Real life WW II hero Desmond Doss was powerfully
portrayed in the movie Hacksaw Ridge.
The most unforgettable aspect of Desmond’s heroism was his repeated, courageous
prayer:
“Please, Lord,
help me get one more.”
Desmond was not the first person who received such
courage from the Lord. Consider these
quotes from the Apostle Paul:
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Acts 20:24 However, I consider
my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the
task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the good news of
God's grace.
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Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered,
"Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be
bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
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1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am
free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as
many as possible.
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Philippians 1:20 I eagerly
expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient
courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life
or by death.
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1 Thessalonians 2:2 We had
previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but
with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong
opposition.
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2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I
endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the
salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
This heroic commitment, this spiritual warfare mentality,
this “all in” attitude, is not just for Paul and heroes like Desmond. It’s for all of us:
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2 Timothy 2:3 Join with me in
suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
The same Holy Spirit who gave courage and zeal and
endurance to Paul and Desmond is available to empower you and me.
We are all in the midst of a raging battle which is just
as real as Hacksaw Ridge was. But the stakes
are even higher. And our enemy is even
crueler. And the battle field is even
darker.
And so I offer this prayer, modeled after Desmond’s:
Lord, give us
strength to serve You one more day.
Help us to share
Your gospel one more time and win one more soul to the Lord.
Give every mother
strength to get up in the middle of the night to comfort her children one more
time.
Help those called
to teach to prepare one more Bible study and one more sermon which is faithful
to Your truth.
Enable us to
encourage one more brother or sister who has been wounded by the Devil’s
attacks.
Go with us as we
visit one more neighbor in the hospital, or sick at home.
Give every
caregiver strength to serve with patience and love one more day.
Empower every
parent of a prodigal child to offer up one more prayer.
Motivate us all to
give to support Your work even when our own finances are tight one more time.
Give us grace and
strength to lovingly correct one more wrong belief.
One more soul to
win, one more discouraged person to lift up, one more need to meet, one more truth
to teach, one more battle to win. It’s all only by Your Grace and only for Your
glory.
Please, Lord, help us get one more.
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .
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