During Winston Churchill’s long political career, he participated in thousands of cabinet and committee meetings. These meetings were the lifeblood of British government. It was in these meetings that the fate of the British Empire was decided.

It is fascinating to read the minutes of the cabinet meetings following the First World War. After victory, at the peak of Britain’s power, a handful of men decided the future for millions of people across the globe. As the cabinet ministers and prime minister debated each issue, or responded to an emergency, they only could rely on the facts they knew, their wits, their instincts, and their best human judgement. In many ways, it is quite disturbing to realize how much faith man’s governments place in the minds of a few men.

Churchill was a member of Lloyd George’s cabinet as the British Empire confronted several critical issues. Each day as the cabinet met, the will of the Empire’s leadership slowly eroded bit by bit. Boldness and resolve were gradually replaced with timidity and hesitation.

Churchill recognized the importance of the cabinet meetings and would always attempt to seize the moment. By arguing his case, or trying to effectually plead a cause, Churchill made sure he was always well prepared for these meetings. He always studied to know the key facts and details. Most ministers would not read the reports or information presented to them by their staff, making many decisions based on false premises or peer pressure.

Some moments that changed the course of history were decided in cabinet meetings, because Churchill was ready to seize the moment to effectually plead his case and bring about a positive outcome.

True Christians should be grateful that God does not use the government of man. We do not place our trust in a handful of human minds to make critical decisions. God’s Church operates with His family government, under the authority and leadership of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Yet within this family government we all have an individual responsibility. Every day, we participate in this government through prayer. We each have an opportunity to speak to the supreme authority in the universe, and make a difference for the God Family Empire.

Prayer is the single most important action and responsibility we have as Christians and members of God’s Church. In the May-June 1998 Royal Vision, editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote: “Our primary focus in life must be on how we talk to God in prayer! That is our number one priority. That is how we grow in God’s royal Family.”

We must follow Churchill’s methodical preparation and serious approach to our prayer lives. We cannot enter into prayer unprepared, half asleep and unwilling to grapple with the issues and priorities of the moment. If the fate of the British Empire was decided in the cabinet meetings, then the fate of the God Family Empire is decided on our knees in prayer!

In How to Be an Overcomer, Mr. Flurry wrote: “For us, in our spiritual warfare, it is in the prayer closet that the fate of God’s Church is decided.”

It is in the prayer closet each day where the will of God’s Church is expressed. Collectively we can all move God’s Church and Work forward when we express energy, resolve, boldness and courage in our prayers. When we begin to become selfish, timid and unprepared, we can actually hinder God’s work.

We are all in different situations. Some of us are young, some of us are old—where kneeling in prayer is a physical battle. We have health trials, some are retired, some are busy with work and family. No matter where we live, or what phase of life we are in, it is through fervent, effectual prayer that we can have powerful impacts on the course of world events. James 5:16 says that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

It is a wonderful gift of God that within the family government we all have a direct relationship with God the Father. No matter where you are physically, we are all the same distance to God’s throne room. It is in the throne room of the God Family Empire that we need to expend our greatest effort to “plead our case” in intercessory prayer, seizing the moment!

Some of Churchill’s finest and most important moments occurred in cabinet meetings. In many ways, World War ii was won in the British cabinet room, where Churchill defeated the appeasers and the defeatists first, before taking action to defeat Nazi Germany.

How about us? Will our finest moments be on our knees in our prayer closet, pouring our hearts out to God? Will you advance the cause and glory of the God Family Empire through your prayer life?

Our daily prayers are a responsibility, and an opportunity, to perform some of our greatest exploits. When we get on our knees each day, remember that in those precious moments going before God in His throne room, you are deciding the fate of God’s Church.

Let us all seize the moment and make each prayer session our finest hour.