Puzzle: What comes first?

If you love Krishna, you can surrender to Him fully.
If you surrender partially, He guides accordingly.
If you chant offensively, your devotion dies.
If you chant with one-pointed attention, determined, Krishna will help.

He sends a shiksha guru? Diksha guru? First there is faith, then? Neophytes must associate with Pure devotees only, not interim stage practitioners. How to see them? Who can recognize? Only associate with Guru, Srila Prahupada, Acaryas, Krishna through Bhagavad Gita? Then what happens next? The seed grows and weeds grow with it? Naamabhas? Nishta? Premuday?

If you chant with no thoughts will that help? Must one have a specific prayer?

What should my prayer be? Should I ask for love of God? It is dormant within me. I must hear and purify my heart. My mind and Maya are contriving to dissuade and delay.

I am not humble. That is why I cannot get the mercy. How do I become humble? I have to pray to Krishna to cure the false ego.