I think in the current church age it is God who draws us to our Savior Jesus Christ. So in this age I guess my free will led me to realize that I did not save myself.
I do believe we see dispensations where free will is at work. Adam in the garden choose to eat the fruit after Eve did. At the end of the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ the descendants of the Tribulation survivors choose to rebel after Satan is let loose. IOW, when given free will (even before the fall) we make the wrong choices. It is truly merciful that God intervenes for us and saves any of us.
You said a mouthful there. It is SO easy to get lost in theological nuance and forget - or worse yet assume - that we are somehow entitled to this mercy.
Which begs a discussion on topic: Why is fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom?