Cleared for Landing

In Christian circles, we talk so much about 'revival'. We use the word revival so easily without even thinking twice about what it takes to witness a revival in our churches, youth fellowships and home groups.

Many years back, I remember as a kid traveling in our Maruti Omni with my family near the 'Begumpet Airport' as we call it now, the 'Old Airport' in Hyderabad, India. Dad parked the vehicle on the side of the road and we all got down and walked over to the boundary wall of the airport. I was a little fellow back then, so my dad had to hoist me up the wall so that I could catch a glimpse of the airport.
So hanging on the wall, I started to look around curiously at the airfield. Airplanes can be considered as one of the most complex machines that science has helped us invent next to rocketry. And my eyes were greeted to a sight of some remarkably large and magnificent Boeing's and Airbuses on the airfield.
As we continued to look on we started noticing the radar and the Control Room that communicates with all of these aircraft's. A few minutes passed by as we finally got to witness the sight we were waiting to see...a plane landing.
Airplanes look so small when they are way up in the sky but as it passed over our heads and over to the runway, it was more larger than I ever thought it would be. The runway was soon cleared, emergency services were at hand (if any help was required), step ladder in place for people to get off the aircraft and various other arrangements made . The landing wheels were out as it came closer and finally...touchdown ! The plane rolled a few more yards on the runway and then finally stopped.
I was talking to a very dear friend who is currently under-training in the US to become a commercial pilot. We were talking about a few procedures that are performed during the landing stage of a flight. The pilot contacts the ATC (Air Traffic Controller) and requests for a landing in that particular airport. Only after the ATC clears can the pilot land the aircraft. If the runway isn't ready, the plane had to keep circling the airport till further clearance.
One more thing he said was very interesting... After touchdown, the plane moves to an area called 'The Ramp'. This was the place where a lot of ground crew used to await the landing of the aircraft. And once it reached the ramp, they would be on standby to perform maintenance or other procedures on the aircraft.
I was really fascinated with the fact that until and unless the pilot of the airliner attained the permission to land from the ATC, he/she couldn't just force a landing. And before the landing actually took place, the ground-staff had to clear the runway, perform all the procedures and await the landing of the aircraft.

Revival is a personal awakening to God. When we ourselves desire to walk closer to God and rekindle our love for God and His presence, we are 'revived'. Joel 2:28 says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." That sounds like the plane is ready to land, but its circling over our lives waiting for us to give it permission and also to clear up the runways in our life so that it can land. Personal revival leads to corporate revival. Examine your life, ask God what is hindering Him from working in your life ? What is obstructing the plane of revival to land ? Hear from Him and heed His voice and prepare your runway for Him to land.

"Lord i want to yearn for You i want to burn with passion over You and only You Lord i want to yearn."

"O Lord we need revival, our hearts ablaze for You. Let us not stay for survival, but live to see Your move..."