One of the great joys of Spiritual Life Development is hearing the stories of how God is at work in the lives of His people. Across our territory, officers, soldiers, employees, and friends of The Salvation Army each have a unique spiritual journey—one that can encourage, challenge, and inspire others.
To help share those stories, we’ve launched our Spotlight Series, where we feature individuals from across the Eastern Territory and invite them to reflect on the experiences, relationships, and moments through which God has shaped their faith. Through a series of thoughtful questions, each person shares insights from their spiritual journey, offering encouragement, wisdom, and a glimpse of God’s faithfulness in their life.
We’re delighted to begin the series with our Territorial Spiritual Life Development Secretary, Colonel Crista Dalrymple. We invite you to read her reflections and pray that her story—and those that follow—will deepen your own relationship with the Lord while reminding you that God continues to write His story through ordinary people who faithfully follow Him.
Can you share a resource that you can say has made a significant impact on your relationship with Jesus? How has it helped you grow closer to Him?
Right now I am really falling in love with the Bible. I know that this may sound cliche, but reading God’s Word and remembering that this is what God has intended for us to use as a guide for life really makes my heart beat a little faster – the God of the Universe has spoken to me through His Word. Wow! Stewart and I have been using a small commentary of the whole Bible written by Warren Weirsbe alongside of our daily readings for our morning devotions.
What is your favorite worship song, book, or podcast (you can list as many as you would like, but let us know why they are your favorite)?
I go through seasons where a song or chorus will just stick with me and it makes me really think about the words. William J. Brand wrote the song “By the Love that never ceased to hold me” which is found in our Salvation Army song book. The tune is beautiful, but the words just touch my heartstrings in a way that moves me no matter where I am. The chorus goes, “By the love that never ceased to hold me, By the blood which Thou didst shed for me. While Thy presence and Thy power enfold me, I renew my covenant with Thee.” Particularly in this year, where the Territorial focus has been “Our Holy Covenant”, the concept of Covenant has been even more present in my life. The wonder of a God who is so great and yet so personal, so faithful and loving even when I fail Him is evident in these words. These words overwhelm me with the knowledge that God made a way for me to be in relationship with Him in spite of my sin.
What is the most meaningful Scripture verse to you, and why? If you have more than one, feel free to share- no restrictions.
From the age of 16 or 17, my favorite verse has been Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” My understanding of the verse has changed since my teenage years, however. For a long time, I felt like as long as I was a Christian, the things that I felt strongly about, would come to pass. As I have grown in the Lord, I have also grown in the understanding that delighting myself in the Lord also means trusting and truly believing that what God desires for my life is THE absolute best thing and that there is nothing better for me. That doesn’t mean everything is rosy and perfect, but it means that everything will work together for good (Romans 8:28) and help me become more like Jesus.
