6. My mind—my thoughts and feelings—are a critical part of the “me” that must also be transformed.

(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.) 

How do you make yourself think or feel differently?

What do your thoughts and feelings tell you about your desires?

Are your thoughts and feelings sometimes “against” your desires?

How much of your mental activity is directed toward God?

What would you say is your dominant feeling toward God?

Our bodies are the material part of our souls, whereas our minds are the spiritual or non-physical component. Our minds include our thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Soul transformation requires training of both the body and the mind. Both have unhealthy behaviors that need correcting. Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV).

The unhealthy actions of the body create physical harm while the destructive behaviors of the mind produce emotional and relational damage. The mind is an incredibly important part of us that needs training and transformation. How then is the mind transformed? The Bible contains some suggestions and examples of how people’s minds can be transformed. Psalm 1, for example, describes the discipline of meditation; Jesus modeled a life that included silence and solitude; and Paul, in 2 Corinthians 2:5, says that he took every thought captive and makes it obedient to Christ.

These disciplines of meditation, silence and solitude, and self-awareness, can train our minds to think in a particular way, to hold certain beliefs, and to process information and experiences as Jesus did. In addition to disciplines that train the mind, recent scientific research into the mind has suggested that the retraining of the mind requires another person, someone who models and guides us in our re-thinking. (See Dan Siegel, The Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology, and Henry Cloud, The Power of the Other). What is proposed then is that

the transformation of our minds will require a relationship with someone who participates in re-forming our ideas, beliefs, thoughts, etc. Jesus modeled this principle in His relationship with His disciples. It was not just the teachings of Jesus but the person of Jesus that worked to bring about such changes in His followers. I believe, and have experienced, that

our models of transformation will be much more successful if done in a relationship with a spiritual guide such as a spiritual director. Finally, I believe and have experienced that Jesus can function as this “Other” person in the transformation of our minds, provided that we are participating in a real and authentic relationship with Him.