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// V A L U E D \\

Hello,
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My name is Maranda Hollifield and I am one of two interns for Beloved Atlanta
this spring. Ever since I started my internship in the beginning of January, my sole
desire has been to love as well as I can through my speech and actions. Ive been
praying about how the Lord wants to specifically use me and I believe one of the places
He is calling me to is blogging. It was put on my heart to start a blog series on identity in
hopes to speak encouragement and truth to whoever so wishes to read my humble
attempts at writing. Over the next few months I will be choose a different topic each
week, all focusing on a different facet of our identity in the Lord. My hope by going
through this series together is to; dive into scripture and take to heart all the truth that
Lord says about us as His deeply loved children.
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Today, I want to talk about value. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary,
the definition of value is, usefulness or importance. As people, I believe one of our
deepest desires is to feel important, to feel like we have something to contribute. The
Lord has so much to say about how valuable He thinks we are. Personally, it took me a
while to begin to understand that my true value comes from God.
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For the majority of my life, the way I determined my value was through my
humor. At an early age I was stapled as the funny, goofy girl, never taking herself
seriously, thus providing my friends with laughs. I claimed this as the number one
identifier of my value and it led me to feeling inadequate almost daily. I can remember
ending most my days by reflecting on how people responded to me. If I made my
friends laugh or told an exceptionally funny joke I would feel good. However, if I didnt
make people laugh as much as I had before, I would criticize myself as not being
enough. After all, I was the funny girl, this was my one niche.
Thankfully, this is not true and not something I have to strive for in order to be
completely valued and loved.
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For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mothers
womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your
works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen

you

1 Thessalonians 1:4

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He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according
to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has
blessed us in the Beloved. ! !
Ephesians 1:5-6
From these verses, we see that:
-The same God that created sunsets, the northern lights, the galaxies, he also created YOU and
says that you are his most wonderful creation.
-HE chose US. It was nothing we did.
-Our Father has always desired to have a relationship with us.

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We no longer need to strive to feel special or loved because Jesus made a way
for us to be apart and loved through adoption into his family. He died because he
believes, just as his Father, that you and I have value. We are covered in grace and
are fully known by our Creator and King. Your value in Christ is something that can
never be taken away. Live today by believing the identity He has given you.
You are wanted. You are desired. You are loved.
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I encourage you to take time with the Lord today to thank Him for the way He
created you. Thank Him for the ways He has blessed you, the specific gifts He has
given you, and the purpose He has for your life. If you have a hard time truly believing
your value, be vulnerable with the Lord and tell him exactly how you feel. Ask him to
remove the lies you have claimed and replace them with his life-bringing truth.
Thank you for taking time to read this. I hope you have gotten some encouragement
from this post! Remember, #youareBeloved.
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