HAUNTED HOUSE · WEEK 3 · WEREWOLF
Why Do I Keep Doing Things I Don’t Want to Do?
You promised yourself you were done. Then the same situation comes back… and so does the same pattern. Freedom is possible.
You promised yourself you were done…
Then the stress hits, the house gets quiet, or your phone lights up, and suddenly you’re doing the very thing you wanted to stop. Anger. Scrolling. Spending. Drinking. Hiding. The habit gets another turn at the wheel.
If you’ve wondered why your choices keep turning into patterns you can’t seem to break, this message is for you. Jesus has mastery over what masters us. There is help for the struggle and a practical next step you can take.
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Four truths about breaking destructive patterns
1. There’s a war going on inside me
Paul doesn’t pretend the struggle is imaginary. In Romans 7:15–25 (NIV), he describes wanting to do good yet repeatedly doing what he hates. He finally asks who will rescue him and points to Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus has mastery over what masters me
In John 8:34–36, Jesus describes sin as slavery and declares that the Son brings genuine freedom. Romans 6:9, 14 adds the resurrection foundation: death no longer has mastery over the risen Christ, and sin need not be our master under grace.
Jesus isn’t merely giving another motivational speech about trying harder. He offers a new Lord, a new life, and grace to begin changing.
3. Jesus is stronger than the strong man
In Luke 11:21–26, Jesus responds to accusations about His authority over demons. His picture of someone stronger overcoming an armed strong man announces that God’s kingdom is breaking into evil’s territory. This passage is first about Jesus’ authority, not a claim that every addiction is demon possession.
Our hope isn’t that we can overpower everything alone. Someone stronger has come.
4. Don’t just empty the house. Fill it.
Jesus’ warning about an emptied house in Luke 11:24–26 calls for more than a temporary cleanup. And Galatians 5:16, 22–23 shows the positive direction: walk by the Spirit, growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Don’t only ask what you’re quitting. Ask what you’re building in its place: prayer instead of escape, honest conversation instead of hiding, community instead of isolation, wise routines instead of easy access.
God’s supernatural power and our natural decisions belong together.
The Full Moon Plan: prepare before temptation arrives
Werewolves know when the full moon is coming. Often, we can learn when our own vulnerable moments arrive. Make your plan before the moment, not during it.
1. Name your full moon
What comes right before the behavior? Stress after work? Payday? Being alone late at night? An argument? Write down the situation, feeling, time, and place.
2. Change the environment
Remove the shopping app, put your phone outside the bedroom, avoid the risky gathering, or block easy access to what feeds the pattern. Make the healthier choice easier and the harmful choice harder.
3. Choose your response
Decide what you’ll do instead: take a walk, pray, call a trusted friend, attend a meeting, or pause before responding in anger. “I’ll do better” is vague. “When I get home stressed, I’ll walk for ten minutes before opening my phone” is a plan.
4. Bring someone into the fight
Tell someone trustworthy what’s happening. Ask them to check in. Serious addiction may also call for a counselor, medical care, a sponsor, or a recovery group. Seeking help isn’t a failure of faith. If you may be physically dependent on alcohol or sedatives, seek medical guidance before stopping abruptly; withdrawal can be dangerous.
Write your plan
My full moon is: __________
Before it comes, I will change: __________
When it comes, I will do this instead: __________
I will ask this person to help me: __________
Questions people ask about breaking bad habits
Why do I repeat habits I know are harmful?
Habits can become linked to stress, emotions, rewards, and familiar situations. Naming triggers, changing access, and choosing a different response can interrupt the cycle. Persistent compulsive behavior may require professional support.
Can Jesus help me overcome addiction?
Christian faith teaches that Jesus brings freedom from sin and invites us into a new way of life. Prayer, discipleship, honest community, and evidence-based treatment can work together. Faith is not a reason to avoid medical or mental-health care.
What should I do when I slip back into an old pattern?
Don’t hide or decide the effort is over. Tell the truth, identify what triggered the setback, reconnect with your support person, and adjust the plan. If substance use is involved, get appropriate professional help.
What does walking by the Spirit look like practically?
Ask God for help, spend time in Scripture, practice self-control in specific moments, cultivate healthy relationships, and replace destructive routines with faithful actions.
Looking for a church near you in Allen, Texas?
Maybe you’ve been searching for a church near me where you can meet real people, ask real questions, and be honest about what you’re carrying. You don’t have to have your life cleaned up before you walk through the door.
At First Christian Church of Allen, you’ll find people learning to follow Jesus together. There’s room for your questions, a community to grow with, and a welcome that doesn’t require pretending. We believe God loves you and that your next step matters.
Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM in Allen, Texas. Plan your first visit and know what to expect.
Don’t wait for the next full moon
Bring your struggle to Jesus. Tell one safe person the truth. Close one door that keeps the pattern alive. Then choose the next faithful step.
You don’t need to pretend you have everything together to visit First Christian Church of Allen. Come with your questions and your real life. We’d love to worship with you.
Sunday worship at 10:30 AM · First Christian Church of Allen, Texas.
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Pastor Chris Fluitt loves helping people explore Jesus, ask honest questions, and take practical next steps in following Him.
A note from Pastor Chris
I’m glad you checked out this message.
If you made it this far, thank you for spending time with us. Maybe something in this message hit close to home. Maybe you have questions, or you’re trying to figure out what following Jesus could look like in your actual, messy, Tuesday-afternoon life.
I’d love to keep the conversation going. You can ask me about the Scripture, tell me what you’re wrestling with, or simply say hello. You don’t need to have the right words or a cleaned-up story.
Jesus has mastery over what masters us. And your next step matters.
Text Pastor Chris: 972-521-9779 Plan Your Visit
Pastor Chris Fluitt
First Christian Church of Allen
