I unlock the door and flip on the lights. At this moment, quiet anticipation fills the building. I walk through the building and room by room the church comes alive as I turn on lights and get ready for the day.

There was a time this all had become just a routine. As part of the Media Team, I once loved making sure everything ran smoothly, and everyone had a great experience at church. Deep down, I still loved it. But it had become just a job. Serving at church was once my offering, my sacrifice, my worship. However, it had become a burden and nothing more than a job to do.

In the book of Malachi, the Jews had returned from exile and rebuilt the temple. They were offering sacrifices to God once again. They became weary and found their tasks to be a burden.

But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. Malachi 1:13 ESV

The Jews found it a burden to bring proper sacrifice. They brought blind, lame, sick, and even despised animals to be offered as sacrifices. They were not giving their best and had lost their heart of worship.

They did not understand why God was not blessing them or hearing their prayers. They had left God. God in His loving grace and forgiveness called them back to Him.

Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:7b ESV

No matter how or when we have lost our heart of worship, God still calls us and gives us a promise if we will return to Him.

“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” Jeremiah 3:22a NLT

And how will He heal our wayward hearts?

I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly. Jeremiah 24:7 NLT

God will give us hearts that recognize Him as Lord. A heart that recognizes God as Lord is a heart that will worship! A heart that will see the mundane routines as a sacrifice and will yearn to give the best.

I no longer look at the things I do as routine or as a job. In fact, I have gone as far as changing how I say things. Instead of saying I “have” to do it, I say I “get” to do it. I “get” to serve others. It is my privilege to offer my time and skills as a sacrifice to my Lord.

When we return to a heart of worship, our focus returns to God.