Suzette T. Caldwell There is no denying that President Barack Obama stepped into a horrible mess left by his predecessor last January. In addition to two wars, a $1.3 trillion U.S. deficit, out of control unemployment and a breakdown of our nation’s financial system, as the nation’s first Black president, his message of change has met with strong resistance from some Americans who do not want change on the corporate level. But while he ran on the promise of “the change we need” concerning the U.S. tax code, energy, and foreign and domestic policies, it is almost easy to overlook that he also spoke of “individual responsibility” and “mutual responsibility.”
If one can expect the government and its leaders to institute change in a 233-year-old country, then it’s not so far-fetched to believe that individuals can effect change in their lives and circumstances.

The questions that comes to the minds of ordinary citizens is “How can I change?” and “How can I change my circumstances?” Suzette T. Caldwell, associate pastor for Windsor Village United Methodist Church, 6011  W. Orem, believes she has the answer—Prayer.

And if the Obama administration, which seems to be fond of czars, is listening they might want to consider making her the czar of prayer. Suzette, board chairman for The Prayer Institute and wife of Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, says after many years of studying and teaching prayer, she knows that it is the only thing that causes lasting change. The results being, “Praying to Change Your Life: A Guide to Productive Prayer,” an action-oriented, results-driven, how-to guide that transforms lives, and increases the power of your prayers.

The book (Destiny Images, ISBN 978-0-7684-2751-6, $16.99), is not based in theory, but rather practical application, born out of her own battle with breast cancer in January 2004. “I had to walk what I had been teaching for 17 years. Now, my health is excellent; there isn’t any cancer. As a result, I put the teaching in a book in order to instruct people how to pray.”

According to Pastor Kirbyjon, “Suzette’s liberating revelation about The Model Prayer can literally transform how you pray, why you pray, and what happens when you pray.” Suzette states, “Members of the Body of Christ have been praying the best they know how. Most people have not had a class on prayer. Most haven’t been taught how to pray, they just copy what others do with little knowledge. ... In Matthew 6, Jesus said, ‘Don’t pray like them, pray like this.’ The Church will become more effective once we learn that the power of prayer lies in the words that we say. The words are what God has already said. They lie in the scriptures that we pray.”

In addition to chapters that cover “Productive Prayer,” “A Definition of Prayer,” “To Whom Do We Pray,” “The Power Source,” “Pray ‘The Model Prayer,’” “Walk the Talk,” “Pray-ers With Mountain-Moving Faith,” “Prayer and Results,” the book also includes prayers,  exercises,  and a prayer guide.” She dedicated the book to her mother, the late Pastor Gussie L. Turner, who “taught me not to put God in a box.” In the book, she recounts a particular miracle that took place when she was a young girl: “ ... a doctor told my mother that I would have to wear orthopedic shoes for the rest of my life due to a genetic defect in the bone structure of my feet. According to him, I would not be able to stand for long periods of time. One morning around 2 A.M., my mother woke me up and asked me if I believed God could heal my feet. ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I believe God.’ She said, ‘You have witnessed many miracles. Do you believe God can do the same thing for you?’ ‘Oh, yes,’ I replied. My mother prayed for me, and the Lord healed my feet that night.”

It was a precursor to Suzette’s understanding of prayer in terms of physical healing. Yet, prayer has the power to change families, spiritual conditions and finances—anything that needs a transformation. “If people will apply the principles, their prayer life will be off the chain. This isn’t Suzette’s model, this is Jesus’ model for his kingdom.”

Response to “Praying to Change Your Life,” has been overwhelmingly positive as people take a different look at praying, offering prayers that will produce what  God wants for their lives. “This prayer will change your life. One man was diagnosed with Leukemia. His daughter called in tears saying, ‘I really need you to pray for my dad.’ I provided scriptures for healing and her father was healed.”

She continued, “The proof is in the pudding. We are experiencing tremendous results.” The success of Windsor Village, which has over 100 ministries, is based on the principles found in the book. Entities interested in effectively addressing “negative elements that affect the human condition,” might want to take note that nine non-profit organizations make up The Power Connection which ranges from Pyramid CDC, developer of the 104,000 square feet Power Center to the The Imani School, a private Christian school which serves 450 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.

In addition, Pointe 2.3.4. is a 234-acre, master-planned community which offers a multitude of goods, products and services through various educational, recreational, spiritual, cultural and commercial components. The project is valued at more than $200 million upon completion and will create in excess of 2,000 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs. The importance of praying like Jesus is underscored each month, through a Power Guide produced by the church consisting of prayers on a variety of topics, which are then posted online at www.prayerinstitute.com.

The Power Guide contains a prayer calendar, which lists the assigned prayer for the day. Each prayer is filled with God’s word and formatted according to The Model Prayer. The Prayer Institute, where Suzette serves as president, provides training seminars and conferences to empower leaders and lay persons to accomplish God’s will for their lives.    

Additionally, The Prayer Institute provides consultation to churches and Christian organizations who want to start powerful prayer ministries or enhance their existing prayer ministries. Like the book, the Prayer Institute teaches that prayer was created for God’s purposes, not our own; prayers need to be God-centered; Pray-ers can enhance their relationship with God; and you can increase your “prayer productivity rate.”