The Angel Studios animated feature film, DAVID is an adventure for the whole family. It tells the story of David in the Bible: as a youth, shepherd, musician, warrior and eventual king, whose courage changed the course of nations. It’s a fun and engaging movie for children and gives all of us an opportunity to recount this important part of Jewish history and Christian heritage. Beyond that, this story provides a powerful context for understanding how God weaves who we are physically into who He has made us to be spiritually. It is a faith and fitness story that talks about the choices we make, holding nothing back and consistently being focused on God with humility. AND – through Christ this story gives us God-sized bonus potential. Get ready because being as strong as David – is history. God wants you and your family to train to be stronger than David. Say what? Yeah! Read on…
Throughout the movie the story tellers and animators do a great job of presenting David as being very physically active, agile and strong. Strength sure isn’t a side note in this story. In today’s culture hiit, hot yoga, Cross Fit, Spartan Races even training with coaches who are retired from special military forces are popular as ways to make physical fitness more intense. The story of David helps us to see that God wants us to go further by having intense intents. You can be a warrior for God by always making spiritual training a part of your physical training.
CHOOSE TO BE CHOSEN
A lot of times, both as youth and adults, we think about being “chosen” as being favored – the lucky one to be selected from all the others for the really good stuff. But, it’s important to understand that in God’s kingdom, the core criteria for being chosen is to be willing to do God’s work.
David was likely between 10 to 15 years old when he was anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel. The exact age is not specified in the Bible. But what we do know from the Bible is that David was chosen not for the reasons we assume are qualifiers: strength, experience, good looks, age, influence or other human measurements. David was chosen because, he was a man after God’s own heart.
It’s common to hear coaches, fitness influencers, motivational speakers and even the everyday person exercising next to you, talk about choices. “Show up – even when you don’t feel like it”, “100%”, “never settle”, “all in” – these mantras and many more help us choose to be our best. David helps us understand that choice is more than a powerful word or concept. It is one of the things God gives every human to exercise. When you choose to yield your self-will to God then some really amazing things (divine outcomes) happen.
In the movie young David is portrayed as surprised – initially questioning God’s choice but ultimately having full confidence in his calling. It’s inspiring and even motivational to see how David had faith. But guess what? God has designed you for more – to be part of the story:
David (and a whole list of people in the Bible) through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, stopped the mouth of lions, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong and were valiant in the fight. But not one of them got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours. –Hebrews 11
So be chosen by choosing to be used of God, by choosing to complete His plan for your life and by choosing this and everyday to live a lifestyle fully committed to God.
FAMILY FITNESS TIP:
Chose to make your workouts – your physical exercise, a time to prayerfully yet energetically offer your life to God. Parents, encourage children as they have questions. A common practice in exercising is to track work done, progress made and goals. In like fashion we all can keep a journal to record the work God is doing in our lives, how God is challenging and strengthening us and what God has chosen us to do and become.
HOLD NOTHING BACK, DON’T RUN FROM THE FIGHT – FOLLOW THE LIGHT
The song Follow The Light, in the movie transitions the story from young David to adult David. It is rich with images of strength, loyalty, confidence, enthusiasm and family community. These are all powerful elements to have in living a life that is comprehensively and holistically fit. At this point in the movie 3 big spiritual concepts are further developed:
- hold nothing back
- don’t run from the fight
- follow the light
It’s here that we want to introduce to you the DAVID WOD. A WOD or Workout Of the Day is unique to the Cross Fit community, but anyone can do it pretty much anywhere. They include functional movements to target various physical skills like strength, endurance, and flexibility.
This DAVID WOD isn’t exclusively but is intentionally designed to be done as an intergenerational family workout: children, teens, young adults, adults and seniors. AND, the workout isn’t limited to just your family it can include several families from your church, home school group or neighborhood.
The video below illustrates some specifics and how easy it is to do and modify as needed. We encourage you to play the song, Follow The Light, throughout your workout. Discover how family fitness is truly a God design that is dynamically about exercising together.
More specifically, after (or even during) the workout, commit a generous amount of time to use the Faith RXD model to practice discipleship, experience greater power and strengthen vision for God’s mission. Draw on the 3 Bible passages in this article and discuss how God wants us to hold nothing back, don’t run from the fight and follow the light of Christ. Take time to pray about how you can be salt and light among those in your day to day living and what that means to reflect a God who is generous AND extravagant. Consider incorporating communion into this time.
In this world you will have trouble, but be brave, I have defeated the world. – John 16:33
DAVID WOD
10 minute AMRAP (see video below for workout illustration)
- 10 meter bear crawls (1 rep equals 2 crawls 20 meters total). How this exercise relates to the story of David: David killed lions and bears protecting the sheep. This helped prepare him for his battle against Goliath.
- 10 meter weight ball or sandbag stress carry( for kids 5 to 10 pound ball. For adults 20 lbs up to 100lbs
- 0 meter weighted ball shoulder carry. (Use same ball or sandbag. How this exercise relates to the story of David: David had to carry the sheep to safety.
- weighted ball slams. 10 reps. How this exercise relates to the story of David: When God brought David victory over the philistine giant Goliath. He took his sword and cut off his head.
STRONGER AND GREATER – FOCUS ON GOD WITH HUMILITY
The Angel Studio movie DAVID has a cast full of warriors. Unless you serve in the military you may not necessarily visualize yourself as a warrior – but God does! The Bible is rich with verses that can help you better understand the real spiritual battles that are happening all the time here on earth and their purpose for you. Here are 2:
This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
This is God’s war, not yours. Stand firm and watch God’s saving work for you take shape.
As we here at Faith & Fitness Magazine planned and prepared to do a cover story on DAVID we realized it was really important to help you see that this incredible Jewish history has current day relevance for you, your family and all Christians. Jesus Christ pivots this story for us with some breathtaking WOW factor. AND, it isn’t some boastful shock and awe expression of the faith. It is the nature of God at work today in generous AND extravagant ways. It is Christ’s challenge and incredible offer for us to be not just as strong as David way but even stronger:
Whoever believes in me will be able to do what I have done and even greater things because I return to be with the father. – John 14:12
THE ARMOR OF GOD
Use the link immediately above to read from the Bible about the Armor of God. Invest some study time and training with the full armor of God:
- Belt of truth
- Breastplate of righteousness
- Shoes of peace
- Shield of faith
- Helmet of salvation
- Sword – The Word of God
As you do this kind of training, resist pride and be humble like David. Realize that the stronger place where God wants to take you and your family is only possible by God. Focus on Him.
Animated photos in this article are provide courtesy of Angel Studios. Used with permission.
