Although we did not love Him yet,
neither had we struggled to acquire His grace,
He gave it to us as a gift out of His extreme kindness.
He is only asking for us to humble ourselves and respond out of gratefulness and appreciation to His love.
Thus, divine grace, which abides in us,
will be activate and function accordingly.
It will make us love God and get to know Him;
it will do everything for us,
if we only humble ourselves and allow for it to act.
The only obstacle to the energy of God’s Grace
is our pride,
our lack of humility.
Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain.