When Megan B. Brown fell in love with a military man, she had visions of adventure. Never in her wildest dreams did she anticipate the challenges and heartache that would follow. After five military moves, ten homes, and four children born in two states, Megan has discovered that the military lifestyle takes a toll. Sacrificing jobs, communities, friendships, and her own dreams of the future, Megan invites military spouses to see that God has placed them right where they are supposed to be-chosen for this specific time and place- and perfectly positioned for the work of The Great Commission. It’s a grace to welcome Megan to the farm’s table today…

Guest Post by Megan B. Brown

The man who made me a military spouse also had no small part in helping me become a follower of Jesus. Before we met, I was a college dropout trying to live my best life in all the worst ways.

In open rebellion, I denied God’s very existence, felt extremely disenfranchised with the church, and truly believed this broken life is all we get. About six months after we were married, my husband woke me up after I had spent the previous night partying.

“Hey, let’s head to church this morning, babe.” Laughing half-heartedly, I rolled over and put a pillow over my head to signal I was ignoring him.

“Yeah. That’s not happening for you, man.”

“Please?” he replied. “I want you to just try. If you don’t try, I will really be disappointed.” Well, that did the trick. 

As a newlywed, I didn’t want to deny this very kind man an honest effort for his request. So, dragging myself from the warmth of the fluffy down comforter, I started to get dressed. I threw on an old concert T-shirt from a Bright Eyes show in New Orleans, a flowy hippie skirt I nabbed from a local flea market, and my favorite pair of flip-flops. My hair was not so neatly tied into a side bun, and I barely washed my face, much less applied makeup.

I looked nine ways of crazy.

I only share the details of my appearance because it was the early 2000s and this boy took to me to a very respectable, very affluent church looking like a bag lady. I’m sure the deacons there thought I needed some sort of financial assistance, and let’s just say I got my fair share of side-glances.

God has chosen a people for Himself, a people He has blessed and called to holiness.

Visibly uncomfortable, I shuffled through the pews to find a spot that didn’t look occupied or reserved. Finally, settling in, I watched a rotund, stately gentleman as he began waddling his way to the pulpit. His three-piece suit was perfectly pressed, and he held this little rag he was wiping his forehead with. 

My eyes darted around in anticipation as he began to start instructing the congregation, a people he referred to as “Beloved,” to open their Bibles to the book of Ephesians.

On the way out of our apartment that morning, I had grabbed my copy of the Bible. The only Bible I owned was the one obligatory gift Bible people give to high school seniors when they graduate. It was a brand-new, gold-foiled New International Version, and had indented tabs in the pages. To tell you how unfamiliar I was with this particular gift, I was using it as a doorstop in our second bedroom. I had rarely picked it up, much less opened it, before this particular morning in “big church.”

“What’s an ‘Ephesia?’” I asked my husband, whispering. 

All in one moment, I was simultaneously overwhelmed in the conviction of my sin and the joy of knowing that Jesus paid for it all.

After peering over at a few neighbors and saying to myself, It’s in the back half, I thumbed through toward the back of my Bible and found the place.

The pastor started in on the task of unpacking the first chapter. Ephesians 1:1–14 is forever burned into my memory and etched upon my soul. As I listened to the words, I was overcome. God has chosen a people for Himself, a people He has blessed and called to holiness.

“In love,” the pastor read, “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved”. (Ephesians 1:5–6). “Beloved” was Jesus. Now, I had heard the gospel before and had a few emotional responses to a few Christian worship songs, but this time, the gospel wrecked me. 

All in one moment, I was simultaneously overwhelmed in the conviction of my sin and the joy of knowing that Jesus paid for it all. After the service, we walked back to our car, and I could barely speak.

By the time my husband closed the car doors, I erupted in tears. “Did you know about this? Is this true? For real?”

Keith, sounding excited and somewhat surprised, replied, “I have known this truth since I was five. I am glad now you know it too.” He took me to lunch and walked me through his favorite Scriptures. That day remains the first milestone in my faith walk with the Lord.

Now—and this is truly amazing—when God looks at us, He looks at us through the sacrifice of His Son and views us as unblemished, holy people.

On that day, I truly submitted my heart to Jesus Christ. This is where the journey for all of us begins. 

The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament we hold in our hands, is telling God’s people who were assembling at the church in Corinth (and us too) about what truth they should stand upon.

“Now I would remind you, brothers [and sisters], of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures . . . (1 Corinthians 15:1–4) 

The phrase “as of first importance” is tattooed in my brain. This is the most important information in order to experience salvation and the gift of eternal life. It is the hinge pin.

Now—and this is truly amazing—when God looks at us, He looks at us through the sacrifice of His Son and views us as unblemished, holy people.

If you are reading this in your living room, tucked into the corner of a coffee shop, or wherever you are, and you can feel the gospel actively tugging and pulling you, it’s time to do something.

It’s time to decide. It is time to repent and believe.

Knowing the gospel, and submitting to it, is the first step toward building a life-changing relationship with the Lord.

[ Our humble thanks to Moody Publishers for their partnership in today’s devotional. ]