The late Dallas Willard wrote- "Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action."
Therefore, the spiritual disciplines, practiced with the proper attitude, constitute the effort, that is, our cooperation with God's grace. James Kushiner stated this very well when he observed, “A discipline won’t bring you closer to God. Only God can bring you closer to Himself. What the discipline is meant to do is to help you get yourself, your ego, out of the way so you are open to His grace."
It is silly to believe that you "do" something for God so that God will give you something (i.e., what you want) in return. Such an approach would constitute an attitude of earning. Besides, the idea that God will ever be in your debt is beyond ridiculous. Think on it - What else could God do for you that He hasn't already done in and through Christ Jesus?
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