When you pray, be concentrated, without self-display, closely withdrawn into your heart, for the demons fear concentration more than thieves fear dogs. (John Klimakos)

When Jesus taught us to pray, he focused on content rather than technique.

Jesus emphasizes our relationship with God and each other. The prayer asks to experience God's reign, to have enough to eat, and to avoid temptation and evil.

In the Gospel of Matthew we read of Jesus praying at the Mount of Olives. In some of the ancient texts we are told, "In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became as great drops of blood falling down on the ground." But many dispute the authenticity of this description.

In the 18th chapter of Luke, Jesus teaches that prayer should be persistent and self-critical. This begins to suggest a technique.

But unlike many of the Desert Fathers, Jesus was not especially concerned with technique. He seems to tell us, come to God often, be open to God, and God will provide the rest.