What struck me about this story was that most of my friends, if they heard I was martyred (assuming I didn't wuss out) would think it was stupid of me to do so. "C'mon, everybody KNEW you didn't mean it! Why not just do it!"
Lead me not into temptation, but if I AM tried, Lord, grant me the Grace to show not any steadfastness of mine, but the wonder of thy work in me. And don't let it hurt too much, please. Thou knowest, Oh Lord, what a wuss I am.
To be honest, until I read this, I never even thought about the point of denying Christ. But you are right, it is something we should never do. Those who died before us did so still claiming Christ is Lord and would not bow down to another god.