and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:5)

Last Update 01/13/08

What do you believe? How did you determine that it was important to believe it? What process did you use to decide you would believe it? Most people, whether they are conscious of it or not, use their minds to answer all the above questions.

The New Testament uses many Greek words to describe the processes and activities of the mind. For example, the Greek word (no' ay mah) is found in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." It is translated thought. Personal thoughts are at the very core of Christianity. They are the focal point where Christianity fails or succeeds. In fact, it is in the mind that Christianity becomes personal reality.

Personal thought is so crucial in the Christian life that Paul, writing to the Corinthians, directs every Christian to "get control" of each thought. The Greek word (Iks mal o tid' zo) has been translated make captive or prisoner, make every thought obedient 2 Cor 10.5); get control of, make prey of (2 Tm 3.6). In this context, the best translation is "get control of". The Greek word (no ay mah) is mind, thought; method, design, plot (2 Cor 2.11). It is best translated "thought". It is also possible that (no ay mah) refers to the personal plans and objectives of the Christian. The last part of the verse can be translated "get control of every thought (design; plot) so that it is (they are) obedient to Christ."

Since Paul tells us to "get control" of every thought, there must be a way to do that. In The Natures of Mankind Psychology model, we teach the Six-step Mental Process to implement Paul's encouragement to "get control" of each personal thought, objective, and plan.

The steps of the Six-step Mental Process are:

1. Analyze

2. Research

3. Hypothesize

4. Propose

5. Decide

6. Initiate

The first step in the Six-step Mental Process is Analyze. Webster defines analyze as: to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of. You use the first step of the Six-step Mental Process to critically examine your personal life. This is possible because you have a divine nature, due to your new birth and because you have the divine presence in your mind. The divine nature and presence can give you insight into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You can begin to sense the appropriateness of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. However, even with all of this ability, you are limited in your analysis by your own belief system.

The second step in the Six-step Mental Process is Research. Webster defines research as: diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc. You use the second step of the Six-step Mental Process to investigate the thought you have captured and to ultimately change the belief in your belief system that the thought supports, provided you determine the thought is a lie. How do you begin the investigation?

The third step in the Six-step Mental Process is Hypothesize. Webster defines hypothesize as: to form a hypothesis - a proposition or set of propositions set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specific group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts. You use this step to "make sense" of how something works, what something is about, what actions are appropriate, and so forth.

The fourth step in the Six-step Mental Process is Propose. Webster defines propose as: to offer or suggest (a matter, subject, case, etc) for consideration, acceptance, or action. You use this step to propose a hypothesis to yourself.

The fifth step in the Six-step Mental Process is Decide. Webster defines decide as: to pronounce a judgment; come to a conclusion. You use this step to actually make the decision to try your hypothesis.

The sixth step in the Six-step Mental Process is Initiate. Webster defines initiate as: to begin; get going. You use this step to direct yourself to act on your hypothesis by either placing it directly into your belief system or conducting a "trial run" to determine how it works.

This six-step process enables you to examine your life (analyze), review new information and consult known information (research), consider alternatives to what you are doing and believing (hypothesize), offer yourself a new plan (propose), determine if the hypothesis is something to try (decide), and put the plan into action (initiate). How does the six-step mental process influence the beliefs in your belief system? The hypothesis becomes a belief when you have practiced your hypothesis and proved its value, worth, and application. You take the results of your actions, process them through the six-step mental process and initiate the new belief at the end of the cycle.

The six-step mental process provides you the means by which you can intervene in your own mind to capture, evaluate, and change any and every thought that comes to you. Your own intervention gives you the power of self-control and enables you to control your emotions and behaviors.

A special kind of six-step mental process is the feeling thinking-pattern. A feeling thinking-pattern are thoughts or patterns of thoughts that are charged with feelings such as anger, fear, grief, anxiety, and depression. These feeling thinking-patterns are generally classified as NEGATIVE. However, there are also POSITIVE feeling thinking-patterns such as love, trust, faith, hope, and rejoicing.

In the book Natures of Mankind Psychology, you can work through the process of changing or renewing your mind. By renewing your mind, you can replace any feeling thinking-pattern with another feeling thinking pattern. For more information about RENEWING THE MIND, select the option Renewing The Mind under the heading A Christian Answer For... in the left column of this page.

The contents of this web page are exerpted from Chapters 2 & 3, in the book Natures of Mankind Psychology.

© 2007 by Jerold L. Reed All Rights Reserved

Contact the New testament Psychology Institute for special permission to copy and distribute this information.