Along the paths of adventure in praying for this business and seeking where God would have me work next, I’ve encountered some interesting twists and turns. One of the unusual byways came as a result of my interest in helping out at the White House. Having lived and worked in the greater Washington area, I began to wonder if God would have me do any work at our nation’s “First Residence.” It would certainly be exciting.
At the time, President Reagan was still in office, and I began to ask the Lord if he would open the doors to let me help organize in the Reagan administration. I prayed this prayer for approximately two years, believing that God had led me to pray in this manner, but I never heard a definite answer from him. In the past, he had responded when I sought him about “big” questions, so I was puzzled. Time was elapsing, and soon President Reagan would be leaving the White House.
I thought that maybe I’d heard the Lord wrong. Perhaps he didn’t want me to pray specifically for President Reagan but for whoever was in the White House. I surmised that if that were the case, I’d need to assemble a list of all the candidates for the presidency, look it over, select one, and pray for that person. And that’s exactly what I did.
I prayerfully chose a name, and submitting it to the Lord, I prayed, “Lord, would you ask this man or his wife to call and ask me to organize whatever area they need to organize?”
Here’s the unbelievable part. Just a few days later, the wife of this presidential candidate — the very one I’d prayed for — called and asked, “Do you do basements?”
“Yes,” I responded. “I’ve done a number of basements.” I could hardly contain my excitement.
She was pleased. “Great. I need help in organizing my basement, and I’d really like to hire you to come and totally redo it. Are you available?”
How did she find out about me? Several weeks before, I had given a seminar for a congressional wives’ Bible study group. Evidently, one of the senator’s wives who took the course told her about what I do, and she decided to call. But that still doesn’t explain how I came to pray specifically for this man and his wife. God continues to astound me.
I went to work for this lady and had a wonderful time. In fact, I’ve worked with her on several occasions, and she’s absolutely delightful. At her request, I won’t divulge her name; her confidence is of utmost importance to me.
How can I possibly have experiences like this and not know that God is truly interested in my life, my business, and my dreams?
As a result of praying and seeing God provide miraculously through the years, I began to grow bold in my prayer life. Whether it was my overenthusiastic imagination or God’s call to a deeper walk of faith, I’m not sure, but I decided to let down the barriers and ask him for my “impossible dream.”
In 1987, I resolved to start praying for a palace. I’ve always wanted to organize a palace, and as I’ve shared that dream with others during the years, almost everyone I’ve spoken with has responded in the same manner.
“Well, Sue, kings and queens don’t need your services because they have maids, butlers, chauffeurs, and administrators of their own. They don’t have to pick up their clothes or do the cooking or sort out files.”
Of course, that’s true, but wouldn’t it be fun to be a part of that process, to be a help in that environment? And, why not? It’s a gift that God has given me, and who needs “time to spare” more than kings, queens, sheiks, and sultans? Besides, God wants us to share our dreams with him, and that’s my dream. Can you imagine the twinkle in his eye as he says, “Here comes Sue again with another crazy request.”
Yet look at all the “crazy requests” he has allowed me so far. As long as we keep talking, I’ll keep dreaming and asking. Perhaps he put that desire in my heart in the first place? I just pray that he keeps my heart right in the process.
So, at this writing, I haven’t organized a palace — yet. But I’m waiting, and I’m open, and any day, the call may come. In the meantime, it’s business as usual as I enjoy our daily conversations.
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.”
—Proverbs 8:34 (NIV)Taken