“Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, ‘Aha, aha!’” — Psalm 40:15 Today's verse can be easily rejected by some Christians. But when used in its biblical context, it is sweet—like honey. This is not a mistake. This is the real, true, genuine heart of a man who loves God but has been mocked, laughed at, and called nothing and hopeless. The Psalmist is not pretending. He is asking for deliverance. He is asking for God's help. And he says: “Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, ‘Aha, aha!’” He is asking God to put his enemies to shame because of the great thing God has done—and will do—in his life. The salvation of the Lord from the trap of his enemies. He is asking God to disappoint his enemies by not granting him over to their will. Who Are These People? These are the ones who wish: · That you would lose your job · That you would never prosper in life · That you would never grow spiritually · That you would remain in chains ...

“Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.” — Psalm 40:14 In today's verse, David shifts from crying out for his own deliverance to crying out against those who seek his harm. He is not being petty. He is not holding a grudge. He is handing over his enemies to the God who judges righteously. David mentions two groups:   First: Those who seek my life to destroy it. These are not people who simply dislike him. They want him dead. They are actively hunting his life. Second: Those who delight in my hurt. These are the ones who find joy in his suffering. When David stumbles, they celebrate. When he falls, they laugh. David prays that such people will be: Ashamed • Humiliated • Turned back • Dishonored What Do We Do with This Prayer? Some Christians struggle with verses like this. They think we should never pray against those who hurt us. But remember: 1. David was a man after God's ow...

“Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; make haste, O Lord, to help me.” — Psalm 40:13 In today's verse, David—who knew his standing—humbled himself and called on God to save him. He was in trouble. Evils beyond number had surrounded him. Iniquities had overtaken him. His heart had failed him. But David knew who could deliver him: the God of his fathers. So he cried out: “Be pleased, O LORD.” Some people, when trouble surrounds them, easily give up and accept total failure. Others are full of pride. They rely on themselves and refuse to humble themselves before God. They do not feel the need to call on Him as David did. Wrong doctrine has consumed them. Some claim: “We are in the dispensation of grace. God has already done it. It is finished. There is no need to call on Him for help. We are already delivered. We only give thanks.” Yes, we ought to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. But we must first call on the name of Jesus and say: “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me fr...

“For evils beyond number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; they are more numerous than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me.” — Psalm 40:12 In verse 11, which we reflected on yesterday, we saw the Psalmist make statements of faith. First, that the Lord would not withhold His compassion from him. Second, that the Lord's lovingkindness and truth would preserve him continually. He believed in the Lord while he was in darkness—in uncertain situations and in sin. Things were not well on his side. And that is what we reflect on in today's verse. First: He Was Surrounded by Evils Beyond Number Evils in this context can mean uncertainty—plagues, locusts, attacks—but also sin. The Psalmist was saying he was surrounded by evils beyond number. That is terrible. What kind of evils are surrounding you now? Could it be; Barrenness? · Rejection? · Failure? · Calamity—loss of property or loved ones? · Disease? · Strange things aroun...

“You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.” — Psalm 40:11 I do not know what the Psalmist was going through—or what he saw ahead of him—that made him utter these Spirit-filled words of faith. But he spoke with boldness and trust in the Lord. I believe he understood the source of his help.  “You, O LORD...” He begins with: “You, O LORD...” — meaning no one else can, only the Lord Almighty alone. So what can the Lord do? First: He Will Not Withhold His Compassion “You will not withhold Your compassion from me.” This is a statement of faith. God will not withhold His compassion: 1. Compassion to blot out his transgression (Psalm 51:2) 2. Compassion to wrap him tight from his own shame and darkness Maybe you too—like myself—need the spotless, sanctifying compassion of the Lord to keep us nearer the cross. To pull us away from unrighteousness. To give us abundant life in Christ and hope beyond affliction. And...

“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” — Psalm 40:10 In today's verse, the Psalmist continues to number what he has and what he has been doing. First: He Has Not Hidden God's Righteousness Within His Heart That means he has made known to men the righteousness of God—the great doing of the Lord. This includes the testimony of: 1. God's faithfulness — He actually keeps His promises. If God says, “I will bless you,” He means it. He is faithful to His word. 2. God's salvation — the deliverance of the Lord, His rescue, His grace and mercy. Second: He Has Not Concealed God's Lovingkindness and Truth Friends, God is loving. God is kind. I am telling you what I know: God loves you and is so kind to you. I know it because I have tasted His love and kindness—affection like no other. And finally, the truth of the Lord. Al...

“I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; behold, I will not restrain my lips, O Lord, You know.” — Psalm 40:9 The Psalmist declares that he has brought good news—the news of righteousness. Not silently. Not reluctantly. But openly, in the great congregation. Then he makes a vow before the Lord: “I will not restrain my lips.” May We Embrace the Same Call May we all embrace this same calling. Do not hold back the good news of righteousness in Christ. Speak it in your family. Speak it in your workplace. Speak it among the people of God. The Lord knows your heart. He knows your lips. Let them be open for His glory. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16 🙏 Let Me Pray with You Lord, loosen our lips. Take away the fear that silences us. Give us the boldness of the Psalmist—to proclaim glad tidings of righteousness wherever we go. In Jesus' name, Amen. Prayer Requests. Share...

“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” — Psalm 40:8 Today's verse continues from yesterday—what was written of the Psalmist. It is written that David delights to do God's will and that God's law is within his heart. No wonder the Bible calls David a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). Could the Same Be Written of You? Do you delight to do God's will? To do what pleases God—which comes by faith alone? That means: To believe in God. To live for God. To seek first His kingdom and righteousness. To repent and turn back to Him. To give thanks in everything and praise to Him. To turn away from sin. To rejoice in the Lord· To depend on Him through daily time in the Word and prayer If you do these things, I must say: you are blessed. And I encourage you to continue in the same Spirit. Is God's Law Written in Your Heart? For David, it is written that God's law is in his heart—meaning he kept his way pure. And brethren, when we are pu...

“Then I said, ‘Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.’” — Psalm 40:7 In today's reading, David said that it is written of him in the scroll of the book. Have you ever thought of such a thing about yourself? I never have. But tonight, I am forced to reflect: What is written of me? Or what would be written of me in the scroll of the book? For now, let us just take time to ask God: *Is something written of us? Or has it already been written?* If so, may He reveal it to us. 🙏 Let Me Pray with You Father, You know me more than I know myself. Search my heart. Let something good be written of me—and of the friend reading this. In Jesus' name. Amen. Tomorrow, we will see what is written of the Psalmist and reflect on it as we move to the next verse. For Prayer Requests. Share them here: +256787353534 | oriokotsilas.praywithme@yahoo.com Kindly share this devotion with a friend and encourage them to follow this WhatsApp channel. What is written of you in the scr...

“Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; my ears You have opened; burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.” — Psalm 40:6 Because of the many wonders God had done—and the many thoughts He had toward His people—the Psalmist wanted to offer sacrifice and a meal offering to the Lord. I believe many of us can relate. God has done great things in our lives: Many miracles. Many blessings. Many favors. Many healings. Many protections. Many cares And because of His awesome deeds, we wish we could do something to please Him. But Here Is What the Psalmist Learned He discovered that the Lord does not delight in sacrifice and offering alone. God is not impressed by ritual without relationship. Instead, he says: “My ears You have opened.”  Are your ears blocked from hearing the great doings of God? May the Lord open your ears to hear good news—news of victory, success, progress, forgiveness, and mercy. The Psalmist continues: “Burnt offering and sin offering You have not ...

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.” — Psalm 40:5 Today's verse is truly awesome. Yesterday, it seemed as though the Psalmist had paused and started another topic altogether. But today, he goes back to where he began—his testimony from the first three verses. He continues to praise the Lord. He speaks of many things, which we can group into two. First: Many Are the Wonders Which You Have Done In the Hebrew language, wonder is mowpheth—which means a sign or a miracle. So the Psalmist is saying: many are the signs or miracles the Lord has done. He is talking about: The beauty of creation. The great love of God. The great provision He has given. The sovereign protection of the Lord David particularly experienced the wonder of the Lord picking a nobody like him—a young shepherd boy—to be king over Israel. And I pray that some ...

“How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.” — Psalm 40:4 In verses 1–3 of this Psalm, we saw a testimony being given by the Psalmist. Yesterday, we saw the new song—and I am so grateful to God that many people have come to my inbox testifying that God gave them a new song.  I am particularly drawn to the testimony of my sister Aturinda Deborah Tororo. She wrote:   “Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for the messages of a new song. I thank God that last week He gave me a new song. I am doing my PhD in Education, and I had almost lost hope after contacting some people to lend me money to do exams and pay later. Everyone turned down my request. I requested permission and paid 1 million that my uncle borrowed for me from a savings group, and I was given permission for only two days. Now a new song came in. On the first day of my first exam, a friend whom I am not related to by blood called a...

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.” — Psalm 40:3 In today's verse, the Psalmist continues to testify of the Lord's doing. Yesterday we saw God's deliverance—how He brought him out of the pit of destruction and the miry clay and set his feet upon a rock.  Today, he gives us another testimony: God put a new song in his mouth. The song was unique in two ways.  First, it is a song of praise to our God. Whenever a miracle happens, it will always bring praise to God. I do not know what songs you have been singing. Maybe you have been singing songs of lack, songs of sorrow, songs of constant failure, songs of singleness, songs of an unhappy marriage, songs of anxiety and pain, songs of trouble, songs of bitterness. But when God comes to do His great work in your life—when you call on Jesus Christ—He will deliver you and put in you a new song. Like King David, he sang of God pulling him out of the pit and ...

“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm.” — Psalm 40:2 In today's verse, the Psalmist tells us what God has done. After patient waiting, he testifies of the deliverance of the Lord. Here, we see two specific things God did for him. First, He brought him up out of the pit and the miry clay. The pit of destruction is a place of hopelessness, ruin, or death that traps a person. David was in that state—but he gives a testimony: *God brought me up.* You may be in the same state. You feel like you are rotting. You have been scammed. Sickness is eating you up. Cry out to the God who brought David up, and patiently wait on Him.  Let me share a memory from my village in Tubur. There were days we went to the garden with bulls to plough when the soil was wet from rain. The ground became sticky, miry clay. You would step on it and sink. Sometimes your gumboot would remain stuck in the mud while your leg cam...

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” — Psalm 40:1 In tonight's verse, the writer says he waited. In Hebrew, the word for wait is Qavah. This word portrays deliberate, tension-filled waiting that binds the heart to the expected intervention of Yahweh. It is not passive. It is not lazy. It is faith stretched toward the sure character of God. But what does it mean to wait patiently for the Lord? Does it mean sitting down while everything falls apart around you? No tuition for your children? Just sit and wait for God to pay it? Getting older and still single? Just sit and never look for a spouse? Hungry? Just sit and do nothing while you starve? No. That is not biblical waiting. Waiting in Scripture is never passive resignation. It is active trust. It is crying out. It is seeking. It is hoping. “Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3). David did not just sit. He cried to the Lord. He called on Him. He humbled himself. He pra...

A brief response to honest questions Recently, in response to a prayer update about the escalating conflict in the Middle East, someone with a name, Penanu raised two important questions: 1. “Sorry to say, it's only Africans who believe in Jesus Christ's teachings. Otherwise, why destroy human life?” 2. “To those who are not scholars, they may think Israelites are Christians—that's very wrong.” These are honest questions that many people wrestle with. Let's take a moment to address both with humility and biblical clarity. Part One: Is Faith in Jesus Only an African Reality? The short answer is no—and the Bible itself shows us why. A Global Faith from the Beginning Christianity did not begin in Africa or Europe. It began in the Middle East, among Jewish people, and spread outward in every direction. Some of the earliest Christian communities were in: · Jerusalem (Israel) · Antioch (modern-day Turkey) · Alexandria (Egypt) · Ethiopia (Africa) · Rome (Europe) From its birth...

Sometimes the strongest faith is not the one that speaks most loudly, but the one that depends most fully. Not self-built confidence, not rehearsed declarations of faith, but a quiet, complete reliance on the Lord who knows all things. Consider the prophet Ezekiel. Brought to a valley of dry, lifeless bones, he faced a question that defied human logic: “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” — Ezekiel 37:3 Ezekiel did not muster confidence in his own ability to prophesy life. He did not analyze the situation or offer strategic solutions. He simply placed the impossible back into the hands of the One who holds all knowledge and power: “O Lord God, You know.” The Faith That Rests This is the faith we are called to walk in. Not faith in our own words, our own strength, or our own understanding. But faith that looks at the dry bones—the impossible situations, the dead dreams, the hopeless circumstances—and says, “Lord, You know.” You do not need t...

Prayer Suggestions (Monday 8th – Saturday 13th December, 2025) Monday, 8th December 2025 Focus:  Health for the Team Prayer:  We pray for good health and strength for all the missionaries and the entire Rising Point for Christ family as they make final preparations. We ask for God's sustaining hand over their physical and emotional well-being. Scripture:  Psalm 103:1-13 Tuesday, 9th December 2025 Focus:  Peace for Families and Recruitment Prayer:  We pray for God’s peace to guard the hearts and minds of the families that missionaries will leave behind. We also pray for God to draw and confirm every person He has appointed to join this mission. Scripture:  Philippians 4:6-7 Wednesday, 10th December 2025 Focus:  The Host Church & Logistics Prayer:  We pray for our hosts in Buhweju. We ask for a powerful partnership in the Gospel, blessings upon the host church, and wisdom for Ven. Rev. Canon Silvanus Muhairwe as he prepares to receive...

Rising Point for Christ Family, Yesterday, Rev. Dr. Eng. Emmanuel Mwesigwa shared with me, Silas a powerful and challenging word from the Lord that I believe is for many of us at this time: “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” — Luke 14:26 At first glance, this command can be startling. But let us be clear: Jesus is not calling us to sinful anger or bitterness. He is speaking of a “holy reordering” of our loves. He asks for a love and loyalty so supreme, so total, that every other God-given relationship—as precious as it is—finds its proper place under our devotion to Him. What does this mean for us today, especially for our upcoming mission? Many of you feel the tug of God’s call to Buhweju, but also feel the weight of concern from home. Some of you are scared about how your parents or family will react. This is a real and valid struggle. In this contex...

What do we see in the church today? We see a concerning trend: a rise of ungodly pastors and spiritually compromised leaders. In an effort to grow their congregations, some churches now look to the world's models. They bring in celebrities from the music industry and motivational speakers, presenting them to the flock. But what is the result? The people are given what they want—entertainment that satisfies carnal desires —rather than what they need: the unvarnished truth of God's Word that leads to holiness. This creates a dangerous cycle. The church may be filled, and a certain “vibe” may be created, but without holiness, there is no true life (Hebrews 12:14). When Jesus said, “No one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28), He spoke the truth. So why do we act as if His Church needs the strategies of the world to survive? Why exchange authentic worship for performance, and solid preaching for motivational talks that lack the power to save? There is a pressing need for re...

To the beloved Family of God at Rising Point for Christ, friends and family,  Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus. We have stepped into the month of November, our second-last month of the year. This is a sacred opportunity to draw near to God and surrender to Him our daily struggles with sin, the hardships that weigh on our hearts, and the pains that we often carry in silence. Even the Apostle Paul, a mighty man of God, was no stranger to this battle, writing openly about his thorn in the flesh and his inner conflict (2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Romans 7). As believers, we all face seasons of struggle—whether with sin, disappointment, discouragement from loved ones, or the heartbreak of relationships. But in the midst of it all, remember this unchanging truth: God is with you.  Troubles will come, but our God promises rescue and restoration. Recently, I asked a brother to contribute a word of greeting for this month. He replied, “I am broken into pieces.”  ...

Scripture Reading: John 20:19-23 (NASB) > “So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’  And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’  If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” This passage reveals a profound truth: the same Jesus who was sent by the Father to bring us salvation now sends us out into the world. He does not send us in our own strength, but by breathing His Holy Spirit upon us, empowering us to carry His message of forgiveness and peace. Just ...

BUHWEJU MISSION (By Winniefred Chance Nabwire)  To the Beloved in Christ, Peace in the name of our risen Savior. Hear this call to your spirit— A divine summons to arise And join the Buhweju Mission. From December 14th to the 21st, With Rising Point for Christ, Prepare your heart as a living offering. Let the Lord work powerfully through you. Our theme, drawn from Scripture's depth, A sacred charge to the faithful: “FROM GRACE TO GOODNESS. Imitate our God by doing good— Shine His brilliant light into the world's need.” By grace alone we will stand In West Ankole Diocese, Lifting high the unchanging truth of Scripture. Come, witness the move of God's hand In the sacred hills of Western Uganda— Do not dare to miss what He will do. Laboring in the Lord's vineyard, Winniefred Chance Nabwire— God's chosen instrument for such a time as this. For more info: rising.point4christ.ug@gmail.com

Happy New Month, beloved brethren! As we step into October, we embrace a new month of true satisfaction in Christ Jesus. God's blessings overflow as we commence the final three months of the year 2025. It is a beautiful month, made even more so by the grace God has shown in my life. The 25th of October is my birthday, and I welcome you to join me in giving thanks to God for His faithfulness and mercy throughout my life. 💧 Anchored in “The Wellspring” This year, my personal message and the theme for our Annual Prayer and Fasting with the Rising Point for Christ family are one and the same: “The Wellspring: Finding Satisfaction in Christ”  from John 4:1-26. This world often leaves us feeling lost and dissatisfied. I, Oriokot confess that around June, I fell into this trap. I was desperate for funds to visit my parents in August with my fiancée. A deep dissatisfaction with what I had grew in my heart, and I forgot God's promise never to leave or forsake me. In a moment of weak...

Voddie. Voddie. Voddie. The name echoes with the weight of a calling faithfully fulfilled. In a generation with many preachers, genuine heralds of the Gospel with good intentions are few in that vineyard. Preachers are many, but few are truthfully, boldly, and sincerely proclaiming the salvation that comes from trusting solely in the Lord Jesus Christ. Voddie stood out as one of them. A Preacher of Christ, Not Prosperity He was, unequivocally, the preacher of Christ. While others preached a gospel of prosperity—a God of only good times and no bad times—Voddie was busy preaching the God of all seasons. One of the most striking things about this man was that he preached Jesus. He pleaded with men with tears, asking them to come to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through repentance. His ministry was not with entertainment, but with purity in the Gospel. He offered not prosperity, but Christ. He taught us just as the Apostle Paul did—with tears, pleading with us to trust in Christ Jesus. A Gu...

INTERCEDE Rising Point for Christ “The Wellspring: Finding Satisfaction in Christ” —John 4:1-26 Our Call: Drink Deeply. Worship Truly. Proclaim Boldly.  (Drink & Worship: The Satisfying Christ)  Oct 3rd — 5th, 2025 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is with great joy that I welcome you to our Annual Three Days of Prayer and Fasting for 2025. This sacred tradition, which we observe on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of October each year, is a divine opportunity to collectively pause, refocus, and draw nearer to our Almighty God. As we center our hearts on His sovereignty, grace, and power, let us remember that our God is not only in ultimate control but is also rich in mercy, love, and ever-attentive to our prayers. Let this be more than a routine; see it as a profound invitation and a privilege to encounter the very heart of God. I encourage you to approach each day's devotion and prayer with intentionality. Meditate on His Word, p...