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Every CEO Needs a Prophetic Counselor

One of the smartest things a CEO of a big company can do is recruit a prophetic counselor.

Scripture is full of examples. Joseph advised Pharaoh on the coming famine and saved Egypt (Genesis 41). Daniel interpreted dreams for Nebuchadnezzar and rose to govern Babylon (Daniel 2). Nathan confronted David and preserved the kingdom (2 Samuel 12). The pattern repeats throughout biblical history: wise rulers kept prophets close.

I have a few prophetic counselors in my own life who have helped me see my own prophetic gifts as they relate to the marketplace.

Earlier this year, I was prophesying how Alpha Schools could dominate education. I gave a lot of great recommendations in April and May. They fell on deaf ears. Got stifled by internal politics. Seven or eight months later, Alpha Schools is reaping what it sowed. Reaping the weeds of not listening to a prophetic counselor in Gary.

Another prophetic counselor is my friend Ron Roberts. I brought him into the organization. He's still there. He's witnessed firsthand the consequences of not listening to prophetic counsel.

And then there's Brenda Gentry, a friend and spiritual mother. She is a prophetic counselor. She will be a prophetic counselor to people like Dennis Rodman, to major tech CEOs, and beyond. I see her as the go-to supernatural strategist for wealthy and influential Christians who need someone to help them navigate their callings.

Here's the thing about intelligence.

People like to say AI is intelligent because it predicts things. That's partially true. But the world is unpredictable. God made it that way. If you're measuring intelligence based on how well you can predict the future, prophets are the most intelligent people on earth.

God's chosen messengers are the most intelligent people, even if they don't score highest on standardized tests. It's nice to have the answer key from God about what's coming.

As a CEO, you may not have those prophetic gifts yourself. But you've been given responsibility over hundreds or thousands of jobs. Potentially millions or billions of users. Having a prophetic counselor can make a massive difference.

"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14)

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22)

The kings who listened to prophets prospered. The kings who ignored them fell. This pattern hasn't changed.

Find your Nathan. Find your Daniel. Find your Brenda. Find your Ron.

Biblical Examples of Prophetic Counsel to Leaders​

  • Joseph to Pharaoh (Genesis 41): Interpreted dreams, advised on famine preparation, saved Egypt
  • Moses to Pharaoh (Exodus 7-12): Warned of plagues, demanded release of Israel
  • Samuel to Saul (1 Samuel 15): Confronted disobedience, announced kingdom transfer
  • Nathan to David (2 Samuel 12): Exposed sin, preserved David's repentance and legacy
  • Elijah to Ahab (1 Kings 18): Challenged Baal worship, called Israel back to God
  • Elisha to Jehoram (2 Kings 3): Provided military strategy through prophetic word
  • Isaiah to Hezekiah (2 Kings 19): Counseled during Assyrian siege, prophesied deliverance
  • Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2, 4): Interpreted dreams, warned of coming judgment
  • Daniel to Belshazzar (Daniel 5): Read the writing on the wall, announced kingdom's fall
  • Jeremiah to Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38): Counseled surrender to Babylon (ignored, Jerusalem fell)

The pattern is consistent: leaders who heeded prophetic counsel prospered. Those who ignored it fell.