Restoring the Sacred Why
- T.J. Lucas
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
Scripture: Isaiah 58:6–12 / Luke 4:18
Wound: Many work endlessly but feel purposeless.
Truth: God’s calling is not always loud, but it is always present.
How to Dwell in the Word
Dwelling in the Word is a way of slowing down so the Scriptures can speak deeply into your spirit. Here’s a simple way to practice it each day this week:
Choose one passage – either Isaiah 58:6–12 or Luke 4:18. Stay with the same passage for several days before switching.
Pray for openness – Ask God to still your heart and prepare you to receive the Word.
Read slowly – Let the words wash over you, without rushing to “figure it out.”
Notice what shimmers – A word, phrase, or image may stand out. Linger there.
Listen in silence – Sit quietly for a few minutes, letting the Word rest in you.
Respond – This could be a short prayer, a journal entry, or simply carrying that word with you through the day.
Repeat daily – You’ll find new meaning as the Spirit reveals fresh layers over time.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 58:6–12 (NRSV)
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
Luke 4:18 (NRSV)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…”
Reflection Questions for the Week
Use these as you dwell with the passages:
What part of this scripture feels like an invitation from God right now?
Where in your life do you feel like you’ve been “working endlessly but without purpose”?
How do these words reframe what true service and freedom look like?
What is your “Sacred Why” in this season of life?
Is there an area where God might be calling you to slow down in order to listen more deeply?
How might your daily work become an act of worship rather than mere obligation?
Brief Reflection
In Isaiah’s words, God strips away the false measures of faith—empty rituals and busy hands without open hearts—and points us back to the work that matters: loosening chains, setting the oppressed free, sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the poor. In Luke, Jesus claims this same mission as His own, not as a burden, but as a purpose filled with Spirit-breathed freedom.
We live in a world that applauds constant activity but rarely asks if it’s the right activity. The Sacred Why is the quiet, steady pulse of God’s call beneath all the noise. When we lose it, even good work becomes hollow. But when we dwell with God’s Word and listen for that still voice, purpose flows back into our steps—and we find ourselves walking in the calling we were always meant to live.
Prayer
God of the still small voice, In a world that glorifies hurry, teach us the beauty of slowing down to listen. Peel away the layers of false urgency, and guide us back to the Sacred Why that gives life to our work. When we grow weary, remind us that You have anointed us to bring good news, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim freedom. Root us in Your presence, so that every step we take and every word we speak springs from Your Spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our calling and our rest. Amen.
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