Wasn't it Brother Lawrence that wrote the book, Practicing the Presence of God? I read it when first born again. Many years ago. 
Brother Lawrence was a religious brother in the 17th century who was born in 1611. He was born to peasant (common-folk) parents in 1611, and joined the French army out of poverty. But, war made him depressed, and one day he experienced this:
"In the deep of winter, Herman looked at a barren tree, stripped of leaves and fruit, waiting silently and patiently for the sure hope of summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Herman grasped for the first time the extravagance of God's grace and the unfailing sovereignty of divine providence. Like the tree, he himself was seemingly dead, but God had life waiting for him, and the turn of seasons would bring fullness. At that moment, he said, that leafless tree "first flashed in upon my soul the fact of God," and a love for God that never after ceased to burn. "
(christianity.com--2017).
And thanks also to "Stillness" for following up on those posts--
I like the comparison to the eagle-- the eagle's wings are a free gift, the sky, the soaring thermal-- all it has to do is make a decision to fly...
Bro. Lawrence even as a humble cook's helper, talked about the difference between the "intellect," and the "will." He said the first was of little value...
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