FOCUS OF THE MONTH (FOM)
HARVEST OF GRATITUDE
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK (SOW)
(5) Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. (6) Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.” — Psalm 67:5-6 KJV
(5) Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! (6) The earth has yielded its increase; God,
our God, shall bless us. – Psalm 67:5-6 ESV
MINISTRY RESOURCES
Wednesday Corporate Fasting Scripture – Isaiah 58 (ESV); Isaiah 58 (KJV)
Friday End of Week Scripture – Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)
LET’S CELEBRATE YOUR NEW YEAR!
Moving forward an asterisk (*) identifies a member of the 5AM Bible Study Ministry Leadership Team.
If you are walking through any of life’s difficulties, challenges or an exciting time, please know that you do not have to walk through it alone. As God leads you, feel free to reach out to any of our leaders for prayer, encouragement, Scripture-based guidance, or simply someone to talk with.
Sometimes we need someone to pray with us. Sometimes we need a listening ear. Sometimes we need to laugh, cry, ask questions, or simply be reminded that we are still connected through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We want you to feel comfortable reaching out. Conversations shared with a Ministry leader will be treated with care, respect, sensitivity, and discretion. Your personal concerns are not meant to become general conversation. If a situation involves someone’s immediate safety, protection, or another circumstance that requires additional help, the leader will handle that matter prayerfully and responsibly.
Let’s bridge the gaps between one another through prayer, compassion, conversation, trust, and genuine connection, and love in Christ. 💙
In every season, remember this: You are not alone. We are not alone. We are all part of God’s community, and God is with us. 🙏🏽
AN OPEN INVITATION FROM CLASS 9
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ESV Translation Philosophy
The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to reproduce the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. As such, it emphasizes “word-for-word” correspondence while fully accounting for differences in grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and exact force of the original.
In contrast to the ESV, some Bible versions have followed a “thought-for-thought” rather than “word-for-word” translation philosophy, emphasizing “dynamic equivalence” rather than the “essentially literal” meaning of the original. A “thought-for-thought” translation is of necessity more inclined to reflect the interpretive views of the translator and the influences of contemporary culture.
Every translation is at many points a trade-off between literal precision and readability, between “formal equivalence” in expression and “functional equivalence” in communication, and the ESV is no exception. Within this framework, we have sought to be “as literal as possible” while maintaining clarity of expression and literary excellence. Therefore, to the extent that plain English permits and the meaning in each case allows, we have sought to use the same English word for important recurring words in the original; and, as far as grammar and syntax allow, we have rendered Old Testament passages cited in the New in ways that show their correspondence. Thus, in each of these areas, as well as throughout the Bible as a whole, we have sought to capture all the echoes and overtones of meaning so abundantly present in the original texts.
As an essentially literal translation that takes into account grammar and syntax, the ESV seeks to carry over every possible nuance of meaning in the original words of Scripture into our own language. As such, the ESV is ideally suited for in-depth Bible study. Indeed, with its commitment to literary excellence, the ESV is equally well suited for public reading and preaching, private reading and reflection, academic and devotional study, and Scripture memorization.
PRAISE & WORSHIP
DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Sunday, October 4, 2026 – IN THE STILLNESS – Psalm 63:1-8
Our Daily Bread Index Topic(s): Prayer
ODB Scripture: I think of you through the watches of the night . . . because you are my help. [Psalm 63:6-7]
Today’s Devotional
When I was a kid and got up in the middle of the night, I often found Mom sitting in her chair in the living room. The glow of the table lamp revealed a book on her lap—her Bible. My mom had trouble sleeping because of her insomnia and chronic pain, but she made good use of her time. We rarely spoke those nights. I was too sleepy to do anything but nod and shuffle down the hall. But I know Mom connected with God in those quiet early morning hours, and God spoke to her.
How can we find moments to know God more fully? We don’t have to wait for a sleepless night, of course. Jesus left His companions to spend time talking alone with His Father (Mark 1:35).
The Scriptures say, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And David’s poetry often reveals how he sought out an intimate relationship with God to praise Him for who He is (63:1-8).
The world is loud, and we’re often distracted by the noise. It claims our attention and demands our participation. That’s why we need to actively seek out the quiet moments rarely found in the chaos of family life or the busyness of work. We find God in the stillness.
He’s awake. He’s listening. And He’s always ready to spend time with those who seek Him.
Reflect & Pray
What distractions keep you from finding time for conversation with God? What’s a good way to prepare your heart to “be still” before Him?
Dear Jesus, please teach me to seek You out and rest in Your presence. Help me to put aside the distractions and to praise You for who You are.
Today’s Insights
Psalm 63 portrays someone who actively pursues God. David declares, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you” (v. 1). He praises Him because His “love is better than life” (v. 3). The psalmist discovers that satisfaction isn’t found in what can be held in our hands, but in who can be known.
He valued time with God even more than the satisfaction received from eating the finest of foods: “I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you” (v. 5). The language of thirst, longing, and clinging reveals a relationship pursued with intensity and love. Psalm 63 reminds us that intimacy with God grows as we seek God in stillness.
For further study, listen to the following podcast: Be Still
In the Stillness
Monday, October 5, 2026 – TRUE TREASURE – Matthew 13:44-46
Our Daily Bread Index Topic(s): Eternal life; Salvation
ODB Scripture: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. [Matthew 13:44]
5 AM Focus(es): Earthly treasures will perish, therefore, we must commit to serve Jesus our Savior. His Kingdom offers eternal life.
5 AM Supporting Focus Scripture(s): Matthew 6:19-21
Today’s Devotional
James threw a long rope with a powerful magnet tied to it into the waters of a New York lake. The “magnet fisher” was stunned when he pulled out a grimy safe filled with stacks of muddy one-hundred-dollar bills. Police said James could keep the money since it wasn’t linked to a crime. Some of the bills were in such poor condition they couldn’t be authenticated, though he hoped to salvage as much of the money as possible to perhaps buy a home.
Finding hidden treasure is exciting, and Jesus told a parable about a man who did just that: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44). The man recognized the value of the treasure he’d found and was willing to sell all his possessions to purchase the field.
As we consider that parable, no amount of wealth or possessions could pay the debt we owe for our sins. Only Jesus could pay the incredible price to redeem us and to reconcile us with His Father, through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
Earthly treasures may be nice, but they can be lost, stolen, or destroyed. We can gratefully accept Jesus’ supreme sacrifice for us and His free gift of eternal life, knowing that living in heaven with Him is our great reward.
Reflect & Pray
Why is Jesus so precious to you? Why are you willing to let go of your old life to spend eternity with Him?
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me the true treasure of heaven when I placed my faith and trust in You.
Today’s Insights
The two parables in Matthew 13:44-46 appear amid the telling of several parables on the kingdom of heaven (vv. 1-52). After Jesus told the first parable of the sower (vv. 3-9), His disciples asked why He always spoke in parables (v. 10). His answer was telling: “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them” (v. 11). He told the disciples, “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear” (v. 16).
Then He explained the parable (vv. 18-23). The disciples desired to know the true meaning of Christ’s words, and their desire was rewarded. They’d left everything to follow Him. In essence, they were living out the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl (vv. 44-46). They’d found the true treasure because they were receptive to the gospel. When we place our faith in Jesus, we receive the free gift of eternal life with Him—the true treasure of heaven.
For further study, feel free to browse through our resources at the store: Reclaim Today Guide – Ecclesiastes
True Treasure
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 – DAVID’S DELIVERANCE – 1 Samuel 21:10-15
Our Daily Bread Index Topic(s): Despair; God’s love
ODB Scripture: The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. [Psalm 34:22]
5 AM Focus(es): When in despair don’t fear, trust in God’s love and He will deliver us
5 AM Supporting Focus Scripture(s): Psalm 59:16
Today’s Devotional
In the semifinals of his high school wrestling tournament, Dave cracked a rib on his right side. He won the match but wondered how he’d survive the championship with a damaged ribcage.
In the finals, Dave limped out to the mat on his left, uninjured leg. So his opponent targeted Dave’s left leg throughout the match. Dave protected his right side and won.
Another “Dave” used deception to extract himself from a tough situation. David had been fleeing a murderous King Saul. He found refuge among Israel’s enemies, but word soon got to the enemy king that David was a Hebrew war hero (1 Samuel 21:11). Fearing for his life, David “pretended to be insane . . . making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard” (v. 13). The ploy worked (vv. 14-15).
Good people can debate such tactics and arrive at different conclusions. But Psalm 34 sheds light on David’s experience. There, David credited not his deception but God for his deliverance. He sang, “I sought the Lord, and he . . . delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4). And again, “This poor man called, and the Lord . . . saved him out of all his troubles” (v. 6). David had sought safety with the Philistines, but he found his only reliable refuge when he turned to God (vv. 8, 22).
Reflect & Pray
When have circumstances caused you to take desperate measures you regretted? How does turning to God first change your response?
Dear Father, when I rely on my own cleverness, I get into trouble. Please help me see my challenges as an opportunity to turn to You.
Today’s Insights
When “the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled [Saul] with depression and fear” (1 Samuel 16:14 nlt), David was enlisted to soothe him by playing the lyre (v. 23). The king “liked him . . . and David became one of his armor-bearers” (v. 21). But Saul’s admiration for him was short-lived. After David defeated Goliath (ch. 17), Saul was overtaken by jealousy and tried to kill him (18:6-11).
In chapter 21, David is on the run from Saul and hiding among the Philistines, Israel’s enemies. He “pretended to be insane” (v. 13) because it was believed that harming someone who was insane would bring misfortune. Even as David took desperate measures to escape death, his psalms exhibit his trust in God. He wrote, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). When trouble strikes, we too can put our trust in God.
For further study, listen to the following devotional: Presented without Fault
David’s Deliverance
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – LONGING FOR JESUS’ RETURN – Philippians 3:17-21
Our Daily Bread Topic(s): Christ, return; Eternal life
ODB Scripture: Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. [Philippians 3:20]
5 AM Focus(es): As we eagerly await Jesus’ return, one day we will be satisfied when we see Him face to face.
5 AM Supporting Focus Scripture(s): Revelation 21:4-5
Today’s Devotional
When I was young, I loved going to Chick-fil-A, a US-based fast-food restaurant, for waffle fries and sweet tea. When, as an adult, I moved to another state, I was shocked to discover there weren’t any locations for hundreds of miles! On family road trips, we’d even plan our routes to allow for stops at Chick-fil-A, all the while hoping someday one would open closer to home.
Longing. We all experience it. Sometimes we don’t actually need what we long for, such as a favorite restaurant. Other times, our longings reflect deeper, more desperate yearnings.
Writing to the Philippian believers, Paul reminded them to live their lives in light of their deepest longing—Christ’s return and the full coming of His kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Jesus’ coming would make everything whole and transform believers to be like Him (v. 21).
Rather than merely longing for what can’t bring lasting satisfaction, Paul says it’s this coming reality that believers “eagerly await” (v. 20)—the day when there will be no more suffering, when we’ll see Jesus face-to-face.
Knowing our longings will one day be satisfied gives us the hope we need to live for Christ each day (vv. 12-14).
A Chick-fil-A recently opened a few miles from my house, a small reminder that a much more important longing will one day be fulfilled. Until then, we wait.
Reflect & Pray
What do you long to see Jesus make right? What do you most anticipate about your future with Jesus?
Dear Jesus, please fill us with hope as we wait for Your return.
Today’s Insights
When Paul wrote Philippians, he was writing from prison (1:13). While there, he also wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, which are referred to as the Prison Epistles. How did the apostle endure such difficult times? In part, by focusing beyond that moment to when he’d see his Savior and in part by focusing on others.
While imprisoned, his heart was breaking for those who were living in opposition to the gospel: “As I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). His tears demonstrated his concern for others. Our hope in Jesus and concern for others can lift us beyond our present circumstances to lives of hope and purpose as we wait for our longings to be fulfilled when Christ returns (vv. 14, 21).
For further study, read: All Things New
Thursday, October 8, 2026 – THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK – John 16:5-15
Our Daily Bread Topic(s): Fruit of the spirit; Prayer
ODB Scripture: When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin. [John 16:8]
5 AM Focus(es): When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, repent, humble ourselves and He will guide us into all truth.
5 AM Supporting Focus Scripture(s): Psalm 51:10, 12-13
Today’s Devotional
When Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, ran a small Bible college, he learned that a couple who worked there was stealing supplies. Although at times it’s right to address wrongdoing, Oswald decided in this instance not to confront them, instead asking God to bring the matter to their hearts and minds. After several weeks, they came clean, expressing regret. “I’ve known about it all along,” Oswald said, “but we wanted to wait until God’s Spirit spoke to you.” Moved and astonished, the couple surrendered their lives to Jesus.
God’s Spirit at work is what Jesus promised His friends before He died: “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). The disciples grieved at the thought of Jesus going away, but He reassured them that this was for their good. Then “the Advocate,” God’s Holy Spirit, would come to them (v. 7). Through the Spirit, God convicts people of their sin: “He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (v. 8). He also guides people “into all the truth” (v. 13).
The Spirit continues His work today so we too might not “fall away” (v. 1) but rather enjoy life eternal. God gives us the Advocate to convict us when we’re wrong, comfort us when we’re sad, and lead us to worship God.
Reflect & Pray
How have you experienced the prompting of the Holy Spirit? How do you see the Spirit at work in your life?
Faithful God, please help me to have a tender heart, that I might respond to Your Spirit’s nudges of grace. For further study, read The Promise of Presence: John 14 at odbm.org.
Today’s Insights
As Jesus was about to return to His Father (John 16:5), He comforted His disciples and promised to send them the Holy Spirit, “the Advocate” (v. 7). When the Spirit came, He would “guide [them] into all the truth” (v. 13). Believers in Christ receive the Spirit when they trust in Him for salvation (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:13).
We can rely on the Spirit’s guidance in our day-to-day lives to convict us of sin and remind us of the truth (John 14:26; 15:26). As He did with the disciples, the Spirit will provide the words we need to honor Christ in difficult circumstances (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). We can ask God to give us a responsive heart to respond to the nudging of the Spirit.
For further study, read: The Promise of Presence
The Holy Spirit’s Work
Friday, October 9, 2026 – SLOW, PATIENT GROWTH IN GOD – Luke 8:4-15
Our Daily Bread Topic(s): Bible study; Holy Spirit; Spiritual growth; Spiritual maturity
ODB Scripture: The seed on good soil stands for those who hear the word, retain it and produce a crop. [Luke 8:15]
5 AM Focus(es): Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom as we plant and receive good seeds. Then, be patient and wait for spiritual maturity.
5 AM Supporting Focus Scripture(s): 2 Peter 1:4-8
Today’s Devotional
A saguaro cactus is never in a hurry to grow. Flourishing amid some of the most barren desert climates in the world, the plant slowly takes root over a lifetime of steady, plodding growth. Over its first decade, a Saguaro may grow as little as 1.5 inches. It may take thirty-five years to flower, and its arms can take fifty years to form. The cactus, however, can live up to two hundred years, reach forty-five feet high, and weigh up to two tons. Over a lifetime, it yields a remarkable forty million seeds. A Saguaro’s growth is slow, but resilient.
Jesus used agricultural imagery to describe how His believers grow in the kingdom of God. Telling a parable of seeds sowed among various types of soil, He concluded with a description of how the final seeds “fell on good soil . . . and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown” (Luke 8:8). Christ explained how those seeds “in the good soil” are ones who “[hear] the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (v. 15 esv). There’s a strong yield, abundant growth—but it only comes when we receive the wisdom of God and then patiently allow the Holy Spirit to produce growth in us.
This is how spiritual growth typically works. We may have explosive spurts, but our progress will typically be slow, as we receive God’s wisdom, follow His ways, and watch the Spirit work.
Reflect & Pray
Where do you get impatient with the slow way of spiritual growth? How can you relax and trust?
Dear God, please help me to patiently trust Your ways.
Today’s Insights
When it comes to spiritual growth, we sometimes fail to consider how growth happens in other areas of life. Becoming more and more like Jesus takes time. The parable of the sower in Luke 8 includes the element of time. The word persevering (v. 15) is a translation of the Greek word hypomonē, which means “a patient, steadfast waiting.” Here’s a helpful way to remember the importance of time in spiritual growth: Good seed in good soil produces good fruit in good time. We can ask God to help us trust Him as the Holy Spirit produces growth in us.
For further study, read: The Forever Race
Saturday, October 10, 2026 – A SOUND MIND – Isaiah 26:3-7
Our Daily Bread Topic(s): Despair; Mental illness
ODB Scripture: You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you. [Isaiah 26:3 NLT]
Today’s Devotional
As a player for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, Drew Robinson knew mental highs and lows. Whenever injuries demoted him to the Giants’ minor league affiliate, he’d fall into a depressive state. Will I be replaced? Will I recover? At home, watching teammates playing on TV, “I just felt completely isolated, alienated and lonely.” After a suicide attempt during the pandemic, he shared his troubles with the Giants’ team psychologist. He got so much help he urged other players to come forth with their mental struggles. Now he’s the Giants’ full-time mental health advocate, urging physically tough players to seek strong mental health too. After surviving his worst, Robinson believes his purpose is to encourage others.
The Bible regards a sound mind as a wise goal but also a gift from a loving God. In song, the prophet Isaiah said of Him, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (26:3 nlt). What a consoling promise during a time of great trouble! Sin and rebellion had turned the hearts of God’s people away from Him, leaving their thoughts and minds in turmoil. So Isaiah urged them, “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock” (v. 4 nlt).
During our anxious times, we too can trust God in our journey. Fixing our minds on Him points our trust to our daily peace—Jesus.
Reflect & Pray
Why does trusting God help us find peace? What worry can you give to Him today?
Please quiet my mental struggles, dear God, as I trust in You.
Today’s Insights
The book of Isaiah can be divided into two major sections. In The Bible Knowledge Commentary, J. A. Martin writes, “Some have suggested that the book has two themes, one for chapters 1-39 and another for chapters 40-66. Judgment seems to be the emphasis in the first part, and salvation and comfort are prominent in the second.” That makes Isaiah 26 powerful, for it lies ensconced in the section of the book that deals primarily with judgment.
Nevertheless, even when the focus is on judgment, God’s compassion for His people is displayed. Verse 3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” No matter what season we’re in, God offers His undeniable peace to those whose hearts are focused on Him.
For further study, read: A World Wanting Peace
THIS WEEK’S INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT
THE INTEGRITY SERIES
SELF-EXAMINATION
Have you ever noticed that sometimes the very situations that make us question integrity around us become the situations God uses to examine the integrity within us?
Well, that is where this journey begins for me. In Joshua 7, Achan saw some things amongst the spoils that he wanted; a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold that weighed over a pound. He coveted them, took them, and then hid them in his tent.
What began as a private decision did not remain private. His greed, lapse of judgment, and his action eventually affected others, his family, and the larger community. Achan and his family were stoned, burned and buried because of a second thought gone wrong. Here’s what’s interesting, Achan was very wealthy and did not need those items. Some will see greed, most will see covetousness. I also saw a lack of integrity. Do you see anything else?
Achan’s story reminds us that integrity is not simply about what people can see. It is also about what we choose, justify, conceal, excuse, or allow when we believe no one else is watching. And this is where his story became personal for me.
There have been moments when I have found myself thinking about the choices, actions, or integrity of others, only for the Holy Spirit to quietly redirect my attention back toward me. He asks me,
- What about your response?
- What about your motives?
- What about your words?
- What about the things you have excused because they seemed small? And the kicker question,
- What about the places where you, too, need correction?
That kind of examination is not always comfortable, it’s never comfortable. But every day, we pray for the life, health, and integrity of this Ministry. So I began asking myself a deeper question: When we pray for integrity, do we truly understand what we are asking God to develop in us?
Integrity cannot simply mean recognizing wrong when we see it in someone else, which we can do very, very well. It must also mean allowing God to show us the places where we are wrong. It means being willing to examine our own hearts, motives, conversations, reactions, leadership, relationships, and private decisions. It means asking God to show us what we may have buried beneath our own tent.
David prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart… and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23–24
That is the posture I pray to bring into this series. This is not a conversation about “them”. It begins with me. I must be honest enough to admit that I have fallen short in basic and sometimes very simple areas of integrity too.
That is difficult to say out loud. But if I am going to write about integrity, if I am going to talk about integrity, then, I must also be willing to live under the microscope of the very truth I am sharing.
Where God shows me that I have been wrong, I want to move quickly toward repentance, forgiveness, correction, restoration, and growth through His mercy and grace.
Because I do not simply love the Lord. I am in love with Him. And because I am in love with Him, I want to work daily to live that love out loud. Not according to your definition of integrity. Not according to my definition, but according to God’s definition of integrity.
So as we journey throughout this Integrity series, I invite each of us to resist the temptation to immediately think about who else needs to hear this.
Instead, let us first ask: “Lord, what are You showing me about me?” Before we examine another person’s tent, let us have the courage to ask God to search our own.
Also, this is a discussion, not a debate. The goal is not to point fingers, not to become defensive, but to allow God to examine each of us.
If something speaks to you, challenges you, or causes you to reflect, feel free to call, email, or text me. If you would like to share your thoughts publicly, with your permission first, I will post them.
Lastly, before I close, I want to thank Sister Clovia for so graciously sharing her Inspirational Thoughts column with me for this series. I appreciate her willingness to make room for what I believe God has placed on my heart during this season.
And to everyone reading, I invite you to stay and share with me on this journey too. Stay tuned next week for Part 1: Integrity Requires Inspection, Truth & Action.
Until then, may God keep you, guide you, and give you the courage to LIVE AND LOVE OUT LOUD, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, WITH INTEGRITY, IN HIM. AMEN!
An Inspirational Thought: Integrity Series
Inspirationally created and written by Vanita Adams
© 2026 Vanita Adams. All rights reserved.
CHRISTIAN-BASED MOVIE FOR THE MONTH
***The Daily Devotionals are taken from Our Daily Bread Ministries and the Scriptures are from the BibleGateway.***
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