November 20, 2025

Dear Holy Spirit,

We’re continuing our conversation about ways of praying with Scripture. As you can see, I’m in my home office—it’s the week before Thanksgiving and things are a little hectic! So this week’s message is coming to you from the evening hours.

Last week, we talked about the three-question method we use during 10 Minutes with Jesus, our guided Wednesday morning time of prayer with Scripture. Today, I want to introduce a different way of praying with Scripture—one that many Christians have found deeply fruitful over time. It’s called the Sulpician Method.

This way of praying is about communing with Jesus in love.

The Three Movements

Like most prayer with Scripture, we begin by settling ourselves: take a few deep breaths, invite Jesus to be present, and choose a short passage of Scripture. A Gospel story often works well.

Read the passage. Let the scene play out before your eyes. Then move through the three steps.

1. Jesus Before the Eyes – Adoration

Ask: Jesus, show me yourself.

We try to see Jesus in the story. Maybe it's the washing of the disciples’ feet. Something stirs—perhaps awe at His humility. We let that move in us. We adore Jesus for who He is.

2. Jesus in the Heart – Communion

When it feels right to move on, we shift from adoration to communion.

We draw Jesus—and his virtue—into our hearts. We desire His humility for ourselves. This prayer may be with words, images, or feelings. We are letting Jesus inhabit our imagination and transform us from within.

3. Jesus in the Hands – Cooperation

Finally, we ask: Where specifically do you want me to live this out, Lord?

We wait for something concrete—a resolution—an action we can take. This is an act of the will. It’s doing that begins to shape our lives after prayer is over.

It’s traditional to end by saying the Lord’s Prayer, offering our resolution to God, and asking for grace and strength.

A Few Practical Notes

  • This form of prayer can take 5 to 20 minutes
  • It’s okay to set a timer
  • It may feel awkward at first—that’s normal
  • Some will be drawn into the imagination easily, others may find it harder
  • But this method opens all of us to God in new and transforming ways

Because at the heart of it all is this truth: What God wants to transform most deeply in us is our desire — our will. What we will is what we desire.

We’ll explore another way of praying with Scripture next week, one that leans a little more into the intellect after starting here with the heart. But in every method, prayer ends with the will—with action—and that’s the place where God grows us.

If you have questions or want to talk more about how this works, just reply to this email. I would love to have the conversation.

See you Sunday, friends.

In Christ,
Jason+

 

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The Rev. Jason Ingalls
Rector 

Stewardship
Congregational Life