"Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind" Meets Some Other Touchstone Verses

When Jesus was asked which command was the greatest, he said it was this: that we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. It's easy to think of love in terms of heart, or possibly in terms of strength if we're trying it by will-power without much help from our hearts in some situations. Sometimes I wonder, "What part does each play?" Sometimes I find myself thinking: it doesn't help much to break it down; the point is we love with all that we have. At other times ... Well, this is one of the other times when I'm curious whether it would help to see the part played by each. And so I've taken some of the other touchstone verses of the Bible, and looked at whether each thing seems like a way to love with heart, soul, strength, or mind, in hopes that I'll see other ways to increase in love. I should mention: I take it as given that all these touchstone verses instruct us in how to increase our love. 

• Characteristics of love: patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, takes no delight in evil, rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Heart	Kind, not jealous, rejoices in truth
Soul	Not boastful, not proud, not self-seeking, takes no delight in evil, hopes all things
Strength	Patient, not easily angered, bears all things, endures all things
Mind	Not rude, keeps no record of wrongs, believes all things

• Sevenfold spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, joy in His presence. (Isaiah 11:2-3)

Heart	Joy in His presence
Soul	Fear of the Lord
Strength	Might
Mind	Wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge

• Taking off the old self: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, and every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31)

Heart	Get rid of bitterness
Soul	Get rid of bitterness
Strength	Get rid of rage, anger, brawling
Mind	Get rid of slander and malice.

• Think on these things: Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good reputation, if there is any virtue, or anything worthy of praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Heart	Whatever is lovely, of good reputation, worthy of praise
Soul	Whatever is honorable, just, pure, worthy of praise
Strength	Anything of virtue, worthy of praise
Mind	Whatever is true Think on these things

Some of these of course could have been placed differently. Still, when I find that my heart isn't cooperating it's good to know how to help it along with my mind or strength, and vice versa.