If you're having a personal crisis and family or friends say "I'll pray for you" how do you respond?
No members of my family are crazy enough to accept any god claim. Those of my friends who might say that to me cease to be my friends upon the instant. In the latter case it would depend on the depth the crisis and might go so far as "Stop trying to ram your genocidal maniac of a god down my throat!".
I'd be honest and say "I'd rather you not, but if you feel that strongly, then please do so in silence, because having to listen to prayers would make me even more upset." I prefer to handle any crisis with human reason, compassion, self reflection and time. I don't want to perpetuate belief in supernatural deities.
I politely nod and say ok they mean well no need to be mean
You're a better man than I, Gunga Din.
I shine it, no point in opening Pandora’s box, I just say nothing at all to encourage it. You can tell when they mean well, it feels different when they’re manipulating you, if I say something it’s when I feel manipulated.
I’d say “thank you, that would be kind”…but it would only be a stranger or someone of very slight acquaintance who would say that to me, because all close friends and family know I don’t believe in god.
I take it in the spirit it was offered. If it was offered in lieu of offering help, I just ignore it, if it was offered with the expectation that I would seek and receive help from them, I thank them, then if they can actually be of help, I might ask them for it. If it was offered because they didn't know how to respond, but want to say something, I thank them and go on.