The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil. Psalm 101:4

This seems to be a continuation of the previous verse. Both verses deal with personal moral boundaries – making them and keeping them.

Knowing evil exists and is all around us is the first step in making those boundaries.

It goes beyond that.

You have to remind yourself that not only is there evil in the world, but you have to consciously guard against it.

Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life, Proverbs 4:12

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The more we understand the utter hatred the devil has for the saints of God, the easier it will be to combat him. As long as we view him as a silly red man with horns, a pitchfork, and a tail, he’s won. But if we view him the way Peter viewed him, then it’s a different matter altogether.

Lastly,

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

These three verses apply to small evils as well as large evils, small sins versus large sins.

Always look for “the way out” God has provided you.