Now, of course, my original question was "What do you imagine that I do?" In a way, that question was answered: You imagine that I can do "with sincerety", what you do all the time, based on your faith.
But please bear in mind that I lack that faith.
So the question arises: How would I "sincerely lift my hands up to god"? If I lift my hands up, to me there is only sky above, since I do not believe that god exists. So, apart from a somewhat awkward feeling, nothing happens (I just tried it). So how can I *sincerely* lift my hands to god? How can I "ask Jesus" who, from my point of view, died and rotted and never came back?
Quite literally, I do not see any way that I could fulfill those requests.
So, do you imagine that I really CAN talk to god with sincerety, even though for me he doesn't exist? Or do you imagine that it doesn't matter whether that act is sincere or not?
Before I come to your question, recall the advice from the Christian brother was to ask Jesus pbuh to guide you, yet in the Bible:
Going a little farther, HE FELL WITH HIS FACE TO THE GROUND AND PRAYED, “
MY FATHER, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” [Matthew 26:39]
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to
my God and your God.’” John 20:17
Now coming to your question. You tried it and nothing happened. YES it absolutely matters that you are sincere. Perhaps there's insincerity or perhaps a devil is whispering to you, (yes they exist). To rule out the devil making mischief, try the following before going to bed:
1- Have a bath or take a shower, if not then minimum wash hands, face, arms up to elbow and feet. Get ready for bed, but before getting in ask God for guidance again.
2- In your bedroom cover any pictures or ornaments depicting faces.
3- Play the following aloud, but not blasting, we don't want your family kicking down your door :/
4 - Goto
Quran Explorer and select the following options:
Turn off translation. (You can read the English before or after) but we need Arabic only for this.
Select Mishari Rashid HD as the reciter, or another voice you like.
Select continuous play.
Mobile version here
Quran - Recite & Listen Quran Online
5 - Using headphones on medium volume, start at chapter 1, lay back and listen for as long as you can, but minimum 10-15 mins
Let's see if your soul remembers the promise it made to God:
And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." Qur'an 7:172
Repeat for 3 days, then report back here or pm me.
If you don't wish to do all the above, then borrow a Qur'an from your local Library or Mosque, go home and ask God to help you, ask any question you want, then randomly open any page of the Qur'an and read where ever you eyes fall. It will answer what ever question you have.
Peace