Ten men with leprosy called out to Jesus, and all ten were healed on their way to see the priests. Only one turned back, a Samaritan, to fall at Jesus’ feet and thank Him. Jesus’ question afterward still lands: “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”
These thirty verses are for becoming that one who turns back, gratitude actually spoken, not just felt and left unsaid. If you’re looking for gratitude as an ongoing rhythm across each day, a prayer for thanksgiving pairs well alongside this one.
Pray these slowly, naming something specific you’ve received but never actually thanked God for.
Prayer for Gratitude
1. Luke 17:15-16 (KJV)
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”
Prayer: Like the one who turned back, let me return and give thanks, not just receive and move on.
Let me not be one of the nine who forgot to come back.
2. Luke 17:17-19 (KJV)
“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Prayer: Let my faith, expressed in gratitude, be part of what makes me well.
Let thankfulness go deeper than just noticing what You’ve done.
3. Psalms 100:4 (KJV)
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Prayer: Let me enter Your gates with thanksgiving, and Your courts with praise.
Let thanksgiving be the doorway into everything else today.
4. Psalms 103:1-2 (KJV)
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”
Prayer: Let my whole being bless You, and let me not forget any of Your benefits.
Let gratitude reach every part of me, not just my words.
5. Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Prayer: Let Your peace rule in my heart, and let me be thankful.
Let gratitude and peace grow together, not separately.
6. Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Prayer: Let me present my requests to You with thanksgiving woven right in.
Let gratitude accompany even what I’m still asking for.
7. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks in all circumstances, this is Your will for me.
Let this include the circumstance I’m actually in today.
8. Psalms 107:1 (KJV)
“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks to You, for You are good, Your love endures forever.
Let this simple truth be enough reason to give thanks today.
9. Psalms 92:1 (KJV)
“IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:”
Prayer: It is good to praise You and give thanks to Your name.
Let this be a genuine response, not a rote habit.
10. Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Prayer: Let me always give thanks to You for everything, in the name of Jesus.
Let gratitude cover even what I don’t fully understand yet.
11. Psalms 9:1 (KJV)
“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks to You with my whole heart, tell of all Your wonders.
Let this be whole-hearted, not distracted or divided.
12. Psalms 118:1 (KJV)
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks to You, for You are good, Your love endures forever.
Let this be true regardless of how today actually goes.
13. James 1:17 (KJV)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Prayer: Every good and perfect gift comes down from You, the Father of heavenly lights.
Let me recognize Your gifts when they arrive, not overlook them.
14. Psalms 136:1 (KJV)
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks to You, for You are good, Your love endures forever.
Let this refrain become something I actually repeat throughout my day.
15. 2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
Prayer: Thanks be to You for Your indescribable gift.
Let me sit with how much this gift actually cost You.
16. Psalms 30:11-12 (KJV)
“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”
Prayer: You turned my mourning into dancing, so let my heart sing to You and not be silent.
Let gratitude be my response to what You’ve already turned around.
17. Psalms 95:2 (KJV)
“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Prayer: Let me come before You with thanksgiving, and extol You with music and song.
Let this thanksgiving be joyful, not just dutiful.
18. Deuteronomy 8:10 (KJV)
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.”
Prayer: When I eat and am satisfied, let me praise You for this good provision.
Let satisfaction lead me to gratitude, not just the next task.
19. 1 Chronicles 16:34 (KJV)
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks to You, for You are good, Your love endures forever.
Let this old song still be true for me today.
20. Psalms 69:30 (KJV)
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Prayer: Let me praise Your name in song, and glorify You with thanksgiving.
Let thanksgiving be part of how I worship, not separate from it.
21. Hebrews 12:28 (KJV)
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
Prayer: Since I’m receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let me be thankful.
Let this stability be what steadies my gratitude.
22. Psalms 138:1 (KJV)
“I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.”
Prayer: Let me give thanks to You with all my heart, before the gods I will sing Your praise.
Let this gratitude be unashamed, even in front of others.
23. Psalms 116:12 (KJV)
“What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”
Prayer: What can I offer You for all Your goodness to me?
Let this honest question lead me to actually respond, not just wonder.
24. Psalms 116:17 (KJV)
“I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.”
Prayer: Let me offer You a thank offering, and call on Your name.
Let this offering cost me something real, like it did for the psalmist.
25. Romans 1:21 (KJV)
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Prayer: Don’t let me know You and yet fail to glorify You or give thanks.
Let knowing You always lead to gratitude, not indifference.
26. Psalms 34:1 (KJV)
“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Prayer: Let me extol You at all times, Your praise always on my lips.
Let this praise stay constant, not just occasional.
27. Psalms 50:23 (KJV)
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
Prayer: Let a sacrifice of thanksgiving honor You.
Let gratitude be an offering, not just a feeling.
28. Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV)
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Prayer: Let me be rooted and built up in You, overflowing with thankfulness.
Let thankfulness overflow, not just sit quietly under the surface.
29. Psalms 145:10 (KJV)
“All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.”
Prayer: Let all You have made praise You, let Your faithful people extol You.
Let my own life add its voice to that chorus today.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless me and keep me, make Your face shine on me, and give me a genuinely thankful heart.
Let this old blessing include real gratitude, not just protection.
Conclusion
Nine men received the exact same healing as the one who turned back. What set him apart wasn’t the miracle, all ten got that. It was that he actually returned to say so. Gratitude felt privately and gratitude spoken out loud are not the same thing.
Name one specific thing today you’ve never actually thanked God for, and say it out loud, not just in your head.
For gratitude as a settled disposition rather than a single moment, a prayer for a grateful heart is worth praying alongside this one.