Aging Upward: Silence, Fasting, and a Gentle Reflection at 35

Today I turn 35. I’m writing this the night before, sitting alone in quiet solitude in Central Florida while my husband is away in the Bahamas. I didn’t plan a big celebration. No dinner. No decorations. Just a moment to breathe, pray, and be with the Lord.

For weeks I felt God calling me to fast. Not lightly, but firmly. Fasting has always been a major part of my walk. It sharpens me, brings clarity, and forces the flesh to bow. But this year, since being married, fasting has been harder. Not spiritually, but practically. My husband loves to cook, and it’s been easy to settle into comfort.

Still, the Lord pressed on my heart to do a three-day liquid fast leading up to my birthday. I needed a moment to regain my rhythm, but by Tuesday the resistance lifted and grace carried me into full obedience

People often think that fasting is about willpower, and to a degree that’s true. But genuine biblical fasting is not upheld by human effort. It is sustained by the Holy Spirit. That’s why I always ask Him, “Lead me into the fast and sustain me while I’m in it.”This fast, like so many others, has reminded me that the flesh does not get the final say. The body is not the master. The spirit is.

And that truth became even clearer on my drive home to Central Florida.

The Eye Issue That Wasn’t Just Natural

Two days before my birthday, I noticed my right eye getting slightly blurry.Not dramatic. Not alarming. But noticeable. I’ve always had perfect 20/20 vision, so it felt strange.

Day one, I ignored it.

Day two, it intensified.

By nightfall on December 3, it had my attention.

The timing struck me. The day before turning 35, suddenly an eye issue? A tiny shift in vision? A tiny decline trying to quietly settle in? I’ve walked with God long enough to know that not everything is physical. Before major birthdays, major spiritual shifts, or major breakthroughs, the enemy often tries subtle attacks, small enough to accept but significant enough to grow.

And many people accept it without resistance.

“That’s just age.”

“That’s how the body works.”

“I guess this is what getting older looks like.”

So while driving, I spoke directly to my eye. Not in fear, but in authority through Christ.

“I will not be accepting decline. You will function properly. You will remain clear. I am aging with grace, strength, and divine health. My body is not allowed to break down without permission.”

Almost immediately, my sight cleared.

It reminded me that the body is not the boss. The body is a servant. The spirit leads, and the flesh follows. This is why fasting matters so deeply. It trains your body to obey. It tells your flesh, “You do not run me. You serve me.”

That is the entire essence of fasting. It is not punishment. It is not religious suffering. Fasting is a declaration to your own body: “You don’t govern me. You serve me.”

When the body learns it cannot dictate appetite, it also learns it cannot dictate decline. It cannot quietly tell you, “You’re aging now, expect deterioration.” It cannot convince you to accept what God did not authorize. It cannot shift without being corrected.

Aging Without Agreeing to Decline

As I enter 35, I am choosing to reject the belief that age equals deterioration. I intend to age gracefully.

My body belongs to God, and what belongs to God is sustained by God.