We know that prayer is a powerful and necessary spiritual discipline. Jesus, Who modeled that prayer is of the utmost importance, teaches that the manner in which we pray can be more important than what we say when we pray. Jesus gives us elements of proper prayer that include: praying in secret, avoiding vain repetition, patterning after His example, and offering prayer with a merciful and forgiving spirit. Fasting is another discipline that Jesus addresses. Jesus Himself practiced this discipline and talks about it as something we are to do. We are to approach fasting in the same manner as prayer.