I really like the comic above. It catches the spirit of what synergy means. In its simplest terms, synergy is our willing cooperation with God’s work. But, in the Orthodox sense, synergy is our willingness to take steps of faith in order to allow God to works his change in us.
And, yet, we must always remember that the preeminence belongs to God. Below are some quotes from various saints. For instance the following quote speaks of the power of God expressed within us in a very sovereign way.
…God in His wisdom, power and compassion knows how to change for the better the lapses we suffer as a result of our freely-willed perversion. – St. Gregory Palamas (Topics of Natural and Theological Science no. 54, The Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 372)
Yet, the quote below emphasizes our responsibility to begin the journey, even if the power comes from God.
…a man who wishes to act rightly receives from God the power to act, no matter where he is – whether in the world or in a silent retreat." – St. Simeon the New Theologian (On Faith, Writings from the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart; Faber and Faber pg. 150)
And finally, below is a quote that appears to pull it all together.
A man by himself working and toiling at freedom from sinful desires achieves nothing. But if he plainly shows himself to be very eager and earnest about this, he attains it by the addition of the power of God. God works together with willing souls. But if the person abandons his eagerness, the spirit from God is also restrained. To save the unwilling is the act of one using compulsion; but to save the willing, that of one showing grace. – 190 AD St. Clement of Alexandria Salvation of the Rich Man chap. 21)
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