--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Frequently the enemy entices Christians…" description: "\"Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an unforgiving spirit - a very common symptom indeed among God's children. Such bitterness and fault-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg" --- # Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an… ![“Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an unforgiving spirit - a very common symptom indeed among God's children. Such bitterness and fault-finding and enmity inflict a severe blow upon spiritual life.” quote by Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg) > “Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an unforgiving spirit - a very common symptom indeed among God's children. Such bitterness and fault-finding and enmity inflict a severe blow upon spiritual life.” [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding grudges fuels bitterness, damaging spiritual health; forgiveness is essential for a vibrant faith life. **In simple terms:** Bitterness harms spiritual life; forgive. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness, release resentment. Themes spirituality forgiveness bitterness faith Mood somber hopeful Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church community - personal prayer - conflict resolution - family disputes Key Concepts Christian doctrine psychology of anger Questions to Reflect On - What grudges do you need to release? - How does bitterness affect your daily life? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be difficult without genuine remorse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fault finding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fault-finding/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Lay down an unforgiving spirit, because there'll be no peace until you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-r-sneed-carter/lay-down-an-unforgiving-spirit-because-there-ll-be-no-peace-until-you/) [Anita R. Sneed-Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-r-sneed-carter/) > [Children need directing and teaching what is right in a kind, affectionate manner How often we see parents demand obedience, good behavior, kind words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/children-need-directing-and-teaching-what-is-right-in-a-kind/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [“Bitterness and an unforgiving spirit can be likened to you taking poison and expecting that someone else would die from the effect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tope-popoola/bitterness-and-an-unforgiving-spirit-can-be-likened-to-you-taking/) Tope Popoola > [Love, oneness, is no separation between you and life. It is a progressive letting go, a progressive not fault finding. Just do nothing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-brahm/love-oneness-is-no-separation-between-you-and-life-it-is-a/) [Ajahn Brahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-brahm/) > [Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/remember-that-no-talent-no-self-denial-no-brains-no-character-are/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Best masters for the young writer and speaker are the fault- finding brothers and sisters at home who will not spare him, but willpick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/best-masters-for-the-young-writer-and-speaker-are-the-fault-finding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Fault finding and unkind criticism are not service either to God or to man. It is our own deeds that we must examine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-chase/fault-finding-and-unkind-criticism-are-not-service-either-to-god-or/) Thornton Chase > [“We all have different perspectives to life. We all do take different decisions in life each day based on our convictions. We may take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/we-all-have-different-perspectives-to-life-we-all-do-take-different/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Never try to fault finding,always try to fact finding. B'coz NO BODY CAN PERFECT''...A:-)S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/never-try-to-fault-finding-always-try-to-fact-finding-b-coz-no-body/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [The following story is one which he related recently regarding the practice of fault - finding among creeds: A frog lived in a well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-following-story-is-one-which-he-related-recently-regarding-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/he-has-great-tranquillity-of-heart-who-cares-neither-for-the-praises/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [I think in order to write really well and convincingly, one must be somewhat poisoned by emotion, dislike, displeasure, resentment, fault-finding, imagination, passionate remonstrance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/i-think-in-order-to-write-really-well-and-convincingly-one-must-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/he-has-great-tranquility-of-heart-who-cares-neither-for-the-praises/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Most critical fault-finding, when reduced to its essentials, simply amounts to reproach of the author because he is himself -- thinks, feels, sees, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/most-critical-fault-finding-when-reduced-to-its-essentials-simply/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [ We \[U.S.S.R. and U.S.A.\] can exist peacefully together if we don't indulge in too much mutual fault-finding in all kinds of trifles. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/we-u-s-s-r-and-u-s-a-can-exist-peacefully-together-if-we-don-t/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## More by Watchman Nee > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [If you perform your part, God will fulfill His. And once you put off specifically, you should just as thoroughly believe that God will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/if-you-perform-your-part-god-will-fulfill-his-and-once-you-put-off/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“That which they have need of . . . let it be given them day by day without fail. Ezra 6:9 If we really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/that-which-they-have-need-of-let-it-be-given-them-day-by-day-without/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [With fear and trembling we must rely upon God for guidance in the inner depths. This is the sole way to walk according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/with-fear-and-trembling-we-must-rely-upon-god-for-guidance-in-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [When the fruit of your service is out of all proportion to the gifts you possess, THAT is Blessing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/when-the-fruit-of-your-service-is-out-of-all-proportion-to-the-gifts/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [If the mind is open the individual will soon perceive the preciousness of a truth which initially appeared rather dull to him but now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/if-the-mind-is-open-the-individual-will-soon-perceive-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [The idea of waste only comes into our Christianity when we underestimate the worth of our Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/the-idea-of-waste-only-comes-into-our-christianity-when-we/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“Only those who are subject to authority can be authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/only-those-who-are-subject-to-authority-can-be-authority/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Henceforth we are dead to everything pertaining to ourselves and alive to His Spirit alone. This requires our exercising faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/henceforth-we-are-dead-to-everything-pertaining-to-ourselves-and/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Victory is the normal experience of a Christian; defeat should be the abnormal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/victory-is-the-normal-experience-of-a-christian-defeat-should-be-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [God is not seeking a display of my Christ-likeness , but a manifestation of His Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/god-is-not-seeking-a-display-of-my-christ-likeness-but-a/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Only those who are spiritual perceive the reality of the spiritual foe and hence engage in battle. Such warfare is not fought with arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/only-those-who-are-spiritual-perceive-the-reality-of-the-spiritual/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [It does not matter what your personal deficiency, or whether it be a hundred and one different things, God has always one sufficient answer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/it-does-not-matter-what-your-personal-deficiency-or-whether-it-be-a/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Never adopt an attitude of indifference, for if you do you will suffer for it. The weight will grow heavier and heavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/never-adopt-an-attitude-of-indifference-for-if-you-do-you-will-suffer/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [None who are shod with fleshly shoes can stand on the holy ground of God's service. Many failures and much waste and confusion which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/none-who-are-shod-with-fleshly-shoes-can-stand-on-the-holy-ground-of/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) [Explore all 227 Watchman Nee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## More Bitterness quotes > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/) [Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“What?" I ask. I try not to get snappy with her. She hasn't really done anything wrong. Falling in love with Turner isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/what-i-ask-i-try-not-to-get-snappy-with-her-she-hasn-t-really-done/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose’s scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose. —Francis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-fairest-things-have-fleetest-end-their-scent-survives-their-close/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [Forgiving someone who've done you wrong or didn't treat you right could mean that you are allowing yourself to end up away from bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-t-pascua/forgiving-someone-who-ve-done-you-wrong-or-didn-t-treat-you-right/) [April T Pascua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-t-pascua/) > [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) Richard Walters > [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rin-chupeco/sometimes-it-is-good-to-remind-ourselves-how-bitterness-tastes/) [Rin Chupeco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rin-chupeco/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Be sure there is something waiting for you after much patience, to astonish you to a degree, that you forget the bitterness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/be-sure-there-is-something-waiting-for-you-after-much-patience-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) [Browse all 1,210 Bitterness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an unforgiving spirit - a very common symptom indeed among God's children. Such bitterness and fault-finding and enmity inflict a severe blow upon spiritual life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Watchman Nee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians-to-harbor-an-unforgiving/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bitterness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians-to-harbor-an-unforgiving/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/watchman-nee-1561_bitterness_frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians_1769791.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an unforgiving spirit - a very common symptom indeed among…” — Watchman Nee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Watchman Nee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Frequently the enemy entices Christians to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians-to-harbor-an-unforgiving/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/frequently-the-enemy-entices-christians-to-harbor-an-unforgiving/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```