Online Reporter
Conelia Mabasa-Book Review
IT is natural for a reader to try and predict the course of the story just by checking out the title, preface and the blurb.
That is how I find my way into a literary work.
However, when I tried it with Farai Chishiri’s “Refill Your Horn With Oil: Rise. Be the Chosen. Walk in Purpose” (2025), published by Nera Peak in association with Leaders Ladder, my strategy fell flat.
The book forced me to discover its real intent without being predictive.
As a Christian, I assumed I was holding a sermon based on 1 Samuel 16; the story of the anointing of the shepherd boy, David, son of Jesse of Bethlehem. But her style and what she seeks to achieve, threw me off the rails. Instead, the book dictates the pace of the reader, forces interaction and probes into the deeper self without being pushy or invasive. It nudges in a polite, polished way.
It is a book that respects the reader.
By arguing that it is not a sermon, I hope to be clearer on what the subject matter is. What I know for certain is that it led me to read, and reread 1 Samuel 16, first in Shona, then in English (KJV), back to Shona, then English (Gideons Bible) and English (NIV).
It was not that I missed the message of the chapter, but it was in the hope the message would unravel chronologically, just like the Bible text, but no. That did not work either.
The book is crafted in a way that it forces one into a companionship, a journey, complete with detours and replete with other people’s experiences in a manner which shifts the mind to introspection as a natural reaction to the strategic script for purposeful living.
“Refill Your Horn With Oil” is an allegory — a layered, structured, guided and spirit-driven message that builds self-awareness and prompts one to seek their life purpose and live it. It is a philosophy. A regulator of emotions. An engaging book that instructs the reader to interact with it. For example, at one point it says “write a letter to yourself”—testing both companionship and obedience.
The style of writing is deliberate, drawing in the reader and making the story of Samuel’s mission at Jesse’s house seem like the easiest of tasks. The preface in sub-titles simplifies the prophet’s assignment by giving both urgency and currency to the events. The whole process is drawn to the present, as if the anointing unfolds right before the reader’s eyes.
However, on a much deeper level, Chishiri rides on the mission in Bethlehem to open our eyes to our realities, picking theme by theme, step by step, capturing the prophet’s anxious moments, his fears and the significance of refilling the horn, waiting for the signal, waiting for the right moment and the right heir, and relating all that to real life experiences.
The parallels are deep.
While God asked Samuel, “For how long are you going to mourn . . .?”, this becomes double-edged when Chishiri turns her pen to the reader to say: whatever has brought tears, sadness or setbacks in your life is not worth the time, acknowledge the hurt, confirm the loss and choose to refill, re-energise, rise and set out on a journey, just like the prophet.
Dwelling on the past or regrets does not ease the pain. The author implores the reader to stop rehearsing pain, but to take positive steps to reframe and derive renewed intent to conquer, prosper and touch other lives positively.
But how does one set out on such a delicate journey of self-discovery and relaunching without backsliding or coming against man-made walls?
Again, she directs readers to Samuel’s delicate assignment—to anoint a new king when there was still King Saul on the throne. Samuel had to be as discreet as possible, removing focus by sacrificing to God, instead of publicising his motive.
Chishiri warns about the cost of a loud mouth. Some plans fall through because of oversharing as that awakens detractors. She argues, using the metaphor of an acorn, that the most important work happens in the quietness of the soil, as roots sink in.
Each chapter is rich with wise counsel and I share here some of the nuggets drawn from the book.
The author insists that meaning can still be found even in seasons marked by uncertainty. She stresses that strength is not the absence of pain…but the grace to keep walking through it.
She also says, do not let the pain of yesterday rob you of tomorrow’s purpose, for obedience is the doorway to divine encounters. And remember, your unseen obedience is not overlooked; your quiet preparation is not wasted; and your pursuit of God, even in obscurity, is shaping you for a moment that only Heaven can orchestrate.
Moreover, she argues the true measure of anointing is not how high you rise, but how deeply others are lifted through your overflow.
Chishiri implores readers to draw from the Cross, the greatest of all outpourings of life, the river of redemption for the whole world and spring up, touch lives, open doors for others, close gaps and revive the weary.
“Refill Your Horn with Oil” (2025) is a guide to purposeful living relevant to a boardroom executive, team leader, or just an individual seeking to rise from the ashes, or to lead an impactful life. It is, indeed, a life strategy.
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