Anxiety Strikesنموونە

Day 7: Preparation and Training

Anxiety came up against you, but you have learned from your past mistakes and gained new techniques. Through the power of the Spirit you kicked its butt!

You were able to fight back and move out of that corner it had trapped you in.

But you know you will face it again in the future. The key to winning the next battle is preparation and training. Fighters don't just show up the day of the fight and hop in the ring. They spend weeks and months training and getting prepared. This devotional is one of many tools you can use to get prepared. Staying close to God through His word, through worship, community, and through service to other people are the main other ways. These things will feed your Spirit to keep you strong for the next battle.

You will need to feed your mind and body appropriately too.

For your body, there are certain foods and habits that can help or hurt anxiety:

• Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause mood changes
• Choose foods such as complex carbs that boost the calming brain chemical serotonin. Select whole-grain breads and whole grain cereals instead of sugary snacks or beverages
• Eat protein at breakfast, so you have energy and your blood glucose levels stay steady
• Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine, which cause anxiety after consuming. Both affect your sleep and can cause edginess
• A quick Google search will help with more specifics on foods, such as eating fatty fish, which contain high concentrations of Omega 3 and vitamin D, and may help reduce anxiety.

For your mind, be watchful of what you take in. News media, social media, and even the shows we watch can all have a negative effect. If we surround ourselves with negative sources all day long we should not be surprised when our thought life begins to be overwhelmed. We are over stimulated with entertainment of every kind. We need to be intentional about disconnecting and spending peaceful and undisturbed alone time with God.