Yes — you can know God's will through open and closed doors, circumstances, and a prayerful study of Scripture.
Les Feldick says he has never heard God speak out loud or seen flashing lights. Instead, God led him through open and closed doors, while the Word impressed him through prayer. The story of Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9 shows God using threatening circumstances and a basket escape to move His servant into the place He wanted him to go.
Romans 12:2 — This verse explicitly teaches believers to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God through a renewed mind.
Acts 9:23-25 — This passage shows how circumstances — a plot against Saul and a nighttime escape over the wall — moved him according to God's purpose.
Romans 12:2 tells the believer not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The verse links knowing God's will to personal transformation rather than to a dramatic sign. In Acts 9, the narrative records real circumstances around Saul's departure from Damascus: the Jews plotted to kill him, the gates were watched day and night, and the disciples let him down by the wall in a basket. The Bible presents these events as the concrete situation in which God's direction unfolded. Scripture therefore connects knowing God's will with a renewed mind and with the events God permits and arranges.
Les is candid that he cannot claim any dramatic revelation: "All I was was a victim of circumstances... Doors open, doors closed, doors open, doors closed. And I got to where I am." He says a believer comes to the 'good, acceptable, and perfect will of God' by searching the Scriptures in an attitude of prayer and fellowship with other believers. Using Saul of Tarsus as an example, Les points out that God could have appeared to Saul and told him to leave Damascus, but He did not. Instead, He waited until death threats were heavy and had Saul's friends lower him over the wall in a basket at night. For Les, this is how God often guides — through circumstances, not just through voices or visions. He gives practical instruction: when a door closes, do not push against it. Accept it as God not wanting you in that direction, and step through the open door elsewhere. The starting point is availability — "Lord, here I am. I'm available. Use me."
Les says he did not have a great light from heaven or flashing lights; he was "a victim of circumstances." He says God talks to him "with open and closed doors, and exactly where He wants us." In Saul's case, God had a path for him out among the Gentiles, so God had to move him out of town. The circumstances were the death threats and the escape over the wall in a basket.
Les says, "If something doesn't fly and the door closes, don't push against it. You just take it as God doesn't want you in that direction, and there's another open door over there. You take that one." A closed door is not a failure; it is part of God's direction.
Les says, "All we have to do is just search the Scriptures. You're in an attitude of prayer, you're in an attitude of fellowship with other believers, and God will show you His will." He also says the Word can impress you through prayer, and that is how believers find the things God wants.
Les uses an illustration of mankind moving down the river of life with doors of opportunity on both banks. On the front of each door is written "Whosoever will may come." When someone responds and steps through the door, he looks back and sees "Chosen in Him from before the foundation of the world." Thus, human decisions and God's sovereign choice meet at the door.
Saul Moved Toward the Gentiles
God had a path for Saul out among the Gentiles, so Saul could not remain where he was; circumstances had to move him out of town.
Saul's Basket Escape
God could have told Saul to leave in a vision, but instead He let death threats build and used friends to lower Saul over the wall in a basket at night — an example of God guiding through circumstances.
Open and Closed Doors to God's Perfect Will
Les says he was a 'victim of circumstances' — doors open, doors closed — and he never claimed flashing lights; searching Scripture in prayer and fellowship brings us to God's good, acceptable, and perfect will.
Don't Push Against a Closed Door
Les says to be available and say, 'Lord, here I am. Use me,' and to let closed doors redirect you to the open door God has provided.
Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained
And yet God in grace does not wait for this man to suddenly have second thoughts. He doesn't wait for Saul of Tarsus to stop and say, now wait a minute, am I being overzealous? Am I carrying this too? No, Saul never had a thought like that. He was still intent on getting those believing Jews even from Damascus. Whether they were men or women, it didn't make any difference to him.
Doors of Opportunity
Les pictures doors of opportunity along the river of life with 'Whosoever will may come' written on them; after stepping through, you discover you were chosen before the foundation of the world.
Chosen Before the Foundation
The same door illustration: the 'whosoever' responds, and then sees 'chosen in Him' before creation — God's will and human decision meet at the door.
Lord, What Would You Have Me to Do?
When Saul asked, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' God did not answer directly but sent him into the city to be told through Ananias — guidance often comes through other means and people.
Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This is the key verse that connects personal transformation with proving or knowing God's will.
Acts 9:6: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Saul's immediate question about God's will is answered by direction to go to the city and be told what to do.
Acts 9:23-25: And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
This passage records the circumstances that moved Saul out of Damascus — a death plot, watched gates, and a nighttime basket escape.
No. He says God has never talked to him out loud and he does not claim flashing lights or some great light from heaven. God leads him through open and closed doors, circumstances, and the Word applied by prayer.
Les says, 'don't push against it.' Treat it as God not wanting you in that direction and then take the open door that God provides. It is part of how God directs His people.
God did not tell him to leave in a vision. Instead, death threats from the Jews became the circumstance; the disciples let him down over the wall in a basket at night. The watched gates and dangerous situation moved him out.
Les says search the Scriptures, stay in an attitude of prayer and fellowship with believers, and remain available to God — 'Lord, here I am. I'm available. Use me.'
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel Is Different From Peter's — Acts 9 & Galatians 1