The Prayer of Agur: Ancient Wisdom for Discovering your Sweet Spot in Life

Discover how an obscure biblical author shows us how to find balance, embrace contentment, and trust God--even in our modern, busy lives. 'The Prayer of Agur' introduces readers to a little-known biblical author named Agur who wrote a single chapter at the end of the book of Proverbs. Contained within this amusing, seemingly nonsensical chapter is a simple yet compelling prayer, in which he asks God to 'give me neither poverty nor riches. But give me only my daily bread.' Life in the twenty-first century is way out of balance, careening between extremes. Too many individuals, families, churches, and communities are trapped in a desperate cycle of chasing wealth and possessions, while fearing poverty. So this simple prayer has larger-than-life implications. When we live in God's sweet spot, we can achieve soul-satisfying equilibrium in our jobs, personal ministry, and relationships. As a result, we make fewer bad decisions and avoid the emotional baggage that comes from trying to do too much or survive with too little. In 'The Prayer of Agur', best-selling author and radio producer Jay Payleitner unpacks the wit and wisdom in this Old Testament passage, giving readers insight into how they can find a new perspective on the value of humility, the perks of moderation, and the eternal rewards of trusting God.

About the Author :
JAY K. PAYLEITNER is a freelance writer and radio producer for Josh McDowell Radio, Today's Father, Prime Timers Today, and other nationwide broadcasts. His work has helped send millions of Bibles to China, hundreds of volunteers to Russia, and thousands of Christmas gifts to the children of inmates, with Chuck Colson's "Angel Tree" project. Jay also created the fast-selling America Responds audio series and the very first print ad for Left Behind. Jay and his wife, Rita, have five kids and live in St. Charles, Illinois.

Review :
“In Proverbs 30, Agur invites you to pray a simple prayer that will help you find your sweet spot in life. Thanks to Jay Payleitner for uncovering and unpacking this marvelous gem. Don’t miss it.”—Josh McDowell, international speaker, apologist, and author of More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict “In a world that calls us to the extremes of overabundance or minimalism, The Prayer of Agur leads us to a life of rested contentedness. It is possible to find that God-ordained sweet spot, and Jay’s treatment of Agur’s prayer will show you how.”—Jeff Vanderstelt, author of Gospel Fluency “In his warm and familiar manner, Jay uses the Prayer of Agur to teach us the way to contentment. He genuinely addresses our push and pull against life’s extremes and defines the path to balance…as we lean into [God]. This book is and will be a pivotal point in our walk with Christ now and for years to come.”—Mary Ethel Eckard, cofounder of Dragonfly Ministries and author of Lessons of a Dragonfly “Every verse of God’s Word applies to our lives. But I must say, Agur’s brief prayer in Proverbs 30 seems to have special significance to this generation…we can live in God’s will and it’s a sweet place to be!”—Ken Blanchard, coauthor of Lead Like Jesus “The Prayer of Agur made me realize the need for balance in my life in so many areas. A must-read.”—Linda Wilson, guest coordinator for Real Life on Cornerstone Network “In a culture that celebrates extremes, The Prayer of Agur is a clarion call back to the ‘sweet spot of knowing Jesus.’ Jay reminds us that even at the time of Creation, God Himself knew when to stop.”—Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA and author of Why Are We Sitting Here Until We Die? “Discover through this delightful read that it really is possible to trust God to provide exactly what you need and to live in the sweet spot of His best for you.”—Cindi McMenamin, author of When God Sees Your Tears  “This book is at once poetically written and powerfully rich as it illuminates Agur’s motives and prayer, which accurately reflect our own hearts’ longings. Instead of wondering if I’ve identified God’s perfect will and agonizing over every decision, now I’m finding His sweet spot for my life!”—Caesar Kalinowski, author of The Gospel Primer “Jay Payleitner and Agur are quite a team as together they examine the most important things in life, the fears that hold us back, and the possibility of a life joyfully lived in the discovery of a new perspective.”—Phyllis Hendry Halverson, president and CEO of Lead Like Jesus “While Bruce Wilkinson’s The Prayer of Jabez provides a plan for seeking blessings from God, the prayer referenced in Payleitner’s work is more concerned about personal humility and relationship with God, and is highly recommended for serious readers of the Proverbs.”—Library Journal