Book Title: I Bow.
Author: Prof. Charles Mwewa.
Reviewer: Stephen Misori.
In the Bible, Matthew 11:28 offers a timeless assurance: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This message provides hope to individuals and nations facing challenges such as wars, hatred, religious divisions, poverty, disease, and natural disasters.
It directs nations to seek refuge in God’s guidance and find peace amid adversity.
In his book, I Bow, Prof. Charles Mwewa vividly portrays the role of divine intervention in addressing the world’s troubles.
By highlighting key biblical characters and their stories, he provides both direction and inspiration.
Mwewa’s work stands out for its creative blend of poetry with the harsh realities of life’s struggles and frustrations, offering readers a unique and insightful perspective.
In I Bow, the 3,500 prayer lines delve deep into the scriptures, uncovering life-changing wisdom from biblical figures who faced and conquered dire and seemingly hopeless situations.
Prof. Mwewa extracts powerful lessons from these legends, offering readers profound insights and hope in the face of life’s challenges.
In his opening prayer, “Deep in Sleep,” he seeks peace of mind and soul, offering everyone’s life, joy, and anxieties to the God of provision.
This heartfelt invocation sets the tone for a book dedicated to offering consolation, comfort, solutions, peace, and relaxation.
He emphasises that true peace can only be found in God’s refuge, urging those with divided attention to remain steadfast in their devotion to God’s will.
In his prayer ‘Ancient of Days,’ Mwewa eloquently traces the origins of the universe, emphasizing the divine orchestration behind every aspect of creation.
Through a captivating narrative, he leads readers on a journey from the genesis of life to the affirmation that nothing occurs without God’s blessing.
In the 21st line of this prayer, he declares, “In the beginning, the Lord planned the earth.” This powerful statement reaffirms the belief that God is the mastermind behind all existence, with benevolent intentions for all His creations.
In I Bow, he addresses nations that have turned away from God for various reasons. In his prayer, ‘Noah in Bower,’ he recounts how “The sons of Noah rebelled against God, lingered on earth, and grew evilly bold.”
Despite this, Mwewa explains that God remained patient, waiting for the right moment to unveil His plan for salvation. He says that God has good intentions for everyone and calls on all nations to embrace God’s love.
In this prayer, the author encourages individuals and nations who have strayed from God, affirming that they can still make efforts to return to Him. He argues that true peace and order in the world are achievable only through spiritual nourishment and guidance.
This prayer showcases the true nature of God as one who offers second chances, reinforcing the idea of divine forgiveness and redemption.
In “Scent of Accents,” Mwewa draws on the story of the Tower of Babel to emphasize the importance of linguistic unity.
He writes: “Lord, when the entire earth was one accent, people at Shinar, without Your consent, settled there and branded bricks of stone.”
This illustrates the beauty of unity in diversity while also serving as a caution against pride and arrogance.
Prof Mwewa uses this scripture to remind nations to stay humble and open to guidance from their leaders if they wish to achieve lasting success.
In “Joseph is Tough,” he uses the story of Joseph to highlight human nature’s darker aspects.
He illustrates how God ensures His plans prevail over human malice. He portrays man as inherently evil and jealous, often hindering others’ success.
Prof Mwewa traces Joseph’s journey from being sold into slavery by his envious brothers to rising to power in Egypt.
Despite the hatred and jealousy, he faced, Joseph ultimately ascends to the throne. He highlights God’s perfect timing, stating: “And Joseph did reign in Egypt at his prime.”
In his work, the Amazon’s best-selling author delves into the divine role in appointing leaders, illustrated through the stories of Moses and Joshua. He highlights how God actively supports and anoints chosen leaders.
Mwewa urges resistant generations to seek God’s guidance in selecting their leaders to fully experience His goodness and joy. In prayers such as “Few Bosses like Moses,” “Dialogue through Decalogue,” and “As Sure as Joshua,” Mwewa emphasizes that God is not man, hence doesn’t die.
He pens on 113th prayer about God, “You favour those who You have chosen,” reinforcing that God is the ultimate authority in leadership selection.
The book brings to light individuals who confronted adversity and persecution to uphold sacrifice and justice.
Mwewa draws upon the story of Job in his prayer “No Job like Job’s” to emphasize the comforting presence of God amidst trials.
Through Job’s example, Mwewa underscores the virtues of resilience and endurance in maintaining faithfulness despite suffering. His prayer resonates with the plea, “You, O Lord, granted that Job be tested, … But his life be spared although requested, O God, teach us, too, to have endurance…,” highlighting the enduring significance of unwavering faith in the face of life’s challenges.
He has dedicated special prayers to nearly every country in the world, addressing a wide range of challenges such as calamities, life struggles, hatred, wars, diseases, hunger, poverty, and political displacement.
In each prayer, he mentions the nations by name and identifies the specific issues they face. In his 741st prayer line, he says, “I pray for the state of Afghanistan… To come to Christ, and also Kyrgyzstan… That the light of God will shine on Bhutan.”
Mwewa highlights this region as still struggling to understand who God truly is, emphasising the need for every nation to recognize God’s power in overcoming hatred and mischief in daily life.
This collection of prayers stresses the importance of divine intervention in resolving global issues and promoting peace.
Mwewa devotes significant attention to praying for the Middle East, a region long plagued by conflict. He urges these nations to embrace peace and unity, rather than engaging in disputes over resources and political conflicts.
He calls on those fighting over borders and boundaries to stop causing pain and suffering. In his prayer, he says, “May rivers flow in Western Sahara, … Unlike the bitter water at Marah, … And let these waters bring eternal life… As you protect West Bank from inner strife…”
This poignant plea shows the need for reconciliation and harmony in the Middle East, advocating for a shift from conflict to cooperation and mutual respect.
Through his prayers, Mwewa highlights the potential for divine intervention to foster lasting peace in the region.
He portrays God as the sovereign controller of Canada, holding the solution to the world’s troubles. He pens in 841st prayer, ‘You’re Governor of friendly Canada, …And Governor – General in Grenada…’
For Colombia, a nation grappling with drug and substance abuse, he prays for divine intervention.
He also prays for order in Zambia. In his prayer “Colombia to Zambia,” Mwewa addresses nations struggling with social democracy, social ills, and various forms of injustice, such as Namibia’s land claims issues.
This collection of prayers emphasizes the need for divine guidance and intervention to resolve these societal challenges, advocating for justice, order, and healing across the globe. Mwewa’s work calls for nations to seek God’s help in overcoming their specific struggles and achieving lasting peace and equity.
Mwewa emphasises the importance of faith in Africa’s journey to improve living standards. He urges African nations to remain devoted to God in order to achieve progress and catch up with developed countries like Sweden, which has no poor citizens. In his prayer “Bahrain to Spain,” he says, “Lord, let Gabon have no poor like Sweden…”
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Through this prayer, Mwewa highlights the potential for spiritual devotion to drive social and economic advancement, encouraging African nations to seek divine guidance in their quest for development and prosperity.
The prayer “I Bow” offers a comprehensive summary of human experiences, encompassing pain, hopes, wishes, and desires. It outlines a path to commitment through prayer and dedication to service, encouraging divine resolution.
I highly recommend this book to nations and individuals striving for peaceful coexistence and tranquility, as it provides valuable insights and guidance for achieving harmony and understanding.
