In the midst of writing a devotional article about the time she ran away from God at 17, Jiamin Choo-Fong found herself wracked with guilt and discouraging thoughts.

“Do I believe this stuff I am writing? Am I truly following Jesus wholeheartedly now, or am I being a hypocrite?”

The barrage of doubts soon left her in tears.

But as her tears flowed, Jiamin felt God’s presence envelop her. There was a deep sense that this devotional she was writing, entitled Broken, But Not Forsaken, wasn’t just about retelling her past.

It was all about the timeless message of the Heavenly Father waiting for every one of His children to come back to Him.

From one sister to another

Jiamin has written 30 such devotionals over a span of five years for Kallos, a Singapore-based Christian ministry for girls and young women with a bi-monthly magazine.

The purpose of the devotional column is to provide a consistent voice to disciple young women and to convey truths from God’s Word in a personal and relational way.

Jiamin (second from left) and the Kallos team with the newly-published devotionals.

“This Kallos devotional column was a beautiful and precious opportunity to share God’s Word through the ministry of writing,” said Jiamin.

“Even though I may not get to meet the readers in real life, I would be able to connect with them through the devotional column, to share life and faith experiences.”

The collection was compiled into a devotional journal titled A Daughter’s Faith as an invitation to readers to set aside time alone with God, meditate on His Word, and pen down their reflections.

Her hope is that sharing her personal stories “honestly and vulnerably” will affirm, bring healing to readers and “ignite a desire” in their hearts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father.

Each book comes with 30 devotionals written by Jiamin, and encourages journalling with spaces included for reflection.

With so many other similar books available, why another devotional journal for girls and women?

Jiamin, who is a published author and missionary, has filled over 70 journals in her 20 years of journaling.

She spoke to Salt&Light about how this book came to be.

Why is the book titled A Daughter’s Faith?

This book title is an expression of my love and gratitude as a daughter of the Heavenly Father, sharing what my faith journey with Him has been like through different seasons of life.

When I was 13, my earthly father passed away. I thought I had become fatherless, but later on I realised that God is my Heavenly Father who is always here with me.

I ran away from God for a year when I was 17.

That year had been a time of transitions with moving to a new school, making new friends and finding a sense of belonging. I also held onto feelings for someone who didn’t share my faith, and distanced myself from church friends because I felt guilty for not being the “good” Christian girl.

I felt like a disappointment and “ran away” from God ­– refusing to surrender my struggles to Him, ignoring His voice and keeping Him out of my life

That lasted about a year, but I became so tired of running away that I confessed my failings before God and asked if He would be willing to take me back.

And He did!

This collection of 30 devotionals is an invitation to the reader to journey with God through personal stories, biblical truths, and a safe space to process.

Every time I received the topic or theme for the specific magazine issue, I would pray: “Heavenly Father, what do You want me to speak to the girls about? What do You want them to know: Which of Your attributes? Which of Your promises? How about their identity and worth in You?”

Each devotional comes with prompts for reflection and prayer.

Then by using rough paper or by typing on my phone, I would scribble whatever words, ideas, images or memories come to mind. Sometimes I also interviewed other young women (or my husband, for a guy’s perspective) on what they thought about that topic, and that was really helpful especially when I was stuck with writer’s block.

No prodigal daughter is too far for the Heavenly Father to reach out to. I know that because He had welcomed me back home before.

I hope that this book will draw all daughters deeper into God’s heart, to bring forth a generation of girls and women who will praise the Lord, call Him Father, and make Him known among the nations.

Jiamin’s devotions were written with the hope that they would “draw all daughters deeper into God’s heart”.

What got you started on journaling?

I started journaling when I was 14. Back then, it was to process the day and reflect on all that had happened. In my later teens, it became a space to write letters to God – my way of communicating with Him, and a spiritual discipline to “close the day” with God.

I feel deep satisfaction when I find the right words to convey thoughts and feelings. I enjoy putting pen to paper, filling the pages of my journals with reflections of God’s work in my daily life and the lessons He teaches me.

Now, it’s a heartfelt conviction to write to glorify my Heavenly Father, the Author of my life, to tell of His goodness, to testify of His love, to bring forth a message of truth for the readers in my generation and beyond.

After more than two decades of practising this discipline, has it helped you grow in faith?

It’s about self-awareness. But there’s also this element of communicating with God, allowing God to transform as I read these letters that I’ve been writing to Him.

Some of these journal entries contain very vivid episodes of God’s work; like a very vivid experience of encountering God or maybe a glimpse of life where God ministered to someone, or where I felt blessed or challenged by someone. 

Journalling on a regular basis changes me by bringing to attention the things I need to change, sins that I need to repent of, like unforgiveness, or even prompting me to celebrate the milestones that God has put in my life.

But some lessons also unfold over several journals – not just in one or two entries. It’s a very long timeline.

Something I do, from time to time, is to take out older journals and look back on the past couple of years. I read about what I’ve gone through, where prayer has been answered and even how God has been teaching me things – obstacles I have overcome, or weaknesses and habits that I have to work on. 

I see His hand through those pages. 

Can you share an example of something that took a long time to unfold?

Waiting on – and even surrendering to – God for a life partner and my dream of marriage. (Read Jiamin’s story of how she waited through her twenties here.)

Journalling was my way of offering up this area of my life to God in prayer.

Later on, when I started dating Minghui (my husband now), going back to those past journals helped bring clarity.

I saw alignment regarding my values, longings, dreams and also what God had put on my heart regarding the choice of a life partner – someone with a heart for God and for missions.

When it came to a decision about the relationship and then the proposal, I knew that I was on the right track. I was able to make those future decisions clearly because the journals also helped me to see the clarity, that trend, that consistency in the message that God was showing me.

Do you have any tips for those of us who may be unfamiliar or unused to the practice of journaling?

One way to get started is to count three blessings a day or even three things you are currently struggling with – just list them in bullet points. This will help us cultivate gratefulness towards God’s blessings in tough times.

It’s about acknowledging and naming those things, writing it down. At least it’s out there on paper: These are the things that I’m going round and round about. I can deal with them later.

For myself, when my thoughts are so crowded, I feel relieved when it’s out.

What are your hopes for the devotional book?

Since the book launch in December, I’ve received a couple of messages from mothers who have placed orders for the book, sharing that their daughters have run away from God, or who are going through really hard times, and how they hope this book will help draw their daughters closer to their Heavenly Father.

As I wrote personal messages in the books for these daughters, I prayed for each precious girl, tears filling my eyes as I felt God’s deep love for each of them.

A lady in her 60s told me that it made her reflect on her younger days and brought back good memories of her own walk with God as a younger woman. 

She called it “time travelling” – it’s about these journal entries bearing witness to someone’s journey with Christ, building identity and a testimony to future generations.

These things are timeless.

In Psalm 102:18, it says: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.”

So is my desire to offer this gift of writing with the purpose of bringing praises back to the Audience of One.

I hope that this book will draw all daughters deeper into God’s heart, to bring forth a generation of girls and women who will praise the Lord, call Him Father, and make Him known among the nations.

A Daughter’s Faith is a devotional journal based on personal stories of a daughter in relationship with her Heavenly Father. Gleaning precious truths from her journey with God from her teenage years to adulthood, Jiamin shares intimately her experience of drawing nearer to God’s heart with confidence, comfort and hope.

If you would like to purchase a copy of A Daughter’s Faith for yourself or as a gift for a daughter, sister or friend, please click here to order directly from Kallos.

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