The Church has a strong program during this fast put by the ‎Fathers
through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which became to ‎the soul a
source of survival and spiritual filling, and to the Church ‎a source
of communal repentance and deep fellowship with the ‎Lord Jesus Christ
in His fast…for Christ fasted for us and with us– ‎and certainly He is
a partner with each fasting soul.‎

The monks used to take this
opportunity of the holy fast to ‎leave their monasteries to the
wilderness in solitude and in the ‎fullness of the company of the Lord
Jesus and the fellowship of ‎His Holy Spirit. At the end of Lent they
returned to their ‎monasteries (as was recorded for us in the story of
Saint Mary the ‎Egyptian and her meeting with Saint Zosima the priest).‎

What are these drills?

Since the fasting period is a sacred spiritual, during which one aims
to develop spiritually, it is proper that one should place before him,
some spiritual drills to convert these spiritual desires into a
practical mode of living. So, what are these drills?

Spiritual drills vary from one person to another according to their
requirements. These drills may include things like resisting some weak
facets in the life of a fasting person, gaining certain virtues that
such a person lacks, or spiritual longings pervading his heart.

Those who fast and gain no benefit have done so in the wrong way. Fasting is not to blame but the method followed. Such
as those who fast bodily without paying attention to the virtues that
accompany a fast. Or, those who’s aim is fasting in itself as a the
target although it should be a means towards an end, the means of
giving the soul the opportunity.

Fasting is a period of intense spirituality,
a period for loving God, and adhering to Him. This love for he who
fasts helps elevate a person above body and its concerns. It a means of
soaring above the worldly things to taste the heavenly matters. It is a
period of sacred feelings towards God. At least it cultivates the
feeling of closeness and communion with God. It is a period of
spiritual struggle: with self, with God, and against the Devil.

In my opinion the grace of the Holy Spirit most readily fills those who undertake spiritual work wholeheartedly and determine from the very beginning to stand firm and never to give ground to the enemy in no matter what battle, until they conquer him. However, the Holy Spirit, Who has called them, at first makes all things easy for them, in order thus to sweeten the beginning of the work of repentance, and only later shows them its ways in their full truth (arduousness). Helping them in all things, He impresses on them what works of repentance they should undertake, and lays down the form and limits both as regards the body and the soul, until He brings them to complete conversion to God, their Creator.

For this purpose He constantly urges them to give exertion to body and soul in order that both alike, being equally sanctified, should equally become worthy heirs of eternal life; to exert the body in constant fasting, work and frequent vigils, and the soul, in spiritual exercises and diligence in all forms of service (and obediences) performed through the body. This (to do nothing carelessly, but always with care and the fear of God) should be zealously observed in all work done with the body, if we wish it to bear fruit.