Ballito entrepreneur and author Bonita Cherry shares the inspiration behind her debut book, A Heart That Burns, and the personal journey of faith, motherhood and rediscovering spiritual passion that shaped its pages.
For Bonita, writing has always been a deeply personal expression of faith. Since the age of eight, she has filled journals with “love letters to God” – quiet reflections that, over time, grew into something much bigger. Today, those private conversations have inspired her first book, A Heart That Burns.
“I never realised that one day I would not only write to God, but I would write for Him,” Bonita says. “My prayer is that my writing would be like love letters from God to His children.”
Her book explores what it means to live with a faith that remains passionate and alive, even in seasons when life feels overwhelming. Through personal stories, scripture and reflection, Bonita invites readers to rediscover what she calls God’s “all-consuming fire” – a deep and enduring connection with Him.
The inspiration for the title came from a moment of reflection while she was preparing to write the book. Bonita revisited a prayer she had written in her Bible more than two decades earlier: “Lord, I want to be used to set the world ablaze with your Holy Fire. Here I am, send me.”
“That prayer reminded me of the passion I once carried,” she explains. “It became the foundation for the message of the book – a call to live with a heart that burns for God.”
A central theme throughout the book is the idea of guarding one’s heart and protecting that sense of spiritual passion. Bonita shares that the book was written during a season when she herself felt spiritually depleted by the pressures of business, motherhood and everyday life.
“I wrote it for myself,” she says. “It was my journey of searching for His fire again after a season where I felt I was just a fading ember.
Through that journey, she began reflecting on how easily life’s distractions can pull people away from their faith. The book encourages readers to return to a place of intimacy with God, while also learning practical ways to remain spiritually grounded.
One chapter that proved particularly meaningful to write explores the idea of “guarding your heart”, inspired by the verse in Proverbs that describes the heart as the wellspring of life. For Bonita, this meant learning to protect her inner world, including setting healthy boundaries, choosing positive influences and staying rooted in faith.
“Guarding my heart means guarding the access I give to others and protecting my ability to walk in right standing with God,” she says.
While deeply personal, the book is designed to be interactive and reflective for readers. Each of the 12 chapters includes scripture, journalling prompts, discussion questions and a prayer to help readers apply the themes to their own lives. Bonita hopes the book will become a companion for people at different stages of their faith journey.
“Whether you are just beginning your walk with God or have walked with Him for many years, this book is a companion,” she says.
The response so far has been encouraging, with readers sharing the book with friends and family and retailers asking to stock it in stores. That ripple effect has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.
Looking ahead, she has already begun working on her next book, which will focus on motherhood and the challenge of balancing faith, family and personal purpose.
For now, though, her hope for A Heart That Burns remains simple. “My prayer is that these words will be a spark,” she says. “Something that ignites a deeper hunger for God’s love and presence.”
Details: Purchase the book on www.bonitacherry.co.za.
The book will soon be available on Kindle via Amazon, as well as Takealot.
Text: Jennifer Campbell Photograph: Erin Van Der Merwe
