| Here is a simple, easy-to-do exercise that will help you | | | | Step One |
| become more aware of your spiritual surroundings. It is | | | | Ask the Lord to show you a fruit tree in the room you |
| based on belief in Jesus, but if you're not sure what | | | | are in. Describe what it looks like, where it is and how |
| that means for you yet, you can still do this exercise. | | | | big or small it is. |
| To do this exercise, you will need to look with your | | | | Step Two |
| imagination; you may or may not see anything with | | | | Look at the fruit on the tree. Describe the visual |
| your physical eyes. When I do exercises like this one | | | | appearance of the fruit, including the type, shape, |
| with children, I tell them, "If you had to guess where | | | | coloration, size and ripeness. |
| such-and-such is, where would it be?" They are able | | | | Step Three |
| to answer right away, without pretense. Jesus said, "I | | | | Smell the fruit. Describe how it smells. |
| only do what I see my father doing" (John 5:19). He | | | | Step Four |
| saw something, and it affected him to act on it. | | | | Taste the fruit. Describe how it tastes. |
| So, if you don't have an immediate sense of | | | | Step Five |
| something, guess. Your imagination was given by God | | | | Ask the Lord what effect the fruit has on the one |
| in order for you to "see" and experience what is | | | | who eats it. Describe what you hear. |
| beyond the confines of your normal senses. As you | | | | Step Six |
| no doubt know, your thoughts and other aspects of | | | | Look at the roots of the tree. Describe them, including |
| your imagination can be far from holy - but this doesn't | | | | how healthy they appear and how deep they go. |
| mean that God can't speak to you through your mind. | | | | Step Seven |
| Exercise Steps | | | | Ask the Lord who is responsible for the planting and/or |
| I suggest you do this exercise with pen and paper. If | | | | tending of the tree. Look for any attendants. Describe |
| you write down your answers to each question, it will | | | | what you see and hear. |
| increase your faith to believe that what you're | | | | Doing spiritual exercises like this will cause you to be |
| experiencing is real. | | | | more in tune with the spiritual realm around you and |
| Do each step slowly. Take your time. The more you | | | | help you learn to better hear God's voice. |
| do this exercise, the more fascinating it will become. | | | | |