Living a Christ-centred life is the atmosphere in which we hear Jesus speak to us. Imagine Jesus sitting with you at a coffee shop, directly across the table. It would be easy to hear his voice and engage in conversation because he is right there at the table with you.
If Jesus is outside or part of your life, it's like having him sitting at a different table across the room, or he's in a different shop altogether It would be much more difficult to have a conversation in this situation. A Christ centred life is the primary context in which we can hear Jesus speaking to us in prayer.
Conversation with God is similar to a conversation with a good friend; you can expect they will listen and seek to understand what You are saying. Because they care for you, you can also expect they will respond with words of encouragement or counsel in a manner that you will be able to hear what they are saying.