My Beloved Is Mine — Basilea Schlink

God lives and works today. He isn't a distant, impersonal deity. No, He loves us sinful creatures with all His heart, and He longs to make our lives full and happy. Listen to today's testimony of one of the sisters from the little land of Canaan.

Longing for God’s Indwelling Presence

One of my favorite Bible verses is Zechariah 2, verse 10. I come and I will dwell in the midst of you. That had always been my longing, if only God would dwell in me. But I sensed that He wasn't always living in me.

My life was far removed from it. Once, after a Bible study, Mother Basileus said, When you go apart with the Lord now, ask Him to show you what has the first place in your heart, because He can only live within you if there is room for Him.

Sacrificing Canaan to Follow God’s Call

When I began to pray, I knew immediately what had taken over the first place in my heart, and, after much hesitation, I wrote down a dedication in my spiritual diary. Lord Jesus, I'm willing to bring you a sacrifice of love, to leave my beloved Canaan, my mothers and my sisters here, and go abroad to one of our foreign branches.

Serving God in Scandinavia

About a year and a half later, the Lord Jesus asked me to keep this commitment. He called me to serve Him in Scandinavia. When the time of departure came, my heart almost broke. But then I experienced, Jesus is always nearest to us when we are where He wants us to be.

Discovering Dependence on Jesus

He was so near to me in Scandinavia. For many years I had longed for this nearness, but had never found it. But now, all of a sudden, I became completely dependent upon Him. I could no longer ask my mothers for advice about every small thing, or go to my sisters and say, please help me.

Now I had to discuss everything with Jesus. I needed Him all day long, and He was really there and helped me in my every need. But homesickness for Canaan did come over me sometimes when I was traveling from one country to another.

Jesus’ Presence in Every Place

Once, when I wrote home about it, Mother Materia sent me a song which Mother Basilea had written. Ever since, it has been my song, for it says, I enter my garden, and Jesus is near. I enter my room, and He is also here.

The dearest, the fairest, is waiting for me. He loves me so warmly and intimately. We travel together, or land and or sea, and each place is home when He's walking with me. The strange is familiar when He's at my side.

The fairest, the dearest, my treasure and pride. Many friends have told us, oh, if only I could stay on Canaan forever. The Lord Jesus is so present there. But today I know, Jesus is nearest when we are in the place He wants us to be.

Joy in Following God’s Leading

Wherever He has called us to go, that is where He is. And there He is waiting for us. This knowledge has filled my heart with joy and gratitude. Now I can only say, thank you, Jesus, that you have drawn so near to me.

You have been listening to a program written by Basile Schlenk of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www .canaan .org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org.

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