"Now is the acceptable time, now is the moment of grace." One of St Paul's most memorable and consoling statements, this saying also provides a scriptural basis for a key point of Ignatian spirituality: "live in the present moment". Reflection on his own personal experience taught Ignatius that God speaks to us in the present moment and about the present moment, in order to console, strengthen and guide us. On the other hand, the devil speaks to us about the future, especially the more distant future, in order to tempt us, unsettle us, so lessen our faith and trust in God.

"Do not receive the grace of God in vain." Paul frequently reminds us of the need to cooperate with God. God's grace comes to us as a free gift and enables us to live according to the Gospel. God's grace strengthens our will to desire and to accomplish what is good. It gives us the wisdom to perceive what is best, as Paul says to the Philippians (cf. Phil 2:9). These strengthening and illuminating effects of God's grace do not take away our responsibility of cooperating with God's grace in all the daily events of life.