That response is first the act of faith, which is an act of both reason
and will, and then the act of love and self-surrender which follows
faith, and then the continuous acts of communion and consecration.
All must commence with recognition of His free gift of Himself to us in
Christ. We come empty-handed. That gift recognised and accepted moves
us to give ourselves to Him. When we give ourselves to Him we find that
we possess Him.
Further, there must be continuous communion. This mutual possession
depends on our occupation of mind and heart with Him. We possess Him
and are possessed by Him, when our wills are kept in harmony with, and
submission to, Him, when our thoughts are occupied with Him and His
truth, when our affections rest in Him, when our desires go out to Him,
when our hopes are centred in Him, when our practical life is devoted
to Him.