In this video recording, Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Vatopaidi Monastery [Mount Athos] talks about the first step of spiritual life.
The first step of spiritual life is when a Christian understands that he could not do anything by himself.
This does not create a sense of inferiority within a Christian, but on the contrary, his faith in the saving power of God grows.
And in this way he dedicates himself entirely to God… Then he understands that Christ is Everything, like St Porphyrios used to say…