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Why was prayer so important to Jesus' first followers?

Prayer has always been important for God's people. Jesus' ministry on earth was built around His daily practice of prayer. He often rose before dawn and spent time in prayer with the Father. Jesus taught His apostles to pray and demonstrated this importance while He was with them. He taught them to pray to God as Father. He taught them to pray in His name. He taught them to pray and not loose heart. He taught them to pray not to succumb to temptation. On the eve of His own death, He prayed for His followers to be unified as well as for God's will be done.

Jesus' followers recognized the importance of prayer in their Lord's life and ministry. They devoted themselves to prayer as they waited in Jerusalem for Jesus to pour out His power on them. They saw the importance of regular prayer as part of their daily life. They devoted themselves prayer, being both watchful and thankful. They were told to pray without ceasing. They prayed regularly, consistently, and daily. They trusted that God heard them when they prayed in the name of Jesus. They believed that the Holy Spirit interceded for them when they prayed. They prayed for boldness. They prayed for deliverance. They prayed for power to be released in each other. Prayer was the language of their faith and was empowered by the Spirit of God. They devoted themselves to prayer!