Predictors for a Lifelong Love of God’s Word
- mariannedavis0
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A lifelong love for God’s Word is rarely sparked by a single event. More often, it develops gradually—through repeated experiences that shape trust, familiarity, and personal meaning over time. Research from the Center for Bible Engagement (CBE), drawn from a 2025 study conducted in the UK, Australia, and Canada, points to a consistent set of patterns that help Scripture move from something people encounter occasionally to something they return to willingly throughout life.
When Faith Becomes Personal
At the center of this research is what CBE calls personalized faith. Personalized faith refers to a belief in Jesus and his saving grace that is personally owned and intentionally practiced, not simply inherited. People with personalized faith are more likely to integrate Scripture into their lives alongside prayer, worship, and participation in Christian community. Scripture functions not as an occasional reference point, but as a trusted place they return to for guidance and reflection in everyday life.
This distinction matters. Long-term engagement with God’s Word is shaped less by curiosity and more by consistency. Love for Scripture grows when reading becomes repeatable and integrated—something woven into the rhythms of life.
Early Experiences That Shape Lasting Connection
For many people, the relationship with Scripture begins early. The research shows that reading the Bible with parents during childhood is strongly connected with continuing in faith later in life. Specific family practices matter:
Reading Scripture or devotionals together is associated with a 96% greater likelihood of developing personalized faith.
Listening to or singing religious music with parents is associated with an 82% increase.
These experiences connect God’s Word with presence, care, and relational warmth. Even after seasons of doubt or distance, those early memories are often accessible and may quietly draw people back.
Ultimately, a lifelong love for God’s Word is formed through faithful return. It develops as people come back to Scripture again and again—sometimes with confidence, sometimes with questions—and allow it to speak into everyday life. Over time, those steady acts of engagement shape a faith that is personal, resilient, and deeply rooted.
Practices That Sustain Engagement Over Time
As individuals mature, sustained engagement with Scripture depends more on personal practice. The strongest predictors of ongoing faith and Bible engagement are active disciplines chosen and maintained over time.
Personal Bible study is a particularly strong indicator, making individuals 162% more likely to develop personalized faith and standing out as the strongest predictor of coming to faith.
A born-again experience shows the strongest association with lasting faith, increasing the likelihood of personalized belief by 491%.
Regular prayer and public expressions of faith, such as baptism, are also consistently connected with deeper ownership of belief.
Together, these practices reflect a transition from faith shaped by environment to faith shaped by choice.
Consistency Supported by Structure and Community
Earlier CBE research also highlights the importance of practical supports. Individuals who follow a Bible reading plan are far more consistent in their engagement, with nearly seven in ten reading daily compared to about one-third of those without a plan. Journaling is linked to reading Scripture four or more times per week, and participation in group Bible study increases daily Bible reading from 41% to 56%.
Although we cannot prove these structures create faith, they likely help sustain it by making engagement realistic and repeatable.
A Love Formed Through Faithful Return
A lifelong love for God’s Word is not built through intensity or perfection, but through familiarity and trust. It forms as people return to Scripture consistently—sometimes with confidence, sometimes with questions—and allow it to speak into everyday life. Over time, these steady patterns of engagement help shape a faith that is personally owned, resilient, and enduring.
See related CBE research:
