AUTHENTIC WORSHIP

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

But the prayer of the upright pleases Him.

Proverbs 15:8

Several Bible passages tell us that the Fear of God is where wisdom begins (Proverbs 1:7, 2:5, 9:10 ). If we are to be truly wise, we must understand who He is. All of creation was based on His character. His heart is written into the fabric of every part of this universe, even if sin obscures it. Those who find understanding will be those who can recognize the imprint of God in the depths and design of creation. They will be ardent observers of the way He deals with humanity. They will take their cues from Him.
Proverbs 15:8 points out numerous such cues. This verse tells us something profound about our Creator. He desires the ESSENCE OF WORSHIP more than its demonstration. In Old Testament times, the sacrifice would have often been an animal or a grain offering. Today, it comes from our finances at one level and our time and talents at others. In any case, it's not the gift that matters most. God already owns everything anyway. What really matters is the HEART of the giver. Why? Because things do not honour God nearly as much as does a devoted, living being.
Why does God hate the sacrifice of the wicked? Because it is superficial. It is an attempt to brush Him off and get on with the self-life. It bears the appearance of devotion, but there is nothing of relationship in it - no love, no honor, no passion. That tells us volumes about the One who made us. He is no distant force, a cosmic "first cause" who observes us from afar. He is deeply, intensely personal.
Have you really considered the implications of that? It means that when you think He's far off, He isn't. It means that those deep longings in your HEART - you know, the ones that leave agonizing, gasping holes went unfulfilled - are longings He wants to satisfy in the right way at the right time. It means that your soul is a place of warm communion, not cold solitude. It means that what you thought was too good to be true - His  unconditional love and His enjoyment of your personality - is real
(An extract from Walk With God Devotional by Chris Tiegreen)

The sacrifices of the wicked were those sacrifices offered without faith. For some it was a mere formality to bring their sacrifices to God's altar. We think of Cain's offering as an example: " On Cain and his offering He (The Lord) did not look with favor" (Genesis 4:5). The prophets often spoke against Israel's half-hearted sacrifices. For instance, "'When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?' Says The Lord" (Malachi 1:13). Even Jesus warns against heartless worship: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." (Matthew 15:8).
Let us come to the heart of worship every time we come before The Lord our Almighty God who is worthy to receive all glory, honor and praise!