It has to be one of the top 5 words said in our house every day. We tell them to sit before we walk them, before they eat, before we give them a treat, and any time they start to get distracted and react to things happening around them. We use "sit" as a way to refocus their attention on us. When they are focused on us, they are at peace, calm, and comforted. When they are focused on other animals, people, loud noises, birds, or "food" on the ground, they are nervous and out of control. They would run across a busy street if they decided they needed to attack the birds on the other side. That's why they need to be focused on us. We can see what's actually going on around us and can protect them from dangers they don't understand. They don't know that the sweet little berries on the ground will actually make them sick if they eat it. They can't see the car coming from yards away moving very quickly that will kill them if it hits them. They don't understand that a bigger dog could be aggressive and hurt them, and not all animals are friends. We know all of this, and we love them and want to protect them from harm. This is why it is very important that they stay focused on us and obey us, even when they want to do the opposite. 
The same is true for our relationships with God. We were created to worship, obey, and rely on Him, and when we are submitted to His leadership, we are contented, joyful, and at peace. When we become distracted by the things of the world that we want like money, possessions, relationships with people, people's opinions of us, our own desires, power, control, etc., we are nervous, full of worry, and discontented because we are trying to meet needs in our life or control things that we cannot. Thankfully, God has given us the Bible to help us refocus our attention to Him so we can live in peace by trusting Him to meet all of our needs. The essence of the Christian life is continuing to return to the Bible and refocus our minds on a daily basis, because trusting God is not like riding a bike- we forget it and are distracted so very easily.Another way God helps me refocus my attention on Him is by giving me examples of the truths I learn from scripture by the things and activities around me. Most recently, He has used my dogs to show me a small glimpse of His perspective when looking at me. He has shown me how important it is for me to rely on Him, and how I don't have to understand God's ways or motivation to do that. He has shown me how even when His actions cause me pain, that He truly acts only out of love for me, and He knows the best for me so much more than I do. And as much as I love my dogs and know more than they do, God loves and knows exponentially more than I ever could.
This blog is about how God is teaching me how to "sit"- how to focus on Him and trust Him no matter what is going on around me. I am so thankful for this living example of God's character and truths in my life, and I pray that as I share these illustrations with you, that it will spur you on in your pursuit of Christ and be an encouragement of God's love for you.