Basic 6 · Religious and Moral Education · Religious Worship
The Importance of Prayer in Our Lives
In this topic you will discuss the importance and moral benefits of prayer in personal, family and national life.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the importance of prayer for individuals and communities
- Describe the moral values developed through prayer
- Explain the link between prayer and action
What you already know
- The meaning and types of prayer
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Religious Practices
- Sub-strand
- Religious Worship
- Indicator
- B6.2.1.1.1 – Discuss the importance of prayer in our lives
Introduction
Ghana holds national prayer days, schools begin with prayer at assembly, and families pray before meals. Why is prayer so important to so many people?
1. Importance of Prayer to Individuals
- It strengthens a person's relationship with God.
- It gives comfort, peace and hope in difficult times.
- It helps a person to reflect on their actions and change for the better.
- It brings a sense of gratitude for blessings.
- It gives courage and confidence.
2. Importance to Families and the Nation
| Level | Example | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| family | praying together at meals or bedtime | unity and love in the home |
| school | morning assembly prayers | discipline and a good start to the day |
| community | prayers at festivals, funerals and naming ceremonies | comfort and togetherness |
| nation | National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (1st July since 2017) | national unity and peace |
3. Moral Values from Prayer
| Value | How prayer develops it |
|---|---|
| humility | recognising that we depend on God |
| gratitude | thanking God for blessings |
| honesty | confessing wrongdoing |
| forgiveness | asking God to forgive and forgiving others |
| patience | waiting for answers |
| discipline | praying regularly at set times |
4. Prayer and Action
Prayer does not replace effort. A pupil who prays to pass an exam must also study hard. Muslims are taught to "tie your camel and trust in Allah", meaning take sensible action and then trust God. Christians say "Pray and work". In Traditional Religion, prayers at libation ask for blessings, but elders also warn that the gods and ancestors punish wrongdoing, so prayer must go with good conduct.
Respect for others' prayers is also important. Ghana is a country where people of different faiths pray side by side at national events.
Pupils can make prayer part of their daily lives by praying when they wake up, before meals, before examinations and before sleeping. They can also pray for others, such as sick relatives, the nation and people affected by disasters. Most importantly, they can let prayer change their behaviour.
New words
- reflect
- To think carefully about one's actions.
- gratitude
- Thankfulness.
- humility
- Not being proud.
- discipline
- Self-control and regular habits.
- National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving
- A Ghanaian day of prayer held on 1st July.
- tolerance
- Respecting the beliefs of others.
Summary
- Prayer gives comfort, peace, hope and courage.
- Families, schools, communities and the nation benefit from prayer.
- Prayer develops humility, gratitude, honesty and discipline.
- Prayer must be combined with effort and good conduct.
Class activity: Prayer Values Debate
- Discuss: "Prayer alone is enough to succeed."
- Give reasons for and against.
- Agree on a class conclusion about prayer and action.
You need: Bible, Qur’an, Prayer mat, Printed photographs of traditional Ghanaian worship
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which value does thanksgiving prayer develop?
- A. gratitude
- B. pride
- C. greed
- D. laziness
Show answer
Answer: gratitudeBeing thankful.2. Ghana's National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving is on…
- A. 1st July
- B. 6th March
- C. 25th December
- D. 1st May
Show answer
Answer: 1st JulySince 2017.3. "Tie your camel and trust in Allah" teaches…
- A. take action and trust God
- B. never pray
- C. only pray
- D. camels are holy
Show answer
Answer: take action and trust GodPrayer and action.4. Prayer can give comfort in difficult times.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TruePeace and hope.5. A pupil who prays does not need to study.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalsePrayer goes with effort.6. Respecting other people's beliefs is religious ______.
Show answer
Answer: toleranceLiving in peace.7. State three importances of prayer to an individual.
Show answer
Answer: Strengthens relationship with God, gives peace, helps reflection (or gratitude, courage).Any three.8. Explain why prayer should go together with action.
Show answer
Answer: God expects people to use their abilities; prayer gives strength and guidance, but effort brings results.Faith and work.
Homework
- Write about a time when prayer helped you or your family.