Dan 11:32
but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
NKJV

The part of this verse that really stuck out to me was “people who know their God”. It seems there is a common misconception  that we need to be “prepared” to be used by God. I’m not saying there is no room for degrees and education in th Kingdom of God but we need to remember the people Jesus used to turn the world upside down. Simon and his brother Andrew were the first 2 chosen, along with numbers 3 and 4 (James and John) who were all fisherman. These were common everyday people who knew how to work with their hands, maybe even a little rough around the edges but Jesus saw beyond those rough edges and looked at a polished precious stone inside.

Throughout history Jesus’s church has grown through the lives of committed men and women who chose to know Him and Him alone. Social status, economic or education had nothing to do with it. C’mon, think about it…God used a shepard boy to become King of Israel. The world looks at “human” credentials as a prerequisite for success, looking for the strongest, best educated, most attractive as if Gods work can be accomplished through human effort. God surely uses a different set of scales when he weighs a person, He looks at their character and heart.

1 Sam 16:7

7 But the Lord said to Samuel,”Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
NKJV

See what I mean? If a man can do Gods work in his own strength, it’s not Gods work at all!! Its all about realizing we can do nothing except through his grace and empowerment, resulting in complete dependence on Him. Then and only then can we accomplish things that could only be a result of His supernatural power. Then God gets all the glory, it has nothing to do with us.  Make sense?

I think Micah 6:8 sums up the qualifications for serving God:

Mic 6:8

Mic 6:8
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
NIV

Here are a few pictures of the people God uses. No matter where you are or what you have done, he can use YOU too.