale and collards. Grab a handful to complement your morning smoothie, make your own custom mix of greens for salads, or sauté them with a little EVOO and fresh garlic. Please SHARE how you love to eat your greens!

03/03/2023

Make great food choices 90% of the time. For the remaining 10%, cut yourself a little slack and allow yourself margin to enjoy some of your favorite foods on occasion. This way you won’t feel deprived, and you will avoid binging on something you’ll regret later.

03/01/2023

Where you bring your attention determines how you feel, and feeling grateful is a joyful place to be. This mindset builds your faith as you focus on the gifts God has given you. It helps you eat right as you focus on being grateful for the blessing of eating delicious, healthy food that serves your body. You realize how grateful you are for the renewed health of your body. Gratitude opens your heart to recognize how blessed you are by your family, friends, and community. What are you grateful for? Share your blessings in comment.

02/27/2023

Think of the goals you have set for yourself. What distractions are getting in the way of those goals? What habits are less than beneficial? You might concentrate on just one distraction at a time. Resolve by God’s grace to leave it behind. Simplify your life and only do what really counts.

02/03/2023

Faith is foundational. By itself though, faith can do only so much. The Bible urges us to add other qualities that bring faith to its fullest potential. These additional qualities include goodness, knowledge, self-control and perseverance. These qualities can be easily translated to our health journey. As we learn the best foods to eat, we can then ask God to help us develop the self-control and perseverance to make those foods a steady part of our diet. We can grow in self-control by planning ahead and being intentional about what we eat. By planning ahead, we'll always have good choices available to nourish us. By being mindful in this way, and doing it consistently, we use our knowledge, self-control and perseverance. Then our bodies will be at their best for whatever service the Lord asks of us.

01/24/2023

Change can feel daunting at times, depending on whatever challenges we face. Whether the change involves improving our health, addressing our weight, trying to eat or move in a different way, improving our mental focus, or deepening our faith, the key is to rely on God’s power working in our lives. This is the secret to a faith-filled life. It’s not in doing more. It’s not in rising to the occasion every time. Instead, we say, “God, you’ve promised a power greater than mine, and I’m asking you to show up and show off in my life.” Then we step back, watch what he will do, and let him have all the glory.

01/11/2023

Confessing sin is good for your health. God didn’t design us to carry guilt and resentment in our hearts. In Psalm 32, David says that when he refused to confess his sins, he was weak and miserable. His strength evaporated. When he finally stopped hiding his sins from God and confessed them, God forgave them and his guilt was gone. Even his body felt better with that weight off his mind. He ends Psalm 32 with a shout of joy. If there is anything on your conscience right now, why not confess it to God and let it go? It might also help you to confess it to one trusted person who won’t judge you, who will keep what you say private, and who will encourage you to stay on the right path. Nothing is healthier for you than a clear conscience—and knowing your sins are forgiven.

01/06/2023

It’s not just what you eat that counts, but what is eating you. “Envy” happens when someone else has something good, and you either desire to have it, desire them to lose it, or constantly compare your life to theirs. Envy is one of the most corrosive attitudes you can allow into your heart. Envy grows when you are blind to the good things God has given you, or when you are ungrateful for them, and instead focus on what everyone else seems to have. It robs you of peace and causes stress.

The antidote for envy is gratitude (Psalm 100:4). Look at the good things you have and thank God for them. Don’t think of yourself as deprived and the other person as undeservedly gifted. If you tend to think of yourself as deprived, stop and question that thought. Has God really not given you what you need to flourish? No, he has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

01/05/2023

Here's a video worth revisiting! Detox your body, mind and soul!

Watch this inspiring message from Saddleback Church and be encouraged as you learn what the Bible says about God's purpose for your life including your work, relationships, health, and more.

01/02/2023

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (NIV).

God's dream for your life is far bigger than your own dream. As we begin this new year, let’s pray for his will to be done.

"Dear God, You made me for a reason and purpose—and I want to live for your Kingdom. God, use me. Anywhere. Anyplace. Anytime. Anyway. I want to be yours—fully, totally, and completely yours.

Thank you for your grace, forgiveness, and calling. I want to serve your mission. I want to serve your purpose in my generation. I’m willing to do whatever that involves. Please use me. I’m volunteering today.

Help me to be gentle, not judgmental. To be tender without surrender. To have the heart of Jesus and to care about what you care about.

Help me to spend time with you every day and to depend on you completely. In your name I pray. Amen."

12/29/2022

Smart tips from Dr. Hyman!

12/27/2022

May this season be a sweet reminder of God's love for you. ❤

12/14/2022

Where do you get the power to keep on going? You get it from God, by asking him to empower you and trusting in him moment by moment. God can make changes in your life that you have never dared to even dream of. He specializes in miracle makeovers. “God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3:20 MSG). That is a power that you cannot find anywhere else. What are you trusting God to do in your life?

12/09/2022

Many people want to know the secret of prolonged life, peace, and prosperity. Here it is: obeying God. If we keep his commands, we can expect a much longer life than if we ignore them. These commands referred to in Proverbs include the range of choices that the Bible calls wisdom, the practical understanding of how to live well. Loving our neighbors is wisdom. Doing an appropriate amount of work—without laziness but with enough rest—is wisdom. Caring for our bodies is wisdom. Worshiping the Lord and rejecting all lesser gods is wisdom. Getting rid of destructive habits is wisdom.

What is God asking of you today? Is he calling you to reach out to someone in love? Is he asking you to give up a destructive habit? Is he asking you to take a step to care for your body? Whatever it is, if you follow his commands, they will lead you down the road to peace and life.

12/09/2022

Great tips from Dr. Hyman!

12/08/2022

Now that Christmas lights are starting to twinkle in the neighborhood, let's remind ourselves that giving and receiving does not only happen this season. It can be everyday. Every moment is a chance to either give or receive. Perhaps you are the giving kind but it's hard for you to ask or receive help. Or maybe you already have much and find it uncomfortable to step out of your comfort zone. Whether you are a giver or a receiver, Pablo Picasso said "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." May we all find our meaning and purpose.