I would kindly say, "I hope it helps YOU"

Depends on the context. If they are praying to save my soul I will respond with "I will write a letter to Santa for you". If they are just wishing me well I will say "thank you".

I guess it all depends who is saying it.
If it is someone I know personally, and they are really offering best wishes in their way, I am gracious and thankful, I know the prayers are worthless, but the sentiment is invaluable.

If it is a politician or pastor or someone seeking to grandstand, pontificate, or otherwise profit from it, then fuck them.

It's their way to wish you well. I would thank them.

I believe the proper response is: “and I’ll think for you”. But if it’s just a polite nice intention on their behalf, I’d just say “thank you” lol

I just try to avoid saying anything.

I am glad you grew up and out of that very debilitating anger. I totally agree with you about people praying out of kindness, the others who pray out of fanaticism, well they will get their own karma, like very sore knees.

I have christian siblings(we are all over 60) who often say they will pray for me. If they say it as if they want their diety to change my mind, I say "okay." If they say it to bring me comfort for something they think I need to be comforted for, I say "Thanks" and let it go. It is Their prayer and is nothing to do with me, so if it makes them feel better, I don't begrudge them that.

Not the same but I hear "God loves you" sometimes, to which I reply, "She loves you too."

It depends. Are they sincere? Are they praying for me in genuine caring for me to come through a difficult time or situation? If so, then the response is, "thank you". But are they praying for me because I have the impertinence to not believe the same as they do? Because my soul is doomed because I don't buy in to their republican bullshit? Then my answer is, "you do that".

'Well it's the thought that counts'
Often they say it in a way that means that they are praying that their devil comes and drags me to hell for an eternal BBQ but I just smile at the sincere ones, like you would towards a mentally retarded person with a good heart.

I always say, great, and I will use my brain and think for you.

I tell them I’m not a believer, and that I’m not interested in discussing it.

When you pray for another be sure to ask in the prayer if it is god's will. This part is very important because we just do not know the will of god. He works in hysterical ways.

I have mixed feeling about this. I don't like to be "prayed at or for" without my consent and I never give consent. I make this clear to new friends. If they can't respect that we cannot be friends. I find this assumption that I am a believer annoying and arrogant. But I rarely respond with anything other than "No thanks.".

Where I was raised people just didn't speak about religion to non family or friends. It just wasn't done, so when I moved to OK (Evangelicaland) I was shocked at how damn near everyone got in your religious business. It's so personally invasive and rude. Here, complete strangers will ask you to church or ask if you have Jesus in your heart. I would flatly tell them, "mind your own business". Also, cashiers and people in shops and stores will "bless you" or "pray for you" when you come or go. It's all too much. Seriously, it becomes harassment after awhile.

So, while they may think they mean well, I find it annoying because here, it's day in and day out wherever you go. Again, mostly I reply, "no thanks". I see nothing wrong with "no thanks" because they are offering you something and you have the right to decline.

I personally don't believe, but if someone says that phrase I just respond with, if you think it'll help, personally I think it's a waste of time.

"I will pray for you.", can be uttered with two different intentions. The first is an implied insult as you are to be pitied and they will not really "pray" for you. The second, as an honest, but meaningless gesture, to which I tell them that prayers are meaningless to me inasmuch as I am not a believer and it costs them nothing to pray. Therefore, I would rather they give me a $20 bill inasmuch as I would then know that they are sincere.

I am not on a crusade to convert anyone else to my way of thinking. We all come to where we are based on our personal beliefs and experiences. If someone says he or she will pray for me, I understand that the expression comes from a good place and that is usually my litmus test for my inward response to the sentiment. I still consider myself to be Jewish, and was gratified to hear from a rabbi that I don't have to believe in an anthropomorphic God to be a "good" Jew. I frankly see nothing wrong with what is often referred to as the "Golden Rule."

It is difficult to not be impolite and at the same time assert your position and not accept an imposed religion.
My mom says something like that and I just let it sink into an awkward silence as she waits for to say something like Amem. But I do it because I know her and she knows me.
But in general I say something in the lines of "good for you, if you need something I will try to help"

The only time this has happened to me I was in the hospital trying hard not to die. A man came into the room and asked my name, I told him, he said he was going to add me to his daily prayer list. I thanked him for his time and effort. I do not know if he was the hospital Chaplain, it was a Catholic Hospital.

Depends on the situation. If they're saying that because Im an atheist my response is "yeah go f*** yourself"

I prefer genuine help. The prayer is really for the person doing it to think they did something when they did zero. Come and actually help me is what I say.

Well, that and 5 bucks will get me a coffee.

"Thanks" is fine, or if they aren't a friend "Please do, if it helps you".

To me it depends : if I realy have a problem and need real help, I would say : " Thank you, but I don't think that will help me " Lets face it, people shift the responsibility of helping with offering prayers. When somebody is hungry you need to give them food instead of praying for them. If somebody has cancer, and you offer prayers , thats ok, but you could still ask , if there is any way to help , or ?
If my complain is just vague and not specific I don't care if the answer = prayers , is vague and not specific.