Spiritual disciplines include, among others: regular prayer, fasting, vigil nights of prayer, prostration, being disciplined and taught by the word of God, receiving spiritual counsel, repentance, searching oneself, obeying the commandments of love and forgiveness, etc. Spiritual disciplines are not offered to God in order to receive grace because grace is free, but they are directed to one's soul to prepare the soul to progressively receive grace after grace (John 1: 16). They are means through which the Holy Spirit works deeply and with power to purify the soul, sanctify her and transform her into the image of Christ.