In Celebration of Discipline Richard Foster writes,

 “Fasting must forever center on God.  It must be God-initiated and God-ordained….  Every other purpose must be subservient to God…. More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.  This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.  We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface…. pride… anger, bitterness, jealousy,strife, fear — if they are within us they surface during fasting.” (pp 54-55)