When Jesus commanded that we ask and keep on asking (Luke 11:9), He didn’t say “nag, and keep on nagging.”

Jesus wants us to ask in faith, not nag out of selfish desires. James says we don’t have because we don’t ask, but then he qualifies this by making it clear we shouldn’t ask for selfish desires (James 4:3). We should ask according to God’s plans, purposes, and will. God will not answer our nagging. He answers faith-filled prayer. He doesn’t answer prayers that oppose His will.

When His disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He taught them the Lord’s Prayer. It’s a model for us to follow. It’s not outdated or archaic. It’s relevant today in our time.

What did Jesus pray? 
Our Father (relationship) 
Hallowed be your Name (praise and worship)
Let your will be done, let your Kingdom come (God’s will, plans, and purposes), showing very clearly that our focus should be on God and His Kingdom. This aligns with Matthew 6 where Jesus taught that we should seek first the Kingdom of God. Only after we have focused on God do we ask for our own needs. We are to ask for our daily bread, not bread, butter, and jam. We ask for our bread daily, just as the Israelites had to gather manna daily.

The Lord’s Prayer doesn’t teach us to nag selfishly for the things we want. It doesn’t refer to possessions or riches at all. No, Jesus simply said, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

How does this tie in with Jesus’ command to ask and keep on asking? It’s simple. We need to ask for daily bread on a daily basis. We don’t ask for bread once and never again. We ask for our daily bread today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter, trusting that God listens to our prayers and provides our needs. We ask and keep on asking, day after day.

Unfortunately, many people see the command to ask, and keep on asking, as a means to self-enrichment. It’s one of the pillars the prosperity gospel used to twist God’s Word to fit their agenda. I can’t help but notice that the preachers became rich while the majority of their followers remained poor.

The Bible contains many passages about money and being good stewards of our finances, but I have yet to read a command to ask God for money, riches, or possessions.

God blessed Solomon with riches precisely because he didn’t ask for riches (1 Kings 3:5–14). He asked for wisdom. I believe there is a lesson here for all of us. We can boldly ask for bread, wisdom, and His kingdom. He’s a good Father. He hears and He provides.

I’m not suggesting that God won’t bless us with riches or possessions, but it shouldn’t be our focus. We shouldn’t nag God for the things we desire just as a child would nag for a sweet or a toy when accompanying Mom or Dad on their grocery shopping. God says He knows what we need before we ask. We must ask according to His will, and in faith, believing that He hears our prayers and provides our needs.

Ask, and keep on asking today, tomorrow, and every following day. Don’t nag and keep on nagging. Asking is in accordance with God’s will and it’s an action of faith. Nagging is in accordance with our will and it’s not an action of faith, but selfish desires. We think if we nag long enough we will wear God down and He will eventually give us our way. I’m sorry to disillusion you, but God will not allow manipulation. He will not fall for, nor give in to our selfish, faithless nagging.

At least, this has been my experience. Has anyone ever received anything by nagging?